Want to lower your monthly Spectrum cable bill? If you still have a cable bill there’s no doubt you’d like to reduce it. Our bill likes to creep up slowly…as if we don’t notice it! Well, recently we discovered a way to eliminate one of the items on our bill, saving us about $10 a month on our cable television bill. We’re using Time Warner Cable (now Spectrum) but if you’re using another provider look into this option – it could work for you too!
The Time Warner Cable App (Spectrum App)
Did you know Spectrum has an app? We’re going to go over some basics about the app first then show you how you can use it to save you money on your monthly Spectrum cable bill.
What does the Spectrum App Do?
There are several things you can do with the Spectrum app such as: set your DVR, check what’s playing, search for when your favorite show is on, control your cable box, etc. In addition, you can actually watch TV in the Spectrum app.
What TV can you Watch in the app?
If you’re at home, connected to your Spectrum internet, you can open the app on your phone or tablet and watch all the same channels you watch on your own TV!
Which Devices Can Get the Spectrum App?
The Spectrum App is available for:
- iOS for iPhone and iPad
- Android phones and tablets
- Kindle Fire and Fire DX devices
- Xbox One
- Roku Streaming Devices (except 1st generation)
- some Samsung Smart TV‘s
How to Save Money on your Monthly Cable Bill
Ok, Spectrum has an app. But how does that save me money on a monthly cable bill? Here’s how:
- Use the app to watch Spectrum cable on your TV
- Return the cable box to Spectrum to remove the monthly rental fee for each cable box!
How to Use the Spectrum App to Save on your Spectrum Cable Bill
How many cable boxes do you have in your house? We had one in our living room and another in our finished basement so we could get all the channels (in HD) in the basement. But, each box was costing us over $10 each month on our cable bill.
We figured if we could return one of the boxes we’d save over $120 each year on our Spectrum cable bill. And that’s just what we did.
We picked up an inexpensive Roku streaming stick, connected it into the HDMI port in the back of our TV in the basement, signed into the Spectrum app that was on the Roku stick and starting watching all the same Spectrum channels we were getting from our old cable box.
We returned the extra cable box to Spectrum and over $10 dropped off our bill each month. The Roku stick was less than $40 so we’ll save $80 in our first year alone! Now if you have multiple boxes throughout the house this savings could really add up!
What Should you Do?
- Identify which cable boxes you can return to Spectrum. We left one box in our living room which acted as our DVR. (The recording is available in the app….yet.)
- For each box you’re going to return, is it connected to a Samsung Smart TV? (ie: A TV that has apps built into it.) If it is, see if you can add the Spectrum App to your TV. If you can – you’re all done. Return that box and watch your bill drop!
- If your TV can’t access the Spectrum app do you have a Xbox One that you use with that TV? If so, see if you can locate the Spectrum app on the Xbox. If you can, set it up and you’re done.
- Note: Not all Samsung Smart TV’s have the app. We have one but the app wasn’t available for our model. Check this list to see if your model has access to the Spectrum app.
- If you don’t have an Xbox One on the TV either the cheapest option is to purchase a Roku streaming device. There are several available but the cheapest option (since our goal here is to save money) is the Roku streaming stick. Purchase this, set up the Spectrum app on it and return the box to Spectrum or TWC.
What is Roku?
Roku makes devices that connect to your computer like a cable box. However, the Roku boxes are much smaller than a traditional cable box.
Regardless of the style of Roku streaming device you purchase
The Roku has a menu and apps, like a typical smartphone or tablet. Some apps are preloaded onto the Roku and there are hundreds of others you can add as you like. Some of the most popular Roku apps are: Amazon video, VUDU, Hulu, Netflix, Google Play and, of course, Spectrum.
There are so many apps available to search through and use to watch shows, videos, movies and more that you can lost for hours in Roku!
Conclusion
There have been dramatic changes in the cable and TV industry lately. With all these changes it’s hard to keep up with all the options that are currently available. And, without being aware of all the options, it’s easy to get caught spending money when you don’t have to. That’s what we were doing. Hopefully this has helped you to save some money on your Spectrum cable bill and not overpay on your cable bill.
Hi, thank you for explaining this step by step, my neighbor’s spectrum bill is $89.99 and mine is close to $200. She told me her husband has the roku and they only pay for internet. I was wondering how this was possible. I do not have a smart tv or xbox. We do have a Wii and playstation, I think I saw a hulu app and Netflix app will it work with these? I currently use a tv/computer monitor mounted on the wall as a tv. I am also able to use the Spectrum app on my laptop, will I still need a roku?
Isn’t so frustrating how different the bills can be?!!
Thank you for the questions Jeannie. I realized I hadn’t made it quite clear how the Roku works or what it is so I’ve added a bit more information about it. To answer your questions, the Roku would plug into your TV and then has apps you can get on it. There’s Netflix, Hulu, Amazon, Spectrum and hundreds more.
Note: Check the inputs on the monitor/TV you’re using to make sure you have an HDMI if you plan on getting the Roku. If not, you might have to get some type of converter.
Amy
Hi Amy, Is There A Way To Do All The Technical Stuff You Talked About Above And Still Keep Your Landline Phone Number The Same?
If you want to cancel your phone service with spectrum, take a look at the alternative to a landline that we use. It’s about $4 a month for unlimited calling, voicemail, call waiting, etc. We use a system called Ooma. I just checked and you can port your phone number to an Ooma line. Here’s more information if you want to check it out…http://support.ooma.com/home/porting-your-phone-number-to-ooma/
Good luck!
Amy
Thank you for your valuable information about lowering our spectrum (brighthouse) bill. I am paying a package Internet/TV and costing $154. I read that by returning the tv box i would save $120 and i will continue having access of all those channel using the roku box. Does this apply to Orlando,Fl ? It seems incredible !! Is my understanding correct ?
Thanks,
Charles
Charles,
To access the Spectrum TV on the Roku you still have to have a Spectrum account and TV service through them so I doubt you’d save that much. But, you don’t have to use their box to access the TV. So after I got the Roku I was able to return a cable box and save the money they were charging for the box. Unfortunately I didn’t save $120. I wish…cause my bill keeps creeping higher and higher.
Amy
if i use roku for the spectrum TV app and subscribe to the digital plus tier, is that what will stream to all the tvs I have connected via roku?
By using the Roku app you can select your channel on each TV separately. It’s almost like you have a box on the TV. The guide looks a little different but I actually find it easier to use!
Good luck!
Amy