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How to Survive With Basic Cable

Basic cable provides a limited number of of channels. Basic cable is typically local network stations (ABC, NBC, CBS and FOX, along with PBS) as well as the newly formed CW stations with some other cable channels such as TBS or WGN. Depending on where you live, you might get two or more of the local network stations. What you are not getting with basic cable is ESPN, MTV, VH1, Comedy Central, History and other popular channels.

Things You'll Need

  • Board games
  • card games
  • Internet
  • A DVD or VHS player
  • A Netflix account
  • Video games
  • The Outdoors
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Instructions

  1. How to survive with basic cable

    • 1

      If you are married, you and your spouse should agree on a board game to play and play it while watching basic cable -- unless "30 Rock" is on.

    • 2

      Card games. Do you like Uno, Phase 10, War, 52 pick up? If you have a favorite card game, play it.

    • 3

      Make sure you have an Internet connection to check Facebook, e-mail, or go to Hulu.com and watch the television shows you'd rather be watching.

    • 4

      Do you have any movies or television shows on DVD lying around the house? Pop them into your DVD player.

    • 5

      A Netflix account brings countless movies and television shows into your house. My wife and I have watched "Rome," "Deadwood," "The Tudors," "John Adams" and "Six Feet Under" with Netflix as well as older series such as "Doogie Howser, M.D.," "The Dinosaurs" and more by having this as an option over basic cable.

    • 6

      Video games are even more important. Basic cable can get boring. But with a Nintendo Wii, you can relive your childhood with the games available on the virtual console or you could be having fun racing on MarioKart Wii.

    • 7

      Go Outdoors! There are plenty of activities you can do.

    Outdoor activities

    • 8

      Go for a walk.

    • 9

      Get a set of yard games and play croquet, bocce ball, horseshoes or badminton.

    • 10

      Get bikes and go for bike rides.

    • 11

      Go to a local state park and go for a walk or hike there.

    • 12

      Go golfing.

    • 13

      Go Frisbee golfing (if you can find a course near where you live).

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