Having just basic internet and youtube can go a long way. So you can get creative during a crisis and learn to work with a bit less to get almost as much.

Even a deck of playing cards can kill plenty of time. Pencils and paper are cheap as well.

There are also a few free services. A lot of them (IMDB tv, tubi, etc) show alot of the same movies and shows, but Pluto TV is actually a very interesting service (features content from Viacom and "clip shows" from networks like CNN)

TV antenna is another option if you don't want to pay for land line internet

You can stream most movies and TV shows online for free if you are willing to spend the time looking for them!

Friendly reminder that there is nothing immoral about "piracy" of digital content. Culture should be free, so if you're not in a position to afford content, don't pay for it.

> Culture should be free,

Tell that to the artists who want to make a living making this stuff.

Reading fiction books is a great way to pass time

HBO is offering free streaming of some shows on hbonow.com No signups or credit card entry. Just click and watch.

pluto.tv and coursera are great free alternatives that can entertain and educate :)

A second for pluto.tv

The pirate bay is your friend.

In many cities Comcast and other ISPs are offering free or reduced internet plans - might be worth looking into. And with the libraries closed your point is valid, you do need some outlets.

FYI your local library may offer free streaming services. Mine does with Kanopy. It’s actually pretty good.

You can also rent/stream videos from the library!

Kanopy if your library offers it. Free streaming service, no ads. Lots of good stuff. Depending on one's tastes it might be better than Netflix—some major movies rotate through, lots of classics, quite a few Criterion movies at any given time. Surprisingly poor on the childrens' entertainment front, but that's what PBS is for.