There is a sexy new model for contemporary products and services called "subscription" [see photo]. I must admit upfront that I have an uncommon bias against the subscription business model and that is why my minimalism program runs on an ownership model. I set the price for this program high [costs approximately US$ 5000 to own] because I need you to own it not to merely rent it or borrow it. Those who rent or borrow products or services have no real skin the game and minimalist must have skin in the game of life. Over recent years I surmised that the subscription model offers us a system that heavily penalises and restricts all of you who need to have skin the game to make your life truly work for you.
Subscribe to this, or that, and never miss out on updates, promotions, sales, etc - right? Well that is the message [or meme] which accompanies any subscription promotion. The message [or meme] is a deliberate lie because it does not include the foregone "opportunity costs". Even if the subscription is "free" there is a hidden cost in the fact that you are not valuing the "opportunity cost" of not making this decision and becoming locked in. But even more important is the "opportunity cost" to you once you are transformed from a consumer to a product. Your data, time, commitment, etc is for sale but not by you. You are sold to advertisers, interlopers [governments], banks, etc as if you are a prime slice of beef.
Remember once you subscribe to a program, service, time consuming entity, etc you immediately severe part of your status as the outsider who makes independent decisions about your time, your personal data, and your network links.
Subscription is used as the new term for leasing but it is not. This scheme works in reverse to decision to lease a car, house, business premises, etc because that transaction enabled you to fulfil a need with minimal downpayment. When you subscribe you pay the full amount upfront because you sign onto an opaque system which can sell you out to businesses, governments, media, etc which you never intended to invite into your life. You may even be subscribing to a service that has strong ties with a totalitarian government - what is the real cost of that subscription to you and to your familial? Then again at the most basic level - if you invite the subscription model into your life then it will be dominated by other people wants rather than your needs.
Richard.
My mind as a minimalist is developed on a unique sense of what I call minimal-you which, in turn, is based on individual needs not collective wants. For instruction on how to establish your sense of you: go to minimal-you.com and hit the "become a minimalist" button in the banner heading. This will take you to a payment scheme for a 10 day programme that will teach you how to design, enforce, and live with mind filters: these help you to be the best person you can be.
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