Top 5 Reasons To Avoid Buying DVDs
January 7th, 2009

DVDs can cost hundreds of dollars. Sure they provide great entertainment, but if your life does not revolve around television shows and movies, why spend like it does? Most television seasons cost $30-$40, and most movies are the same or only slightly less. While it is tempting to have every episode of your favorite show at your fingertips, here are some reasons why DVDs are not worth it.
1. The Internet. You can find virtually anything on the Internet. These days, many station websites put their own shows up for free, with usually only one or two commercial advertisements. They know that the Internet is not only a popular alternative to television, but a new way of watching it. The other way is to search for your favorite show or movie in a search engine like Google and simply type the word “watch” before it. You will get hundreds of results, and these results will lead you to free streaming sites.
2. On demand. Not every cable service offers this, not every person has it, and even if they do not all of their favorite shows are offered. But on-demand cable is a great way to save money on those DVDs. While you won’t have every show at your disposal , it is a great way to avoid commercials and watch series episode by episode, especially those that require sequential viewing.
3. VHS. Yes, VHS still exists, and in my opinion now is the best time to buy them. They are dirt cheap. Video rental stores, which are going out of business left and right, will sell great movies for often less than a dollar. While you won’t have the intense selection like DVDs, you will discover gems you forgot about, and you’ll literally be paying a 34th of the cost for them. Go hunting at used book stores, garage sales, school book drives, and Goodwill stores, and you will definitely find some classics for pocket change.
4. Netflix. Need I say more? How many times are you really going to watch a movie anyway?
5. DVD-R. A blank DVD-R costs much less than a DVD. If your friends have the same taste in movies and shows that you do then you can rely on them to let you rip some DVDs. Or buy one or two seasons instead of all eight, tell your friends to get the others, and then rip each others’ and you will have the full series.
Do you have any tips on watching TV/movies for free?
-Tim King










