When we signed up for cable with Comcast a little more than a year ago, we were offered an introductory rate of about $30/month for basic cable. We thought it was only a 6 month introductory rate, but it lasted for about a year.

Then, last month, our introductory rate ended and our cable bill more than doubled to $67. I called Comcast to see if we could continue our old rate, but supposedly they didn't have any deals available. I asked to reduce my level of service and they told me that I'd have to return my cable box to the service center.

So, Lesley and I decided to cut our level of service to limited basic cable, which gives us channels 1 through 29 and costs $13/month. Our TV antenna doesn't take an analog signal and we watch enough local TV to make it worthwhile to pay for it.

When I got home, I prepared to return our cable box. On the box, there was a sticker that said to call a certain number to return it, so I did, but I figured that I'd just have to take it to the service center anyway, so we left for the service center while I stayed on hold. I was on hold for about 30 minutes and almost made it to the service center before they picked up the phone and told me that I didn't need to call them and just needed to drop it off. Anyway, we got to the service center and there were more than 10 people in line in front of us, but it didn't take too long. We dropped off our box and will basically save more than $600 this year over what we would've paid if we kept our service at the inflated rate.

So, we no longer have ESPN or other cable channels, but fortunately there's nothing major on cable that we'll want to watch in the next few months. We will miss watching Mariners games on TV this summer, as well as the occasional soccer game. But you never know, maybe they'll offer good rates again.