Remember when you actually owned things?

Once upon a time, when you bought a movie, it was yours. You had a physical VHS or DVD. If you were lucky, it came with a free code for a digital version, and you downloaded it. You watched it offline. You played it on repeat, and no streaming service could suddenly yank it from your library.

You even bought software which was pricey, sure, but once you did, it was yours. Photoshop came in a box. Microsoft Word had a CD. You installed it, and that was it.

Even your printer didn’t have a monthly subscription attached. You bought the ink, you used it, end of story.

Fast forward to now, and we’re stuck in a world where you don’t own anything. You rent. You subscribe. You lease your entire digital (and increasingly physical) life.

Subscription Hell: The Illusion of Convenience

We’ve slid into a model where almost everything from your design software to your to-do list app is sadly now subscription-based.

The new business model is simple: hook you with convenience, lock you into their system, and quietly charge you month after month until you’re spending more and owning nothing.

Even some smart printers won’t print unless your ink subscription is up to date. You heard that right: you own the printer, but if HP doesn’t like your subscription status, it might just stop working.

This isn’t innovation. It’s manipulation.

Why This Is Happening

Here’s why we’re in this craphole:

1. Recurring Revenue Is King

Companies don’t want your one-time $60 payment. They want your $9.99 every single month…forever. Subscription revenue is stable, predictable, and exceedingly more profitable long-term.

2. You Don’t Own Digital Things

You might think you “bought” that album or movie, but check the fine print. You licensed it. At any point, the company can revoke access, change the terms, or take it off the platform.

3. Convenience Makes You Complacent

It’s easier to click “Subscribe” than to research alternatives. And once your credit card is tied to a service, most people just let the monthly charges keep rolling.

How to Fight Back

This isn’t just about money, bestie. It’s about freedom, control, and long-term sanity. Here’s how you reclaim it:

Audit Your Subscriptions

Every 3–6 months, go through your bank statements. What are you paying for? Still using it? Cancel what’s not essential.

Buy It Once, Own It Forever

There are alternatives:

• Use Affinity instead of Adobe (this is something I probably need to take my own advice on)
• Use LibreOffice instead of Microsoft 365
• Buy media digitally with downloads, or get physical copies when possible
• Look for one-time-purchase apps, even if they cost more upfront

Support Ownership-Friendly Products

Reward companies that let you own what you pay for. Tell them why it matters. Post about it. Word of mouth makes a difference.

Avoid the Trap of “Just $5 a Month”

$5 here. $12 there. It adds up. Don’t fall for the low price trick as it’s designed to fly under your radar while draining your wallet.

Ownership Is Not Old-School. It’s Freedom

This era of never owning anything isn’t progress. It’s corporate control beautifully wrapped in a glossy UX sugar-coating. The more we give up ownership, the more we give up control.

Own your tools. Own your content. Own your choices. Because if you never own anything, you’ll always be paying for the illusion of having something that was never really yours.