Our 26″ flat screen Sylvania TV died on Black Friday at about 1pm.
We had only had it for four and a half years. To me, that’s not very long. But I suppose that in today’s world of “planned obsolescence” and the fact that there’s always being something better to upgrade to, it probably was.
Darn! That thing cost us over $500 in 2007!
It wasn’t in our Christmas budget – or budget at all – to be replacing a TV that day, despite the great deals everywhere. My hubby, dad and I went out shopping a little bit that afternoon to see what they had, but as we expected, by then all the best deals were sold out.
I did some research and decided that if we would get a new TV, it would make the most sense to get something better and longer-lasting (we wouldn’t want to go through this in less than 5 years again!). I figured a 40″ LED TV would be ideal. But that would be at least $500, and we would need a new TV stand as well…
Since we didn’t have $500 for this, and weren’t going to put one on our credit card, or tap into emergency savings for it (I SUPPOSE this didn’t count as an emergency, right?), we took my 10-year-old, college-graduation-present 20-inch tube TV out of the bedroom and hooked it up in the living room (where we have basic digital cable). Then for the bedroom I bought a 13-inch color tube TV I found on craigslist for $10 (the seller was REALLY nice and threw in some accessories for cheap).
Problem solved.
Except that it was supposed to be a temporary solution until we got a new TV, and now, a month later, no new TV.
HOWEVER…Interestingly, with the smaller, simpler TV now in the living room, I’ve noticed Heidi, our 3-year-old, not asking to watch her cartoons as much. Since that day, she has played with her toys and her 1-year-old brother more.
Woohoo! Okay – yeah – now with all the new Christmas toys, she’s got reason to be more toy-occupied, but seriously! The TV has definitely been on much less…hmmm…
Our lives have actually adjusted fine to this “downgrade” in technology in our home. We still enjoy watching shows, news and movies on my old TV (which keeps going and going!). So honestly, we’re not in any hurry to get the bigger, better deal…and here’s what I’ve learned from this experience:
1) Flat screen TVs do not last that long. Five years is actually pretty good. It’s quite a bummer. Yet tube TVs seem to last longer. Therefore…
2) Used tube TVs are available EVERYWHERE! Craigslist had tons of them when I looked…old ones, huge ones, free working ones. If they weren’t free they were pretty cheap.
3) Life can be just fine without a flat screen TV. I never thought we’d ever be without one yet here we are, but hey, at least we’re NOT $500 poorer!