Enough With the Subscriptions
One of the most popular articles I’ve ever written and published online is titled “I’m Sick of Subscriptions.” I wrote:
“Between streaming services, traditional media outlets, and now individual newsletter subscriptions, I’ve become sick of needing to pay for a subscription to every single thing.”
That piece was published in September 2023. And the subscription economy has only gotten worse. I hate it.
Apps and games for the kids (nearly every kids app works on a subscription model these days), TV/movie streaming, sports streaming, music, media outlets, Substack newsletters, ad-free experiences (games/YouTube), even things like coffee and home goods have turned into subscriptions.
IT’S TOO MUCH.
I used to work for a company that sold software subscriptions. The entire point was to sign people up, get them to commit for as long a period as possible (we introduced 2-year and 3-year plans while I was there), and basically hope for one of two things: 1) that they would get so tied to using the service that they couldn’t quit it because it would be too hard to migrate to something else, or 2) that they would forget about it and keep the subscription for years on end without even using it.
On top of that, all these subscriptions get more expensive every year, and you don’t really know it unless you pay close attention to your email inbox and/or the details of your monthly credit card statement. Or, you do know it and you’re so lazy that you can’t even get yourself to go through the hassle of canceling these things. (That’s me.)
A couple weeks ago I finally got sick enough of the subscription BS to audit what our family was subscribed to and cancel some shit en masse. I even got rid of a few things we actually use simply because I was fed up with the business model. Here’s what I nixed — because I think you, Reader, might find it halfway interesting to spy on someone’s obsessions and errors in judgment:
Netflix (the price hike to $20/month was the final straw)
Peacock
ESPN
NBA League Pass (I love the idea and just don’t use it enough to justify $160/year)
Lingokids (kids app)
Pok Pok (kids app)
Microsoft 365
Spotify (we have YouTube premium, which includes music)
Field Notes quarterly (I loved this, but now have enough notebooks for life)
A few Substack newsletters
One magazine
TL;DR: I saved us many hundreds of dollars per year. It’s a little embarrassing, but here we are. And, honestly, I’m probably forgetting a few.
I understand the subscription model from a business point of view. But also: it’s gotten out of hand. Not all of these companies suck, but most of them do. I’ll leave you with two action steps:
Audit your own subscriptions. You’ll probably be surprised at what you find. There are supposedly apps that do this for you; I don’t trust them (for no reason at all) but your mileage may vary.
Give subscriptions as gifts! Jonny had a great idea all the way back in 2020. Instead of giving your loved ones tchotchkes, accept the burden of a subscription on their behalf. Renew it annually and you won’t have to think about gifts ever again (written with only minor hyperbole).
Jonny. It hurts me to hear that you cut your League Pass subscription but I get it—it’s hard finding time for basketball in the midst of the chaos of life! That is, of course, until the PLAYOFFS, baby! ESPN put out their predictions and after I got done throwing up in my mouth at the idea of the Spurs winning the title I thought through my own predictions and I’m going with OKC to repeat as champs over the . . . CAVS! I feel good about the OKC bit, but the East is a crapshoot. How about you—who you got? Any dark horse champs lurking out there?
Jeremy. Honestly, there’s a pretty good chance I renew League Pass before next season starts. This cycle has happened before. 😂
ESPN’s “official” predictions are always stupid because they’re coming from people I’ve never heard of rather than their smartest, most in-tune reporters. I give them zero weight.
I’ll be rooting hard for Minnesota and Denver; but how do you pick anyone but the Thunder coming out of the West. I think Denver will get to the conference finals, but after being beat up by Minnesota and San Antonio, going through OKC will be tough. In the East, you could pick a team randomly and make a compelling case. I think Detroit gets to the conference finals — they could flame out like last year’s 64-win Cavs, but this Pistons team is way tougher, which counts for a lot in the playoffs. And I hate the Celtics too much to pick them, so I’m gonna say that the winner of Knicks-Hawks (could be either, honestly) beats the C’s.
If you’re making me pick the Finals: my brain wants to go chalk and pick OKC-Detroit. But something unpredictable and unexpected happens every year. My heart is saying Jokic and the healthy Nuggets make one of the great Finals runs ever and beat the Pistons in 6.
Jonny: Nuggets over Pistons in 6!!!! I haven’t seen that anywhere so you get full Nostradamus points if this comes to pass. When it comes to the NBA my negative feelings are more powerful than my positive feelings. Here’s what I mean: I like the Nuggets and Timberwolves and would be happy if they won. But I HATE the Celtics and the Spurs and refuse to watch the finals if those are the teams. It’s a strange way to watch (or not) sports. Instead of asking people about their favorite things I’m going to start asking what they can’t stand. How about you, Jeremy? What is your most hated NBA team?
Jeremy: My hate for certain teams is quite irrational. It’s all about vibes—whatever that even means. Juggernaut Cavs and Heat? Loved ‘em, because I love Lebron. Juggernaut Warriors, C’s, and Thunder? Strong dislike. Right now I’m 100% against the exact same two teams you mentioned. And OKC is approaching that level as well.
Comments? Hot takes? Unsubscribe-worthy disagreements? Let us know. Until next time,
Jonny & Jeremy