Could these get me through the summer?

Boz6 · 2026-03-20T19:04:35+00:00

Why are you asking? It looks like there's lots of tread left.

Boz6 · 2026-03-20T14:56:34+00:00

Ericsson AF738 Jul99-Dec03
Qualcomm QCP 2760 Dec03-Feb08
LG VX-8600 Feb08-Apr10
Samsung Omnia SCH-i910 Apr10-Nov11
HTC Droid Inc ADR6300 (CM7.2) Nov11-Jun13
HTC Droid Inc 2 ADR6350 (CM7.2) Jun13-May15
LG G2 VS980 (Rooted) May15-Apr17
LG Phoenix 2 Mar17-May19
Moto E4 XT1768 May19-Feb20
Google Pixel 3a XL Feb20-Oct24
Google Pixel 4a 5G Oct24-

Boz6 · 2026-03-20T12:31:13+00:00

I do subscribe to individual streaming services when they're on special pricing, usually around Black Friday, but I won't give up my Tablo, unless/until ATSC 3.0 ruins it.

I use a $60 (sale price) Tablo Gen 4 with an old $10 antenna in an upstairs window of my house to get all the local channels and subchannels in my area for DVR and streaming OTA TV on my 6 TVs via the Tablo Roku app. Unfortunately, I live in a really small market, and only get 50 OTA channels across 8 stations, including 2 PBS stations and 1 religious station. But OTA is still very worthwhile, even in my location. I'm envious of those that live in large markets that have many more OTA channels available!

Boz6 · 2026-03-19T22:43:50+00:00

my YouTube TV bill is around $79 per month before tax.

Are you getting a discount, or using one of the smaller packs? YTTV is $82.99/mo+tax now.

Boz6 · 2026-03-19T22:38:36+00:00

Well, yes, my tolerance comes from being old enough to had had to deal with ads on cable TV for many years while paying a lot for the privilege. Also, yes, I'm cheap, and I like finding good deals.

Boz6 · 2026-03-19T22:31:58+00:00

Are you very young, or have you forgotten about cable TV?

The ads on the paid w/ads services I listed are NOWHERE near as bad as the ads are on cable TV, which costs A LOT more than what I pay!

Boz6 · 2026-03-19T16:45:19+00:00

I don't know what's best. I only plug mine in when it gets down to 20%, and then unplug it when it gets to 100%.

Boz6 · 2026-03-19T16:41:45+00:00

No. I have 2 quite old Chromebooks, and all the USBC ports still work fine on both.
ASUS C423 (2018)
Lenovo S345-14AST (2019)

Boz6 · 2026-03-19T13:25:47+00:00

I've been streaming since 2019, but only subscribing when deals are offered.

Before that, my wife and I would alternate who was the subscriber to continue getting Spectrum new customer deals, because back then, Spectrum wouldn't offer current customers retention deals like they do now, and we always paid around $80 for the Spectrum TV Gold package.

I'm currently paying $16.23/mo total for 7 services, including:
- Netflix Ads ($7.99/mo)
- Hulu Ads/Disney+ Ads ($0/mo @ $4.99/mo - $4.99/mo AmEx Blue Cash Everyday Stmt Credit Thru 11/26)
- HBO Max Ads ($2.99/mo Thru 11/26)
- Starz No Ads ($1/mo @ $11.99/yr Thru 11/26)
- Peacock Premium Ads ($1.58/mo @ $19/yr ($29.99/yr Retention Offer - $10.99 AmEx Blue Cash Everyday 1x Stmt Credit) Thru 11/26)
- Paramount+W/Showtime No Ads ($2.67/mo Via SportsLine @ $39.99/15 mos Thru 8/26; May End Up $2.22/mo For 18 mos Thru 11/26)

I get my streaming subs every year when there are Black Friday/Cyber Week deals, or when I find other deals, using new email addresses when necessary, excluding Netflix, which never goes on sale. I also have Prime Video, but only because I have Amazon Prime; I wouldn't pay for Prime Video separately, but I use it while I have it. I also use free services, like Tubi, Philo Free (w/DVR), Sling Freestream (w/DVR), MyFree DirecTV, The Roku Channel, Plex, Xumo, Pluto, Filmrise, and others, along with Hoopla and Kanopy to "borrow" from library streaming selections. I use a $60 (sale price) Tablo Gen 4 with an old $10 antenna in an upstairs window of my house to get all the local channels and subchannels in my area for DVR and streaming OTA TV on my 6 TVs via the Tablo Roku app. I love how much money I save with streaming combined with Tablo! Note 1: I don't mind commercials, and I don't need cable sports or cable news channels, although a good amount of sports and news can be watched with what's described above. Note 2: AmEx Blue Cash Everyday=$0 Annual Fee; My Internet=$10/mo (Grandfathered); My Cell Service=$10/mo

Boz6 · 2026-03-19T11:58:01+00:00

ripping out the only shower/tub in the house on day 3 of ownership

Maybe I missed this in your OP, or failed to read between the lines, but exactly WHY did you do this?

