Getting and Spending: Subscriptions and a purchase

As a new-year's cleanup, I cast a beady eye on the subscription services line in my household budget, which had ballooned like sourdough starter in the back of the fridge during the pandemic, and never got punched down until now. It was a hodgepodge of video streaming services; media outlets content that costs extra; Substack and independent newsletters. I had cancelled the one still-delivered print magazine, then subscribed to the digital version. 

It added up to a good chunk of change, and aside from the New York Times Cooking feature—because I need to make a cookie as big as a dinner plate—I could go months without reading any of the subscriber-only content.  

Subscriptions have always been with us, but in the past five years the model has overtaken actual ownership in new categories, such as clothing rental and meal-box deliveries. 

And just try to get out of it! I tried to cancel The Idler, whose spirited "Drinks with the Idler" Zoom meetups lifted my spirits during lockdown, but I had skipped them once I went out again, because 6 p.m. in London is 1 p.m. here. I emailed a polite request. The result: they renewed my subscription twice. Someone is indeed idle over there.   

The Passage is free partly as a protest against the creep of the subscription culture; another reason is that I don't want economic barriers in the way of me importuning women to wear pearls! 

Kidding aside, most readers have to watch their expenses. If money is no object, you can find Instagram posts of women unboxing handbags worth the GDP of some countries, but here, we mind our pennies.

Toasty, solid, Canadian—and you can own it

Speaking of values and budgets, I recently bought a jacket from Anián, whose repurposed textiles are sewn into casual coats and shirts in Vancouver. Everyone in the family is wearing these clothes, but I resisted until an eleven-year old melton coat sent in its resignation.

I chose the Georgia, a thick, plush jacket with double pockets (side-entry and button flap) in a moody blue called "Aurora":

And it's washable!

I could not be happier with the Georgia, which is comfy for late winter-to spring walks, and also a boon in cafés where the only table left is the one close to the door.

It is presently on sale in the site's Last Chance section; price, $CAN 133.  Hope anyone interested isn't too late for the sale.

The coat is on the back of my desk chair, where I'm sitting to prune more subscriptions. Some are worthwhile, others are going; any new ones have to earn their keep. 

They have infected every realm of life. Next thing you know, the hairstylist will be offering subscriptions if you want the premium shampoo and the coffee shop will require a subscription to use a ceramic mug.