Money Matters

Issue #102

Today’s Topics

  • Money Does Not Grow on Trees 🌳

  • Subscription Fatigue 😫

    5 Mins Read Time

Money Does Not Grow on Trees 🌳
By Jo

Let’s BE REAL: money doesn’t grow on trees. Yet so many people measure themselves against others, thinking their peers are “living better” or “more successful,” especially when they feel like they’re just surviving or struggling to thrive.

Here’s the truth: a lot of the people out here buying new cars, homes, and luxury items are either running up credit, going into debt, or hoping things work out. They’re operating with a mindset of, “I’ll figure it out later.” Meanwhile, others may come from families with a legacy of wealth—built over decades through savings, investments, and disciplined financial habits. That inheritance often gives younger generations a leg up, whether it’s a house, land, or other assets.

I’ve seen this firsthand. Older generations who saved and invested their money are often passing down resources to younger family members. It’s not just about wealth—it’s about carrying on a tradition, trusting that the next generation will honor and grow what they’ve built. Sounds morbid, maybe, but it’s reality.

Unfortunately, money and assets can easily be mismanaged. I’ve got a personal example: I was entitled to hundreds of acres of land after my grandfather passed. But because I didn’t live in the area, other family members who did were able to claim and sell it before we could intervene. That land eventually ended up in the hands of people who sold it for millions. We missed out—not because of lack of entitlement, but because of access, timing, and poor financial decision-making by those who controlled it.

This is not an unusual story. Many families face the same challenges: access to wealth without the literacy or discipline to manage it wisely. Greed, need, or simply lack of understanding often leads to decisions that erode generational assets.

So, if you’re feeling down about money, remember this: it’s not just you. It’s part of a larger, generational picture. Times are changing rapidly, and many young adults are entering adulthood amid unprecedented economic shifts. The best thing we can do? Understand that wealth takes time, discipline, and planning. Money does not grow on trees, and instant success rarely reflects reality.

The Golden Rule: Focus on building your foundation, learning financial literacy, and making decisions that will serve you long-term. The rest? Perspective will help you navigate.

Subscription Fatigue 😫

By Marcus

Are you tired of having a subscription attached to almost everything you use in life?

I’m sure at some point you’ve paid for a subscription, only to realize you rarely or never used the service or product. It probably seemed like a good deal at the time—but in retrospect, it was a waste of money.

Recently, I was using a service to help create a slide deck presentation for one of my projects. I don’t make slide decks often, so I only needed the tool for about a month. I signed up for a 7-day free trial—which I forgot about (my fault, 100%)—and was charged the full $150 for the year.

I reached out to request a partial refund and offered to pay for just one month of service at $50. The customer support team replied that it didn’t make sense to pay $50 for one month instead of keeping the “better value” annual plan for $150.

I explained that I didn’t need a year—just a month. The service was great, and I was happy to pay for the time I used it, but I had no interest in paying for time I wouldn’t use when that money could be better spent elsewhere.

That’s one of the challenges today: most subscription models are designed to push you toward the plan they want you to buy. In the short term, it can feel like a win—but long term, that’s not always the case.

You vs. Subscriptions

Recurring revenue is great for businesses, and a fairly priced subscription that genuinely provides value can be a win-win for both sides. But pricing tiers and auto-renewal traps have become so unfriendly to consumers that it’s becoming impossible to ignore.

So, here are a few practical tips to help you take control of your growing subscription list:

1. Evaluate usage honestly.
How often do you actually use the service? If a few weeks or a month is enough, pay for that period and cancel before renewal. Don’t keep paying “just in case.”

2. Reconsider “Premium.”
Are you truly using all the premium features you’re paying for—regularly or even occasionally? If not, downgrade or cancel. You might find you don’t miss it.

3. Rotate your streaming services.
With so many platforms splitting up content, try subscribing only when multiple shows you like are available. Watch what you want, then cancel. I sometimes cancel right after subscribing so it doesn’t auto-renew after 30 days.

4. Look for one-time licenses.
For tools or software you use often, consider a one-time lifetime purchase instead of ongoing payments. Marketplaces like AppSumo offer lifetime access to software at a fraction of the subscription price.

The Old Days Are Gone

Subscription models are too profitable to ever go away—they’re here to stay. But you can still take intentional action to reduce the pressure on your bank account.

We all have subscriptions that are worth it—the ones we use often and can justify. Then there are the others that feel like traps, keeping us in a slow, quiet cycle of unnecessary spending.

Since subscriptions aren’t going anywhere, the best we can do is make sure we’re getting real value for our money.

It takes a little extra effort to be strategic, but those small financial decisions compound over time.

What do you really have to lose by trying something different?

Fall is here…

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