Skip to main content
Northwestern Mutual Northwestern Mutual
Primary Navigation
  • Home
  • About Us
    • About Us Overview
    • Working With an Advisor
    • Our Financial Strength
    • Sustainability and Impact
  • Financial Planning
    • Financial Planning Overview
    • Retirement Planning
      • Retirement Planning Overview
      • Retirement Calculator Beach chair icon
    • College Savings Plans
    • Private Wealth Management
    • Estate Planning
    • Long-Term Care
    • Business Services
  • Insurance
    • Insurance Overview
    • Life Insurance
      • Life Insurance Overview
      • Whole Life Insurance
      • Universal Life Insurance
      • Variable Universal Life Insurance
      • Term Life Insurance
      • Life Insurance Calculator Shield icon
    • Disability Insurance
      • Disability Insurance Overview
      • Disability Insurance  For Individuals
      • Disability Insurance  For Doctors and Dentists
      • Disability Insurance Calculator Money Parachute icon
    • Long-Term Care
    • Income Annuities
  • Investments
    • Investments Overview
    • Brokerage Accounts & Services
    • Private Wealth Management
    • Investment Advisory Services
    • Fixed & Variable Annuities
    • Market Commentary
  • Life & Money
    • Life & Money Overview
    • Educational Resources About Financial Planning
    • Educational Resources About Investing
    • Educational Resources About Insurance
    • Educational Resources About Everyday Money
    • Educational Resources About Family & Work
    • Market Commentary
    • Podcast
Utility Navigation
  • Find a Financial Advisor
  • Claims
Search NorthwesternMutual.com

Log in

Please fill in your Username and Password.

Enter your username and password to access your account.

Forgot username or password?

Don't have an account? Register.

Log in to other Northwestern Mutual sites:

  • Access Fund
  • Business Insurance
  • Brokerage and Advisory

Get anywhere access, go mobile

  • Download on the App Store
  • Get it on Google Play
  • Life & Money
  • Everyday Money
  • Building Savings

Considering Cutting Cable? Answer These 3 Questions First

Part of our Finance Fundamentals series

  • Northwestern Mutual
  • Feb 20, 2017
Mom and baby watching TV but considering cutting cable
If you don’t watch a lot of TV or don’t need access to the latest shows, you may be happy with free entertainment options. Photo credit: South_agency / Getty Images
share Share on Facebook Share on X Share on LinkedIn Share via Email

Is your monthly cable bill a larger portion of your household budget thank you’d like it to be? You’re not alone. With internet streaming, subscription services and many other video entertainment options now available, you may find it easier than ever to cut the cord. Before you do, answer these questions.

The biggest hurdle many face when cutting the cord is watching live sporting events.

  1. WHAT DO YOU WANT TO BE ABLE TO WATCH?

    Each cable TV alternative offers different shows and different ways to watch. You need to think about what shows (or types of shows) you want access to and which subscriptions give you what you want without costing too much money.

    If you don’t watch a lot of TV or don’t need access to the latest shows, you may be happy with free entertainment options. YouTube and other online video services offer a wide range of free videos, and many local libraries have extensive DVD collections available for borrowing.

    To extend your viewing options, see if your favorite channel has an app or lets you watch shows online. If you don’t have cable, you may have to pay per show or for a subscription.

    If you want access to many shows or networks consider streaming services. Hulu subscribers can watch popular shows from broadcast stations and basic cable the day after they air, but unless you pay for the top tier of service, you’ll be watching commercials as well. Netflix has a wide variety of broadcast, cable and original shows without commercials, but they are usually a season or more behind what’s airing on live TV. Amazon Prime also offers video streaming as well as other services, including free two-day shipping on purchases, music streaming and an e-book lending library. Many subscription services offer a free trial period, so you can check out what they offer and how they work before you commit.

    The biggest hurdle many face when cutting the cord is watching live sporting events. You can watch local broadcasts, including major events like the Super Bowl, in real time with an HD antenna, but what if your team isn’t local? Luckily, more and more options are becoming available to stream live sports, including the WatchESPN app and March Madness Live. Avid sports fans may want to check out Sling TV, which streams live TV for less than cable.

    As you prepare to cut the cord, think about what you want to be able to watch, and research your options for doing so without cable.

