How I survived one month without internet
Ever wondered what you would do without broadband internet? Maybe you considered it after a bad encounter with your monopoly broadband service provider or after you paid your expensive bill. Could you cut your internet cable? Come find out from my month-long experience without broadband internet.
Taking a chance on disconnecting
I moved into a new apartment last month and had to switch my cable internet provider. I sat down and did some research on my smartphone to find the best broadband service provider in my area. I compared prices, looked around a bit and came to the realization that I never really looked at the price of my internet bill before. I simply paid the bill every month automatically and treated it like my water or heating bill.
Before I made the call to the best-rated provider with the highest ratings, I did some thinking. What if I didn't make that call? What if instead I waited until next month and see if I really need it. It's a scary undertaking fraught with potential problems. I might burn up my data on my cell service or break down and beg a broadband provider to come out and hook me up. I began to worry.
I came to the realization that I never actually look at my broadband bill anymore
I thought back to all the times I had difficulties with my broadband internet service. Everyone has dealt with problems from their broadband internet service provider. They don't come when they say they will, they give you shoddy technical help, their prices are outrageous and you don't have many choices. Determined to avoid further heartbreak, I put down my smartphone and didn't call the cable company. My month without broadband had begun.
Broadband freedom isn't free
Not having broadband makes you appreciate your smartphone's data plan a lot more. You have to make more data decisions when you think about downloading something small or watching a quick clip your friend sent you. You must savor every byte.
When I needed updates or wanted to download anything whatsoever I needed to use public Wi-Fi. Working for AndroidPIT gave me a leg up as our Wi-Fi is fantastic. But when I wasn't at work I had to go to places that I normally wouldn't go to like certain bars and coffee shops. I brought my laptop and watched my favorite shows.
I felt the freedom of not having to depend on my broadband service provider along with some extra dough in my bank account. But that freedom came with a cost. I could no longer do any serious online gaming. This is something that got to me after just a few days. As odd as it sounds, I felt less connected to my friends now that I didn't have my broadband. I realized that online gaming was one of the most important social interactions I had with my buddies. Though I made it through the month, I felt like quitting because of this.
Reunited with broadband
My month was over and I was back looking for the best deal on broadband. I didn't feel defeated but enlightened. Yes, I had gone back to broadband and was once again dependent on overpriced and poor service. But I learned something in the process, it's possible to quit cable all-together.
Not having broadband doesn't work if you're a PC gamer. But that doesn't mean it wouldn't work. So many games are on mobile now that it makes it much easier to get a great gaming experience from mobile. You need to keep an eye on your data though and be certain you don't run over.
It would work well if you could get an unlimited data plan from one of the cell phone providers. You could also use one of the hotspot plans available to some of them. You can download many of the movies and shows you watch from there. Then, when you're at home, you can watch them.
Overall, I'm happy that I have my broadband back. There is a convenience with having internet at your home that you don't realize until you don't have it. Cutting your internet cable might work under the right conditions. But I'm glad to have it home.
Could you live without broadband internet service? Let us know in the comments.
Many of us went years without it. Just ask those older than 30
Agreed. I'm a 31yr old. Gawd be the days I'd listen tot eh 28K then I remember the day we got the 56K. Oh boi it was the THEN broadband, hahahaha. I remember downloading ANtiVirus updates or something, and would be so excited seeing how fast the updates would download. hahaha
People do it everyday..Poor poor pitiful you...
With however, It was no bother. I like urself changed over BRoadband companies. It took me a few months thou. At the same time, I just had to do without it. I was more like going around and around with companies. Some wouldn't accept my location etc., However my interaction with my social peers was not affected one bit. Right I lost a few friends on Facebook, big deal, but overall my Social Interaction was not affected. But overall I did miss the internet. That's because I was forced to miss it as I was changing broadband providers.
Yes, I also use both mobile data & home broadband. When it comes to mobile data you have to be more aware that how you use it but in broadband there is not too much concern. Nice article but you managed to get internet service at your office & some other places. Actually you have showcased how to use your resources wisely to cut down the bills.
Good job Cory :-)
What the......oh, okay. I survived almost 8 years with my Mobile Data. So, yeah..this is a useless article since I read androidpit XD
I'm going on a year of no internet service. They just don't provide it where I've moved to. Unless you count dial up... I'd gladly "overpay" for cap free broadband. I'm a gamer and only have 2 gb of data per month on my phone. I've spoken to neighbors, some have lived there for 7 years and no isp. One month is a cakewalk.
You didn't "survive 1 month without Internet" you did 1 month without Home Broadband.
Why mislead?
And you didn't really do that properly as you used WiFi at work & free hotspots!
So your article should say "how I survived using just Mobile Data for a few hours each day"
Doesn't sound as catchy does it....
Peace ✌
My thought exactly
How much do you pay for your Internet? Where I live you can get a 50 mb connection + TV + land line for a phone for 37€ a month
You should be more specific. You did have a data plan and you used public Wi-Fi too. So you didn't and can't survive without internet in today's world. The title of your article should be "How I survived one month without home broadband connection".
yes I could survive without... but I'd be spending far too much time in my local cafe drinking far too much coffee....
Congratulations! Good job!
well, i never use broadband internet service.. so i practically survive with only my mobile data plan for about 2 years..
i survived for 14 days without any internet.....and i was habitual of it but thn governmnt again started net n i became crazy after internet
Congratulations! I think... Hahahah
I thought you survived 1 month without > any type of internet <. I managed to live without any internet for almost 3 days due to technical difficulties. That was a dark period of my life.
I hear ya, LOL!