Netflix announced their price will increase by $2 a month. Amazon will also join the club and raise the monthly subscription for Prime by $2.
$2 is not a lot. Some of us might be able to round that up just by looking for change under the couch cushions. However, between the two subscriptions, our costs go up an additional $48 a year.
Still, that seems reasonable when we consider everything we get.
Amazon’s streaming service is included with its main membership and Netflix boasts an endless flow of content. Between the originals and the classic shows, I could stream my favorites for years non-stop and still not reach the end of their catalog.
However, I believe Netflix and Amazon have overestimated their cost-to-value, and now is the best time to unsubscribe. Our lives, and our wallets, will be so much better for it.
Not sure you believe me? Here’s what I mean.
One of my goals for this year is to actually declutter. I want to make space for the stuff I love by getting rid of the stuff that’s just stuff. While I’m at work, I’ll get a kick of inspiration and feel eager to get started, but then I get home, plop on the bed, and watch TV.
It’s not always Netflix either. Between Jake and I, we have a sub to almost every streaming platform out there. However, when you look at the price chart, most other services are less than $15 or even $10, and Netflix raised the price twice in the last 6 months and is now nearly $20 a month if you want to watch on multiple screens.
These subscription services trap us like a spiraling pit.
- First, they take our money and call it a membership.
- Then, in order to make our money worth it, we give chunks of our life.
TV has always been a time sucker, but streaming shows of our choice at any time made it possible to never look away. Imagine for a moment, if all the time spent staring at the screen was put towards that list of unfinished projects.
Actually, that’s a good idea. Let’s take a moment to make a list. Glance around and write 5 things you’d like to get done in place of screen time. Unsubscribing can be scary, and having a list can help us remember what we’re gaining.
Instead of FOMO let’s have JOMO!
FOMO is the Fear Of Missing Out—it’s that pesky little voice in the back of our head that makes us obsessed with what others are doing and wanting to be included.
JOMO is the anti-venom to FOMO anxiety. Instead of being afraid, we can have joy! Here’s a great article on turning FOMO into the joy of missing out.
Yes, there will be platform-exclusive shows we don’t get to watch anymore—but there are numerous other shows to watch. Amazon’s 2-day shipping is phenomenal—but Walmart offers many of the same products with 3-day shipping for free.
You can order from Amazon without a prime sub, and Netflix saves your favorites for 10 months—within that time you can reactivate and it’ll be like you never left. I dare you to try it, just test what happens and how you feel after 3 months without these subscriptions. If you really need it, you can go back.
But if by the end of 3 months, you discover you feel wealthier and more free, unsubscribing today could be the best thing you do for future you.
Take The unsub challenge: Unsubscribe from a streaming service today.
Can’t decide which one? Pick whatever came to mind first when you thought about letting something go, or whatever you spend the most time in.
Bonus challenge: Create space in your life by unsubscribing from those email newsletters you haven’t opened in months. Every subject line we read is sapped energy we can’t get back. This applies to the Windmill Ways newsletter too! If seeing us in your inbox does not bring joy, please let it go. We want you to build an inbox you don’t avoid looking through!
Karianne is the founder of Windmill Ways. She plays the cello professionally and currently works as an Art Director for a charity. Because she loves animated shows and movies, she studies 3D animation and graduated with a BFA with the unfortunate class of 2020. Her dream vacation would be just staying home, but "home" being a glamorous cabin somewhere in the mountains surrounded by forest.
Favorite band: Lord Huron
Favorite book: This Present Darkness
Favorite quote: "Get all the advice and instruction you can, so you will be wise the rest of your life. You can make many plans, but the Lord’s purpose will prevail." Proverbs 19:20-21 (NLT)
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