  2. WHAT EQUIPMENT WILL YOU NEED?

    Without question, in order to stream videos, you will need a fast internet connection. Basic internet speeds may leave you waiting for shows to load, making you more frustrated and missing cable. If you currently bundle your cable and internet, you may be surprised that the cost of internet alone may not be as low as you expected. Shop around if you can, and negotiate with your provider to get the best deal.

    Next, you’ll need either an HD antenna, a streaming device or both. (If you have a newer TV or DVD player, you may be able to stream shows via apps without any additional equipment.) With an HD antenna, you can access local broadcast networks to watch sports, the news and network programming.

    If your current devices don’t have streaming capabilities and you don’t want to watch everything on your smartphone, tablet or computer, you’ll need something to transmit streamed videos to your television via Wi-Fi. Apple TV, Amazon Fire TV Stick, Roku and even some video game systems help you do this.

    If you love your DVR and are used to recording shows to watch later, you may want a device like Channel Master or Tablo, which record shows but do not stream, or TiVo or Slingbox, which do both.

  3. IS THE COST DIFFERENCE WORTH IT?

    After trying out a few services and evaluating your options, add up the costs to see if cutting the cord would really save you money on TV while still letting you watch the shows you like.

    First, add up the one-time costs of switching, including equipment purchases and cable cancellation fees, if applicable. Then add up your monthly costs of streaming subscriptions plus your new internet rate. Compare these costs to your current monthly cable bill to find out how much you’ll really be saving.

Social Security is an important part of your financial plan.

Your financial advisor can show you how Social Security will work to reinforce your retirement savings. And they’ll show you how it can help you live the life you want in retirement.

Let's get started
Left Dotted Pattern
Right Dotted Pattern

Want more? Get financial tips, tools, and more with our monthly newsletter.

Related Articles

article
Couple looking for quick ways to cut costs from budget

Quick Ways to Cut Costs From Your Budget

Learn more
article
couple working on finances in kitchen

7 Basic Financial Tasks to Tackle Right Now

Learn more
article
Young girl doing online learning through educational websites and apps for kids

Educational Websites and Apps for Kids That Can Help You With Home-Schooling

Learn more

Find What You're Looking for at Northwestern Mutual

Northwestern Mutual General Disclaimer

Northwestern Mutual is the marketing name for The Northwestern Mutual Life Insurance Company and its subsidiaries. Life and disability insurance, annuities, and life insurance with longterm care benefits are issued by The Northwestern Mutual Life Insurance Company, Milwaukee, WI (NM). Longterm care insurance is issued by Northwestern Long Term Care Insurance Company, Milwaukee, WI, (NLTC) a subsidiary of NM. Investment brokerage services are offered through Northwestern Mutual Investment Services, LLC (NMIS) a subsidiary of NM, brokerdealer, registered investment advisor, and member FINRA and SIPC. Investment advisory and trust services are offered through Northwestern Mutual Wealth Management Company (NMWMC), Milwaukee, WI, a subsidiary of NM and a federal savings bank. Products and services referenced are offered and sold only by appropriately appointed and licensed entities and financial advisors and professionals. Not all products and services are available in all states. Not all Northwestern Mutual representatives are advisors. Only those representatives with Advisor in their title or who otherwise disclose their status as an advisor of NMWMC are credentialed as NMWMC representatives to provide investment advisory services.

Northwestern Mutual Northwestern Mutual

Footer Navigation

  • About Us
  • Newsroom
  • Careers
  • Information Protection
  • Business Services
  • Podcast
  • Contact Us
  • FAQs
  • Legal Notice
  • Sitemap
  • Privacy Notices

Connect with us

  • Facebook iconConnect with us on Facebook
  • X iconFollow Northwestern Mutual on X
  • LinkedIn iconVisit Northwestern Mutual on LinkedIn
  • Instagram iconFollow Northwestern Mutual on Instagram
  • YouTube iconConnect with Northwestern Mutual on YouTube

Over 8,000+ Financial Advisors and Professionals Nationwide*

Find an Advisor

Footer Copyright

*Based on Northwestern Mutual internal data, not applicable exclusively to disability insurance products.

Copyright © 2025 The Northwestern Mutual Life Insurance Company, Milwaukee, WI. All Rights Reserved. Northwestern Mutual is the marketing name for The Northwestern Mutual Life Insurance Company and its subsidiaries.