Advise me: What activity should I replace my TV with?

[SpokeyDokey]

@SpokeyDokey
I see now.
I don't have a landline, I have a mobile SIM only contract.

You can get Netflix, etc, on your mobile.

 

[Accy cyclist]

I still have a TV in my flat, but haven't switched it on since November 2019. I listen to my radio these days and er stir out my window for things to complain about for 'entertainment'. 🙄😬

 

[Andy in Germany]

Start building Airfix models, but that could easily get a lot more expensive than £180.

Podcasts on any subject you can imagine. Audible books, a huge plethora of digital radio stations from across the world.

I make models, and because kits are expensive as described, I learned to make models from bits and sheets of plastic and card.

There should be a model railway at some point, and in the meantime I use them to play narrative based tabletop games, so everything gets used: it doesn't just sit in a shelf.

And as Old Hippy says, podcasts are a fantastic substitute for television, I tend to listen to them when I'm making the models.

 

[dicko]

A small Dog, preferably from a rescue or Dogs Trust will keep you entertained and will be your companion for life. Taking the Dog for walkies, playing games and entertaining you a friend for life. Good luck.

 

[Ming the Merciless]

Adult evening classes at a local college?

 

[Pat "5mph"]

My concern, I live alone I'm in my mid 60s,no family around, and I do not know what effect it may have on me, especially the long winter nights.

Last time I had a TV it was, I think, 15 years ago, never watched it even when I had it lol - I'm 63, no family around, like you.
You don't say if money for a broadband subscription is an object, but with that and a tablet or laptop you can watch whatever you like, at anytime you like, from most countries, in loads of languages.
Not BBC, of course, unless you carry on paying your license.
Channel 4, Channel 5, ITV, Freeview (now called U I think), all your TV channels are online for free.
Personally, I find the phone's screen too small to enjoy a movie, it's OK for YouTube or social media.
You already have access through your phone to loads to Ebooks and Audiobooks through your phone.
During the winter you could learn a new skill: I learned all about growing food on YouTube during the winter of Lockdown.
Now I have a dozen fruit trees all thriving, I take care of my garden and the communal back garden, I even make my own compost!

 

[Reynard]

Live sport is my weakness, so yeah, the TV stays.

Writing. I love the escapism. I write professionally, but it's also my hobby. I've dipped into everything from poetry to fan fiction (Babylon 5, Harry Potter) as well as writing original stuff - mainly sci-fi and fantasy.

There's something really satisfying about creating characters and making them navigate the universe that you've come up with - far more so than playing in someone else's sandbox like you do with fanfic. In a way, it's similar to what @Andy in Germany does with his table top games. It's fun, and it stretches your mind.

Painting and drawing is fun too - that can be as cheap or as expensive as you want it to be. A few graphite pencils, a putty eraser, metal sharpener and a pad of decent cartridge paper doesn't cost the earth, and is a good way to get started. You can add other stuff as you go along. A caveat though, and I know it contradicts what I've just said, but don't buy really cheap art supplies. They aren't worth the trouble - been there, done that back when I was a broke student. Stick to recognised brands from your local art supplier.

 

[N0bodyOfTheGoat]

There are regular deals posted on HotUKDeals regarding Three SIMs sold by Scancom, that give you a data quota each month for a one-off payment.

For example, a few days ago there was 1000GB per month until Feb 2028 for ~£67.

https://www.hotukdeals.com/deals/th...ntil-february-2028-with-code-business-4867549

We bought a 500GB SIM at Xmas for ~£90 that expires July 2028 and put it in a ~£190 TP-Link NX200 5G router from Amazon.

Loads of data for TV streaming, albeit that a 4ktv will use ~8GB per hour iirc (don't have one myself, still on HDTV from 2009 which uses ~3GB per hour iirc).

 

[ColinJ]

Something that you might not have thought of trying... developing apps?

If you don't know anything about writing software, there are hundreds or even thousands of excellent free tutorials on YouTube, or low-cost online courses.

You could download the free Godot Engine and use that to save you learning a lot of complicated stuff, which it takes care of for you.

 

[Ratchet Cat]

Get a second hand Lego Classic set from eBay!
Get a DAB radio. Colouring books, reading or puzzles. There’s loads you could be doing.
Try making your own bread.

 

[Shut Up Legs]

I still have a TV, but for about 20 years now it's just been a glorified monitor for my DVD player. I only watch TV shows on DVDs, never on streaming channels. I got so fed up with the increasing number (and duration, and sound level) of advertisements, not to mention inconsistent quality of TV shows, that I decided to only watch shows on DVDs.

I gave up radio listening decades ago for the same reason: too many ads, and the DJs *love* the sounds of their own voices.

 

[Deafie]

We got bed bugs about 15 or 20 years ago and the tv got bagged up and forgotten about. we have never given it a second thought.
TV is shoot

 

[Deafie]

Radio is shoot too

 

[steveindenmark]

I am in Denmark and the TV licence was scrapped in 2022. It is now paid out of everyones taxes and so you do not miss it.

Having said that I only have 2 TV channels as I choose not to pay for a package. Most of my viewing is Youtube or CDs. Our local recycling centre has always got hundreds of cds piled up and you are allowed to take as many as you want for free.

I also read a lot and do a lot of puzzles. I recently got into Temu wooden puzzle. They are good quality, cheap and very tricky. 😁

 

[Mike_P]

Channel 4, Channel 5, ITV, Freeview (now called U I think), all your TV channels are online for free.

U is just the free to air UKTV channels, owned by BBC studios. Of couse all those apps bombard you with adverts.
If you pay ITV £60 you can get ITVx free of ads but there is a crafty alternative re all of them for 3x the cost, along with a PVR annd aerial/sateliite dish lead, called the TV licence.