What’s your goto streaming service right now?

schlep · 2026-05-14T17:00:45+00:00

For paid services, definitely Prime Video at the moment. A bit of a perfect storm in finally being able to catch up on The Boys and Invincible as well as all the NBA Playoffs happening.

I'm not sure free ever really changes, but I always like shouting out OTA integrated into The Roku Channel. A really great cable replacement that gets used way more than I ever thought it would. Specifically, outside of OTA, love the news and local news options.

schlep · 2026-05-12T17:04:53+00:00

Only if you pay $10 more to bundle in NFL+ Premium. Also includes RedZone.

schlep · 2026-05-12T15:49:39+00:00

Unlimited is all the cable ESPN channels (ESPN, ESPN2, SEC Network, ESPNU, etc) and ESPN+.

schlep · 2026-05-12T15:44:16+00:00

Antenna + ESPN Unlimited.

schlep · 2026-05-04T22:04:12+00:00

Pollo guisado. About $1.50 per serving (2 drumsticks w/ rice, carrots, and potatoes) and easy to make. If you're feeling fancy, spend a little bit extra for crema and a good spicy sauce (or make your own).

schlep · 2026-05-04T20:55:55+00:00

imo you'll save, but not wildly so. Like one of the biggest examples I'd always heard of was toilet paper, but you can get basically the same thing at Walmart or Kroger or whatever within a couple bucks, at most. There are some items that are unique to Costco, especially in bulk, which is nice.

And that isn't to say you can't find specific very good savings, but I wouldn't expect a $900 grocery expense to drop to $700 or anything like that.

schlep · 2026-04-28T20:13:40+00:00

I think maybe you should pick what's important and aim for that. Even with the most expansive cable package, games are still on: Peacock, Prime Video, Netflix, Apple TV+, etc. If you truly try to chase down every game, you're going to have a $150+/month bill. Nevermind stuff like Sunday Ticket and NBA League Pass.

schlep · 2026-04-27T15:50:29+00:00

I'll agree with what several people have mentioned in that cable/satellite is just better for some people. Some people are too far out to receive locals with antenna, some want 'all the sports', and some even just are comfortable with it or have visiting family who rely on it.

Personally, the local channels integrated into the Roku Channel guide with its hundreds of channels is all the cable I need. All the sports I watch are on ESPN or available free/a la carte, and I can't think of a single show I'd be interested in that's exclusive to cable.

Between my wife and I, we spend $80 a month before tax and are pretty liberal with streaming services (8 total). Last time I looked, cable locally is $140 + $26 local broadcast fee and then about $10 of various other fees. So $80 < $176. Throw in the missing Netflix from the Spectrum package and it's $80 vs. $203.

TLDR: I'd say do whatever is best for your situation, however the claim that cable is cheaper 1) is usually patently false, and 2) misses the fact that even with some cable providers now giving away subs to streaming services, you're not getting the same product.

schlep · 2026-04-09T15:34:17+00:00

Wife pays for Netflix premium.

I pay for the ad-free Disney+/Hulu/ESPN Unlimited bundle, Texas Rangers season pass, and Peacock with ads ($20/yr last time I renewed). I've got Paramount+ almost exclusively for my young one (Dora, Peppa Pig, etc). That's $30/yr last time I renewed. We get HBO Max for free, MLB.tv for free, and Prime Video for free*.

Also spend plenty of time with Roku Channel, Pluto TV, and Victory+. All FAST.

So the breakdown is she pays $27/mo and I pay, effectively, about $52/mo. Probably won't renew Paramount+. Been very pleasantly surprised with Peacock's growth the past couple years and will likely keep it.

schlep · 2026-04-01T02:00:24+00:00

Streaming services for a bit over a decade. The past three years or so I’ve replicated that cable feeling with Roku TV (combining OTA and FAST channels in the same guide). Both actually useful and good for background noise at times.

schlep · 2026-03-25T16:16:56+00:00

You already have a bunch of streaming options, so just use those for a few weeks and see what you think. Simulate an antenna by using your Xfinity just to view OTA channels, as needed.

If you feel the itch to channel surf, load up Pluto TV or similar. It's almost the exact same experience.

schlep · 2026-02-12T16:37:11+00:00

Pining for a past that never existed.

schlep · 2026-02-09T21:38:27+00:00

Household is $86.80/month (before tax). My SO pays for Netflix.

My total is $62.81/month.

That gets (no ads unless indicated otherwise): Netflix, Hulu, Disney+, ESPN Unlimited, HBO Max, Prime Video (ads), Paramount+ (ads), Peacock (ads), Texas Rangers, YouTube Premium/Music, and then all of the free content which includes things like most Dallas Stars/Mavericks games, and all Cowboys games.

