The Free TV Challenge: Can I Cut the Cord Completely?

The other day, a wild idea popped into my head: what if I canceled every streaming service and embraced the world of free TV? It sounded liberating, and without overthinking it, I decided to go for it. But then, doubts started to creep in. Could I really live without my favorite shows? Would I be bored out of my mind?

Despite the hesitation, I'm determined to give it a shot for at least a month. But when exactly should I start this free TV adventure?

First, let's assess the current situation. Here's a breakdown of my subscriptions and why I haven't canceled them yet:

• Frndly TV: Already canceled! I snagged a yearly discount but barely used it. It'll be gone for good in November.
• Hulu: I'm on the $8/month plan and pause it occasionally. I'll be done with it by the end of college football season.
• ESPN Plus: Essential for college football games, but I'll drop it in December after the season ends.
• Disney Plus: It's part of a bundle with Hulu and ESPN Plus, so it's actually cheaper to keep it for now. Once ESPN Plus goes, so does Disney Plus.
• Prime Video: This one's tricky. It comes with my Amazon Prime membership, which I've had forever. I'll cancel Prime in January and see if I miss the shipping benefits enough to justify keeping it.
• Paramount Plus: Another bonus! It's included with Walmart Plus, which I use a lot. I'm keeping this one only because I'm keeping Walmart Plus.
• Peacock TV: Canceled, but it's still lingering thanks to a technicality with my internet provider. It'll be gone soon.

Other services I occasionally use are currently inactive:

• Netflix
• Max
• Discovery Plus
• Apple TV Plus
• AMC Pus
• Starz

There is one other service I use occastionally: Sling TV. That service is my source for ESPN during football season. I haven't needed it since the first couple of weeks.

So, as it stands, I can officially go free TV in January after college football season wraps up. I could probably do it now, but I'm not quite ready. New year, new me, new approach to TV. My Streaming Life has always been about saving money, and maybe 2025 will be the year I take it to the next level.