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How to Stream, Get Every Channel You Love, Have Multiple DVRs, & Save Cash

Here’s your life. You work hard all day. All you want to do is come home, relax, watch a little news, and then catch the game on your direct television programming. If the game isn’t on, you’d settle for a blockbuster action flick. It’s a fantasy because your current entertainment set up is holding you hostage to the Disney Channel before 8PM and Lifetime after 8PM.

How do you keep the girls happy and still get all the streaming movies, sports channels and news you could ever want? Rob a bank? Nope. Be a smart consumer.

Start With Your Television

Start with the heart of your home entertainment universe. Without good television options, life can get boring very fast. You have a couple of options, and one isn’t necessarily better than the other. You just have to decide which one works for you and your family.

Today’s television viewing demands high definition digital service, and that comes via cable or satellite. Cable services will depend on what’s available in your viewing area, but satellite is available anywhere. Both will provide high quality digital viewing. How do you pick one?

Cable v. Satellite

The pros for cable are that you have an uninterrupted stream into your home. The weather or fallen trees won’t knock it out. In many communities, you can save a chunk of change by bundling your cable, phone and Internet. In that case, give this option a whirl.

The pros for satellite are that your options are simple. DirecTV or DISH. Both provide superior customer service and both provide multiple DVR hook-ups. Disney and Lifetime just moved down the hall to the bedrooms. Local channels are automatically provided, and the various package options make it easy to pick a package you can afford.

Both cable and satellite offer premium movie channels, and for some, that’s enough to satisfy the household movie demands. When you do the price breakdown, in most cases, you’ll find satellite to offer the most options at the best price. A tree probably won’t fall on your dish, but just be prepared for weather interruption. You lose the phone and Internet option, so definitely look at what you value most.

“We Only Watch the News and Movies”

There are those high brow people who have no use for television programs beyond PBS and the news. If you’re one of those families, then movies – er, films – are what your family loves. At least everyone but your game crazed son. You definitely need a good movie rental service.

You need films, but you also need games, and in some cases, you need secret access to last season’s episodes of True Blood. You have two options. Ditch the television and read CNN.com before you stream a movie, or look into a movie rental source that can be used in tandem with your cable or satellite TV.

Option two is the better value, long run. Movie rental options are many, but Netflix, Blockbuster and iTunes are some of the more popular choices. If games are important, cross Netflix off the list. If music is important, stick with iTunes. It might be time for a family meeting.

Movie Rentals That Offer Variety, Flexibility and Idiot Proofing

Let’s face it, there are certain members of your household, who will remain unnamed for your protection, that aren’t so good at figuring out technology. Pick a movie service that’s easy to install for downloads, but that also offers the old fashion disc in the mail option. For a strictly streaming situation, Blockbuster has more new releases, but Netflix is easier to use.

Some of the most recent releases will still have to come via mail, but Netflix is simple to install and it can be streamed to your computer, to your TV via your Wii, or via your Android. If you want movies stream

d, via the Internet, to your DVR, HULU is your option, but only if you have TiVo. On the other hand, it can be streamed to your television via your HDMI connection.

If you choose HULU as your only TV and movie option, know they don’t provide all channels. Some major networks are missing; like CBS. All common sense still points in the direction of one good television service and one good movie rental service. Based on ease of use, flexibility of options and variety, Netflix will be your most economical and satisfying movie choice.

The DVR Will Save You When the Disney Princesses Take Over

It’s gonna happen. You will come home from a hard day of work, and all you’ll want to do is watch a replay of the baseball game you missed last night. You will plop down in your chair and find yourself assaulted by Snow White and a giggling seven year old. If that’s the only DVR in the house, you’re in for a very long night. Muriel is in the queue.

To avoid the above scenario, pick a satellite or cable service that offers multiple DVR connections and the ability to watch multiple programming at the same time. You will lose your mind without it.

Let’s Wrap Up With a Comparison Rundown

  • If you need a phone and internet bundle, pick cable.
  • If you want better service, more channels and multiple DVRs, pick satellite.
  • To save money on movies and get the variety you love, try Netflix.
  • If games are a must, it’s either iTunes or Blockbuster.
  • A super inexpensive scenario would go like this: DISH network for $24.99 a month and streaming Netflix for $4.99 a month. Add an extra DVR for $17.00 a month. For a family with multiple tastes, that’s a lot of flexibility for a really good price.

Let’s say you budget $100 per month for entertainment. Based on the above options, you can definitely stream, have every channel, and rent multiple DVRs while saving cash.

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Fun at Home with Family and Friends Poker

In the current recession, everybody really seems to be strapped for cash. Unfortunately, when finances are not getting things done in terms of providing you enough money to play with, you need to get creative with your entertainment budget and find ways to spend time with friends and family members without breaking the bank in the process. If you enjoy going out with the boys, and you are looking for ways to bring that excitement closer to home to save money, then consider having a nickel and dime poker night.

Getting Started

The supplies needed for a nickel and dime poker night with your friends are not extensive. If each member of the group contributes to their purchase, then you can take turns hosting the poker night and allow everyone in the group to feel like they are a part of it. You can save some money by having the poker night at home because buying poker supplies, snacks and drinks is generally going to be a lot cheaper than a night on the town.

There are many different types of poker tables, chips, cards and other accessories that you can buy so buy something that offers quality at a good price. Once all of the basic materials are purchased for your poker night, you can simply set a date and have everyone bring a snack or a drink, plates, cups, napkins and so on. This is going to cut down on cost. The chips can serve as nickels or dimes, or you can play with actual nickels and dimes. The basic premise here is that no one is going to lose a lot of money, and you can play for fun and not have to worry about going broke or someone else at the table going broke in the process. This is a great way to have an entire evening worth of fun with friends or family without breaking the bank in the process.

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Having a Themed Party Can be Great Fun

If you want to do something truly different, why not have a themed party? There are all kinds of occasions where you can do that, like birthdays, anniversaries, and dinner parties. The options for the theme are nearly endless, too. Things like Victorian dinner parties, toga parties, and cowboys and Indians are popular, but you can also base your party on a time period, another country, or even a TV show or book. No matter what kind of theme you want to use, there will be options for costumes, food, and decorations – and there will be people who will be thrilled about coming to the party and experiencing something different.

It’s best to make food that fits the theme, of course, but you also want things that are easy to eat and that people won’t be allergic to. Make sure that none of your guests have specific allergies, like peanuts or shellfish. Also, find out if any of them are vegetarian or vegan, or if they have to eat a gluten free diet. Knowing things like that well in advance can make the party go a lot more smoothly. It can also save you time and money, and keep someone from getting sick at your party, which is naturally something that you’ll want to avoid.

As for the costumes, you can find what you’re looking for at costumeexpress.com. That way you won’t have to worry about what to wear, and you can look your best at your party. If any friends aren’t sure what to wear or where to buy what they need, you’ll have a great site to send them to. That will take one of the biggest worries from your mind, and then you can focus on the decorations and the food, so that you’ll be ready to relax and have fun on the day of the party.

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