Need A little help from the more experienced

Don't think you can pick your electric company. It's usually only one per area. You can watch your bill - turn off stuff not being used, set thermostat lower in winter and higher in summer. Wear a sweater in winter and use a fan in the summer.

 

In TX you have several options for electric companies in a given area. I have options even though I live in a very rural area.

 

ok... must be nice to have a choice

 

X2 , we get the Province backed socialist utility company that increases our rates to fund " green " run of river power projects in order to sell more power to California .

Don't get me started .

 

No sir, I said I am going to have to start..I never said I was on my own. I said I was going to start, as in begin, which is true, because my parents will not be around and whatever happens in my apt in my fault, and I am 100% responsible for making sure everything around my house is neat, orderly, and working. So I argue that I am, but regardless...

 

We dont get a choice either, for power, water, sewer or garbage. The only choice we get is for propane. And they all suck. Glad I have a pellet stove. I also have directtv. Because there isnt even an option for cable.

 

Thanks for getting this back on track.
I am considering comcast for cable/internet. It will only be 70 a month for a 12 months. What are your experiences with comcast? Who would you recommend and why?

 

Ive never used comcast, we are Directtv right now, and before this I had charter, and their internet was ok, but the tv sucked. And it was expensive. Just start out maybe with just internet, and see how you are doing. I dont know if they do contracts, but both directtv and charter made me sign a lease deal. You can always add service to it later if you are doing ok financially, but getting them to take it off might be a challenge. For internet we have the Verizon wireless card. Its not very fast at all. If we had a choice for cable I would take that over wireless anyday. It could be because I live in BFE too, but my phone is fairly fast, faster than thier internet anyways.

 

Well the packages arent that much more expensive than the internet. Thats why I'm considering it.

 

cable/sat tv is a luxury, and it is a waste of money.... i'd say just get high speed internet and you can live off that - even if you're into tv shows you can find that on sites like hulu for free.. you can also watch local stuff OTA for free... don't see the point of paying all the money for cable/sat because they don't believe in consumer choice..

 

Yeah I think this is what I am going to do. Thanks man.

 

hmm, what is cable? ps3 and netflix is all my family needs. (tons of cartoons for ths kid, and good shows for the wife) We don't watch that much TV. Maybe you want to consider internet and netflix for ~$10 bucks a month...Basic cable is shit. unless you really want your MTV reality shows...still gonna run you $30 plus...You can save 20 bucks there, for food or other bills...In the real world, you'll see that money goes quick. I wish you good luck with that and school, you have a long road ahead of you.

 

I just moved out and am living on my own paying for rent/food etc and I got cable, Its worth it, we have the tv on pretty much all the time.

Plus its nice when you have friends over you dont seem like a cheapskate.

 

Why would your friends think you're a cheapskate? When I was 21 living in an apt, TV was the last thing in my mind...beers and girls were priority. hah..unless you like to cuddle with your friends while watching Jersey Shore...then I understand. lol, jk dude..but with his budget, going to school and living on his own and paying bills and stuff, it's important to save for other necessities...atleast, that's how i see it.

 

did you look into cable internet phone bundles i hear its very cheap that way like at&t? i wish i could move out haha good luck man and keep playing. Im a masterbasser myself with some guitar skill haha

 

Yeah, but the quality of the two isnt all that great. The internet is probably slow.
I honestly considering against cable because I dont have a lot of spare time to just sit down and watch tv, and I figured the time I did have I would use to better my health and work out.

 

Lot's of people don't even have a TV kiddo, I have a huge TV but only basic cable because I'm not home enough to justify buying premium channels. It's good you're taking that first step, my son just moved off campus at the beginning of the semester into his first apt, i had to cover last month's rent because he didn't budget correctly, a lesson learned. We talked for over an hour last nite on the phone, he's a 1000 miles away from me and i can hear him maturing into a man.
Good Luck!

 

Roommate = 1/2 utilities paid + 1/2 rent money to use for food and whatever = more money for you! Get a written agreement with roommate just in case of problem.

 

+2 With those cheaper combo packages the companies tend to throttle back the internet quite a bit, at least this is the case with Comcast. Since you're by yourself I would pay for high speed internet only and watch everything on the computer.

 

also, some of those rates are 'introductory' which means at some point they go up to their regular price.