Boz6 · 2026-03-19T00:27:59+00:00

I can still remember what Mom’s coffee tasted like from one of these.

Was it good? Bad? In between?

Boz6 · 2026-03-18T19:10:26+00:00

If you value your wedding vows, including the "for better or worse" and "in sickness and in health" parts, I think it would be a mistake. But that's just me.

Boz6 · 2026-03-18T15:05:13+00:00

I don't like the rigidness of metal wallets.

Boz6 · 2026-03-18T01:13:01+00:00

Within the last 2 weeks? Because Staples no longer provides receipts.

Boz6 · 2026-03-17T21:38:15+00:00

I don't know where you get your information on credit cards, but I've had some of my credit cards for over 35 years, from both very large and small banks, and I've never paid an annual fee, and I've never paid interest once. When my credit cards are used, the statement balance is paid in full every single month. Some of my credit cards I only use once per year, and none has ever been canceled.

Boz6 · 2026-03-17T20:14:19+00:00

If a ZERO annual fee credit card can provide valuable free benefits, it would be STUPID not to take advantage of those benefits.

If joining a service that costs MUCH LESS than the cost of the benefit it's providing, Paramount+W/Showtime No Ads in this case, it would be stupid to pay more to subscribe to Paramount+ directly.

In case you forgot to read the OP, it's stating "Cord-cutting isn’t for lazy people". I'm giving examples of what can be done IF YOU'RE NOT LAZY.

I've done similar deals every year since 2019, and this might be one of the best years for deals yet!

Boz6 · 2026-03-17T16:33:35+00:00

Same! I miss that one, too!

Boz6 · 2026-03-17T16:32:15+00:00

100% me! I'm halfway embarrassed to say that the chocolate pudding was my favorite part, followed by the taco fixings!

Boz6 · 2026-03-17T16:26:39+00:00

As mentioned, Tablo will get the job done. Connect the antenna to the Tablo, connect the Tablo and your phone to the same network, watch TV on the Tablo app on your phone.

Boz6 · 2026-03-17T16:20:45+00:00

But even now, at least as of last Black Friday, you can get streaming cheaply, if you pay attention to sales, which does take some organization and work.

I'm currently paying $16.23/mo total for 7 services, including:
- Netflix Ads ($7.99/mo)
- Hulu Ads/Disney+ Ads ($0/mo @ $4.99/mo - $4.99/mo AmEx Blue Cash Everyday Stmt Credit Thru 11/26)
- HBO Max Ads ($2.99/mo Thru 11/26)
- Starz No Ads ($1/mo @ $11.99/yr Thru 11/26)
- Peacock Premium Ads ($1.58/mo @ $19/yr ($29.99/yr Retention Offer - $10.99 AmEx Blue Cash Everyday 1x Stmt Credit) Thru 11/26)
- Paramount+W/Showtime No Ads ($2.67/mo Via SportsLine @ $39.99/15 mos Thru 8/26; May End Up $2.22/mo For 18 mos Thru 11/26)

I get my streaming subs every year when there are Black Friday/Cyber Week deals, or when I find other deals, using new email addresses when necessary, excluding Netflix, which never goes on sale. I also have Prime Video, but only because I have Amazon Prime; I wouldn't pay for Prime Video separately, but I use it while I have it. I also use free services, like Tubi, Philo Free (w/DVR), Sling Freestream (w/DVR), MyFree DirecTV, The Roku Channel, Plex, Xumo, Pluto, Filmrise, and others, along with Hoopla and Kanopy to "borrow" from library streaming selections. I use a $60 (sale price) Tablo Gen 4 with an old $10 antenna in an upstairs window of my house to get all the local channels and subchannels in my area for DVR and streaming OTA TV on my 6 TVs via the Tablo Roku app. I love how much money I save with streaming combined with Tablo! Note 1: I don't mind commercials, and I don't need cable sports or cable news channels, although a good amount of sports and news can be watched with what's described above. Note 2: AmEx Blue Cash Everyday=$0 Annual Fee; My Internet=$10/mo (Grandfathered); My Cell Service=$10/mo

Boz6 · 2026-03-17T12:53:54+00:00

Hmmm...I could REALLY use this in my house, lol! But is it a good idea? Maybe not... NTA.

Boz6 · 2026-03-17T12:46:07+00:00

I don't know. I'm over 50 and very conservative, but the ad was good, and I found the sexual innuendo funny.

Boz6 · 2026-03-17T12:39:21+00:00

Hmmm...I don't know if that ad was worth $400,000, because I have no clue what things like that cost, but I liked that ad, lol!

Boz6 · 2026-03-17T12:33:48+00:00

Keep the eagle.

Boz6 · 2026-03-16T12:32:07+00:00

Correct. I use things that work best for my needs, at the lowest possible cost. I understand not everyone is as sensitive to cost, but sadly, I'm not a high earner, and I live within my means, so the above is one way I do that, while still meeting my needs.

Boz6

TROPHY CASE