💸 Financial Friday: Subscriptions
Subscriptions are one of those sneaky budget categories. They start small, feel harmless, and before you know it, you’re paying hundreds of dollars a year for services you barely use. I’ve worked hard to trim mine down over the years, and at this point, my list is surprisingly short. Here’s what I’m still holding onto — and what I’ve let go.
✅ What I Keep
Netflix – $19.43/month
Old faithful. I’ve had it for years and keep hanging on past every price hike. It houses my comfort show (Grey’s Anatomy) along with plenty of random documentary series I enjoy perusing.
Philo – $28/month
Philo is a TV streaming service with 70+ channels, unlimited DVR, and no contracts. It doesn’t include the big networks (ABC, NBC, CBS, FOX), but it has all my guilty-pleasure channels like ID and TLC — and most importantly, Hallmark for my Christmas movies. I don’t use the live option at all, just the on-demand and recording features, which make it worth every penny.
Walmart Plus – $98/year (sometimes $49 on promo)
I’ve had it on and off for about three years, but it’s a keeper now. Groceries delivered (no braving crowded stores), free shipping with no order minimum, and even free home returns. There are extra perks too — discounted gas at certain stations and a Paramount Plus subscription. It’s one of the few subs that actually saves me time and money.
❌ What I Let Go
Amazon Music Unlimited – $20/month (family plan)
I subscribed for years but finally cut it when the price hit $20. I do miss it, especially now that I have Apple CarPlay, and I might re-subscribe someday. For now, I’m coasting on a free SiriusXM trial and will reassess when that ends.
Kindle Unlimited – $11.99/month
I’ve done a couple of free trials and enjoyed it, especially for indie and small-press titles. But it usually doesn’t include bestsellers or many traditionally published books, and that makes it feel lacking. I even keep a Goodreads shelf of titles I’d read if I re-subscribe, but as a heavy library user, I can’t justify paying for books when “free” is my favorite option. I’ll probably dip back in for a month at a time when my shelf gets too tempting.
Amazon Prime – $139/year
I’ve had an on-again, off-again relationship with Prime. The shipping is convenient, and there’s some good streaming content, but Walmart Plus suits me better right now. I miss the two-day shipping sometimes, but hitting the $35 free shipping threshold and waiting a couple days works fine. I’ll probably circle back someday, but for now, the cost outweighs the benefits.
Clothing Subscriptions (ex: Nadine West)
This was the most fun mail of all time — outfits and accessories delivered monthly — but it just got too expensive. It was more of a “treat yourself” service than a necessity, and I couldn’t justify it long-term.
Other subs I’ve had in the past: MoviePass, Facetune, Effortlessly Healthy meal delivery service, Shudder.
💠Reflection
Right now, I’m sitting at three active subscriptions: Netflix, Philo, and Walmart Plus. Together, they run me about $50/month (or less, with Walmart Plus at a promo rate). Not bad, considering how much value they actually bring to my day-to-day life.
Cutting the others has saved me well over $500 a year. More importantly, it’s forced me to be intentional: only keeping what I truly use and love, and letting go of the “just in case” or “maybe someday” subs that were quietly draining my budget.
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