Get rid of tv and videos-- pros and cons?

[darien]

This is a decluttering and frugality question-- mixed.

Stbx and I are separating; my two dc and I will be moving to a small appartment. Stbx says I can have the tv, but I'm not sure I want it. For one thing, it's 32" of space that I could use for other things!

We barely watch tv-- House, The Simpsons, and an occasional weather report. I can use my computer to watch dvds and shows on the internet, anyways.

The thing is, we have a sizeable collection of kids' videos. Ds5 doesn't watch an overwhelming amount (let's say, 5-10 hours weekly), but most of his fave movies are on videos. We get them at the thrift store for less than a dollar apiece.

If we get rid of the tv, then the videos and vcr go too, of course. Ds5 might not be thrilled, but I can borrow or replace the movies he really misses (as long as there aren't too many!). Ds13 and I will miss seeing our tv shows "first run," but we will presumably get to see them.

I think I've convinced myself! Is there any reason why I shouldn't dump the tv, vcr, and videos?

[honey-lilac]

You can always get a new TV / VCR via Freecycle or Craigslist. The videos may or may not be able to be replaced. I'd choose some of the most important ones to keep, just in case. If you guys make it a certain amount of time (like a year or so) without watching them, maybe your DS won't care about them anymore after all. If he really misses them though I'd hate for you to have "shoulda-kept-this" regret. As a committed declutterer myself, I rarely have regret about things I got rid of but when it happens it's discouraging.

[ArtsyMomma]

I don't think it's a bad idea, but as a single mom I'd like to offer my experience.

I got rid of cable quite some time ago, and that was really a much easier adjustment than I had anticipated. When my 32 in TV stopped working, I did replace it. I got a wall mounted 32 in flat screen (around $500 total for the tv and wall mounting unit). It takes up almost no space - at least space I wouldn't really be using for anything else. I store the kids DVD's in a sleeve/case binder so we don't have all the dvd boxes taking up space.

My kids don't watch tons of videos, most days the TV doesn't come on at all - but I'm glad I have the TV and the DVD's. Sometimes, I just want to chat with my girlfriends on the phone or take a bath without a 2 year old clinging to me. I also like to watch movies, without my laptop battery dying or having to set up everything on the coffee table.

If I were in your situation, I'd try to keep the TV and movies - or downsize to a smaller TV - at least for the transition period.

[claddaghmom]

I'd keep them...at the very least you might be able to sell them down the road or trade them for other things.

[CarrieMF]

why not send the videos to your ex's for when the kids are over there?

[zacharysmom]

also as asingle mom there have been times i have been so greatful to have veidos for my DC to watch when i have been sick and really needed him to be distracted so i could sorta snooze/ were it me id keep them for at least a while.

[mnnice]

I would consider buying a cheap stand alone DVD player for your five year old and checking out movies from the library. We have never really owned too many DVD's (kid or adult) and have used the library nearly exclusively. VHS tapes seem to take a lot of space too.