21 Years Ago Today: “Everybody Loves Raymond” a Comedy Classic, Came To An End on CBS

It’s easy to get caught up in the nostalgia when a beloved, decades-old sitcom ends, but we need to remember what this trend signals for our wallets. The closure of long-running network hits like *Everybody Loves Raymond* isn't just a passing cultural moment; it’s a clear sign that the content we grew up with is being digitized and increasingly walled off behind paywalls. When major networks stop airing reruns, that content doesn't magically appear for free—it gets bundled, and those bundles cost money.

This means that the golden age of easily accessible, cheap rerun viewing is largely over. Instead of relying on a single, reliable source for our comfort viewing, we now have to hunt for content across multiple platforms, and that adds up fast. Before you commit to a new streaming service just because it *might* have a classic show you love, take a deep breath and check your budget.

The best defense against streaming bloat is the rotation strategy. Instead of paying for three separate services (one for comedies, one for dramas, one for movies), commit to a service for a month, binge what you need, and then pause it. If you know you want to watch something specific, check if a major telecom provider offers a bundle that includes that service at a reduced rate. By being proactive and cyclical with your subscriptions, you can keep those big service fees from turning into a silent, monthly drain on your bank account.