How To Save Money on TV, Audio, And Network Cables
2 Comments Published by Brandon February 20th, 2007 in On The Cheap, Tips and AdviceRather than buying an “all-in-one” system or spending tons of money on my home entertainment system, I’ve piece mealed a very modest HDTV with 6.1 Surround Sound system over the years. I’ve always been an electronics and audio nerd, and I enjoy building things like this from scratch, attemping to match speakers which will likely sound better with each other, and in general enjoy putting together stuff like that while finding items that are good quality for the money.
However, if there is one thing I’ve noticed over the years, it’s that stores /really/ mark-up cables– everything from network cables, to HDMI cables for HDTV’s. There isn’t much to be made on mark-up on TV’s (especially HDTV’s), so the big stores make-up for it through installation, cables, warranties, etc. Also, the whole Monster Cable thing has been debunked /many/ times. Unless you have an application where you are sending a signal 50-100 feet, pretty much any cable will do. Not to mention, Monster Cable is a bunch of litigious bastards.
You can find good quality cables for much less than even the store brand stuff at your local big-box store just by shopping around a little. Although I have mostly used Parts Express in the past for odds and ends, here are some places I’ve came across which will save you a lot of money if you order cables from them, rather than waste money on the marketing of crap like Monster Cable, as well as avoid the markup of even store brand cables:
Places that I would avoid like the plague when buying cables:
- Best Buy
- Circuit City
- Radio Shack
- add yours in the comments!
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Thanks a lot. I used to be a tech guy, and I agree that a lot of money can be saved by really taking a look at cables and avoiding upsells. Thanks again.
We had been wasting $85 per month on Comcast Cable when we decided that the next time it went up even one cent we’d drop to basic service. In March, 2010, we made a guess that it would go up so we downgraded to basic for about $15 per month. Sure enough, we got a letter 3/25 that they were raising what had been our old rate by $3 per month. We were thrilled to have beat them to the punch.
I’m an attorney for a boutique private bank. I’ve seen the habits of people who are worth millions and have learned from talking to them how they got there. They got there by not wasting a dime, foregoing short term pleasures for long term gain, by investing instead of spending. You can never make money by spending it.
Over a lifetime, you don’t lose $1 million by misplacing it. You lose it $50 at a time, buying things you don’t need and will throw away. Or by paying Comcast for worthless programs peppered with commercials and reruns of the same films. Cancel or downgrade cable today and invest the money in your retirement plan. You can bet that’s where Roberts and the other Comcast executives put the money they drain from you each month.
Good Luck. Change your habits today and don’t wake up one day at age 50 or 60, having earned a lot of money, with nothing to show for it but old Comcast bills and a bunch of receipts from restaurants and bar rooms.