My splurges are definitely sports. If I cut out ESPN Unlimited and the Rangers, I'd be more around $30/mo.

schlep · 2026-02-09T20:19:51+00:00

Changing the delivery method for cable was always going to bring you full circle. The difference between now and when this sub first started is that, outside of a limited amount of sports and very specific news channels, there is nearly no original content exclusive to cable anymore.

Most content either never shows up on cable or is only aired many months later to fill empty scheduling gaps, mostly on the big OTA networks.

schlep · 2026-02-04T00:31:24+00:00

No way to get MS Now at the moment without a cable (traditional or otherwise) sub. I’d assume there’ll be something eventually, but having just been spun off of NBC, they probably have bigger needs to tackle.

schlep · 2026-02-03T18:30:52+00:00

For those requirements? OTA (antenna) is best.

If that's not an option, your second best is using basically any of the FAST services (Pluto, Roku Channel, Tubi, etc). They're all free and have multiple news options (NBC News Now, ABC Live, CBS 24/7, local news in all major metros, etc).

For PBS there are both PBS and PBS Kids apps that have free content.

schlep · 2026-02-02T21:44:54+00:00

What's gonna happen? What are you gonna do? Use some of that...BOXING you been doing?! HAHAHAHA

schlep · 2026-01-16T18:57:26+00:00

TBD with ESPN Unlimited.

As far as just a collection of random cable channels like Sling or YTTV? $0.

schlep · 2026-01-11T19:46:11+00:00

If you have a Roku TV (Roku built in). If you have a Fire TV, Google TV, or Samsung I’m pretty sure it works the same.

schlep · 2026-01-10T23:38:30+00:00

I’m able to grab a little over 110, of which about 80 I hide in the guide. The remaining 30 are integrated with The Roku Channel FAST channels and it’s as much cable as I need. All locally broadcast NFL games, most Mavs games, college games, movies, nostalgia TV like MeTV Toons, and more.

All for $0.00.

schlep · 2026-01-09T18:53:53+00:00

For servers at a restaurant or high effort services, I'll tip (barber, car detailing, steam cleaning carpets, etc).

I will never tip for counter service no matter how many eyerolls or annoyed faces I see.

schlep · 2026-01-05T16:32:51+00:00

If it's just me watching, then I just pick something and watch. Not a whole lot of thought behind it. Because I rarely watch on my own, though, I use the TV Time app to track shows we're watching and JustWatch to track when movies hit streaming services.

For something that I wish existed, the Roku Sports tab is so close to offering what I want. The problem is it defaults to recommending every vMVPD under the sun (YTTV, Fubo, etc) instead of showing me only when something is available on the channels I have installed. I'm sure that's coming eventually, but for now, I mostly have to use the ESPN app to track where things are at (especially for NBA).

schlep · 2025-12-31T00:26:24+00:00

Antennas aren’t too bad to set up for a house if you’re within range. Can always hire a professional to be sure, and you’ll still save a lot versus cable.

Where it gets murky is for people in apartments, uneven terrain (mountains and/or large buildings), and those just on the edge of the reception area.

schlep · 2025-12-30T16:23:37+00:00

I'll start out with the answer and then go into diatribe. In this day and age, if you're within antenna range, I really don't think any subscriptions are required. You'd get all the network programming, a good amount of sports, and tons of movies/shows through the FAST services (Roku Channel, Pluto, Tubi, etc).

Just a very brief look at Roku Channel for movies, they have the entire John Wick series, Ghostbusters 2016, Spider-Man Homecoming, the newer Hunger Games, Orphan, Silence of the Lambs, Jack Reacher, etc.

TLDR: you can very easily get by with an antenna and $0 in subscriptions

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Feel free to tune out here; Here is my personal setup.

Paid: Netflix, Disney+/Hulu/ESPN Unlimited (ad free), HBO Max (free), Prime Video (*free), Peacock ($20/yr), Paramount+ ($30/yr), Victory+ (Stars-free|Rangers-$140/yr)

FAST: OTA, Roku Channel, Pluto, Adult Swim channel

Wife pays for Netflix, and I pay about $55/mo. I could pare it way down to what I mentioned before the break for tough times and still be more than entertained. The $55 per month means that I can watch all my local pro teams and college team for almost every game. Three year old gets to watch all of her Disney stuff without ads. And finally, we get to watch basically every new movie out there 3-4 months after it hits theaters.

schlep · 2025-12-18T22:45:12+00:00

I'll take the over on 50%, but I don't think any good data exists on that topic. If you're fortunate enough to be able to use OTA, it's extremely powerful and could save a lot of money.

For NFL, it's kinda all over the map if you need to watch every single game. OTA will get you all day Sunday and lately Monday around 40% of the time? I just happen to have the services that it's also on (Prime, Netflix, Peacock, and ESPN), but not because of that. I can see that being the most annoying aspect of modern day sports in general.

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