Is Netflix worth it?

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Over the past year, my wife and I have been on again/off again Netflix subscribers. The idea sounds great in theory- unlimited movie rentals for a pretty decent price with no late fees- but in practice it never worked out like we thought.

Netflix is great if you plan on watching lots of movies. However, if you aren’t an avid movie watcher, it might be better just to go to your local video rental store. The problem was that some months my wife and I didn’t rent any movies, but we were still charged the $10 a month subscription fee. Because the amount is automatically deducted from your checking account, it’s easy to forget that you’re being charged. We finally decided to give up Netflix. We don’t have the time to watch the amount of movies that would make the service worth it.

We found that a better alternative to saving money on movie rentals is checking out movies from the local library. You would be surprised the types of films you can find. Best yet, it’s completely free.

Lifehacker has a great post on whether or not Netflix is worth it. Check it out.

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4 Comments

1. JMG on 08.01.2007 at 11:35 (Reply)

   Of course you are right that Netflix is not worth it if you wind up being charged without watching movies. And naturally the library is even better.

   The only caveat is that you didn’t mention how you GOT to the library or the local video place …

   We stopped using our wonderful locally owned video/DVD rental place because the cost of getting halfway across town and back to drop off or pick up 10 gm plastic discs was way out of proportion. Netflix not only provides some convenience, it also eliminates trips, and eliminating trips saves a lot of money.

2. Reel Fanatic on 08.01.2007 at 12:35 (Reply)

   The library is indeed a great option .. I still watch at two Netflix movies a week, though, so it has remained an attractive option for me

3. Wendell on 09.01.2007 at 07:18 (Reply)

   Our library charges $1/day late fees, which I find as a major drawback. Just something else to consider.

4. The Best of Frugal Law Student 2007 | The Frugal Law Student on 31.12.2007 at 10:17

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