DirecTv Rates going up

[ray1970]

I don?t care what anyone chooses to spend their own money on. To each their own. I was just curious if there was a percentage that might be considered reasonable or normal. Maybe there isn?t.

I did see some google results that said the average person spends $1300 or so a year on television. Not sure if they specifically meant each person or if it was for the household but let?s assume household for the sake of conversation.

The average household income in the United States is roughly $63K.

I guess that means the average spent on television is roughly 2%.

Although in total dollars I spend more than the average person, the percentage of my income spent is actually below the average.

Just food for thought.

[DenverGP]

I don?t care what anyone chooses to spend their own money on. To each their own. I was just curious if there was a percentage that might be considered reasonable or normal. Maybe there isn?t.

A couple years back, I had centurylink DSL, and directv. The internet was slow, and unreliable. We finally switched to comcast, for much faster and more stable internet. Went with comcast's highest package, total cost was almost identical to what we were paying directv plus centurylink. I guess a couple deals fell off, so our price bumped up to about $225 over the last year, but it's still worth it to me.... the full comcast package keeps the wife happy, and the fast internet keeps me happy since I work from home. Our cost is also higher because we've got 4 tvs, so the extra boxes add onto the price.

[Hummer]

If you knew how much money I piss away on all kinds of stuff you?d probably tell me I?m missing out on $10 million.

I do make up for my wasteful spending in other areas though. Mostly vehicles. I drive the same vehicles for fifteen or twenty years at a time so I car payments don?t burden me like they do to some people.

If we want to have fun with numbers, I wonder what percentage of a person?s income would be acceptable to spend on television?

Acceptable? Who makes the judgement?

If someone loves television, spend as much as you want.

You're both right, of course. We all have our pleasures and vices, and differing ideas of expendable income. My point wasn't personal but to suggest that it never hurts to re evaluate what we're buying and whether it's really delivering what we're seeking. I learned early on that spending $$ on depreciable toys like race cars and motorcycles was a spiraling rat hole and that real estate was a better, more satisfying long term investment. And for me, satellite/subscription TV was a rip off that never delivered. But I'm at a stage where spending more on guns, accessories, ammo, hunting and travel makes me happy. I'm content to conserve on some things to splurge on others. Just don't forget the value of that extra $2 million bucks around retirement time.

[Justin]

This week I received a piece of mail that was in one of those envelopes with the perforated, tear-able edges that usually means there's a check enclosed.

Upon opening it up, it was a solicitation for DirectTV.

Their marketing department must be getting desperate if they're willing to resort to such a transparently BS tactic.

In the meantime, screw 'em. I'm happy with my Roku. Between Netflix, Amazon, Hulu, and HBO subscriptions, I can always find something to watch and it's still cheaper than DirectTV or Comcast cable.

[colorider]

^^^^. Not desperate marketing at all. SMART marketing. They got you to open it and look.

[ray1970]

All the crap I get that looks like a check is for home equity or refinance offers.

[Justin]

^^^^. Not desperate marketing at all. SMART marketing. They got you to open it and look.

They got me to open it and look.

And then piss me off at the duplicity of their BS.

Sorry, but if the first thing you do is tick me off, I'm not going to buy your product.

[ray1970]

If getting junk mail triggers you then maybe you should lighten up a bit before you have a stroke.

Seriously, my coworker is strung pretty tight and he had a heart attack last Friday.

[Gman]

I hope he recovers.

[ray1970]

He didn?t die and he?s going to take some time off. I imagine he?ll be good to go come 2020. Thanks.