Spotify $11.99. Netflix $17.99. Disney+ $15.99. Hulu $9.99. HBO Max $16.99. Paramount+ $7.99. Amazon Prime $14.99. Apple TV $9.99.
These are the standard subscription prices for streaming services. This has become the new normal for consuming media such as music, tv shows, and movies.
However, these fees add up quickly. Is the convenience really worth the cost?
Why pay hundreds of dollars a year for temporary access to your favorite content when you could own it forever for one simple payment?
As a child of the 2000s, I love CDs and DVDs. It’s so unfortunate that they are going out of style.
I’m not going to argue that listening to music this way makes it sound better, because honestly I can’t tell the difference. However, I do find the CD experience more enjoyable.
Having to wait forever for your car and phone to connect via bluetooth is so annoying and time consuming. CD’s start playing as soon as you pop them in.
I particularly love watching TV shows and movies from the 2000s for the previews. They’re so nostalgic, but also easily skipped if I don’t have time to watch them.
DVDs and CD’s also don’t require internet connection. So, if your internet goes out or you’re driving through a dead zone, they can still be enjoyed.
Even at full price, physical media is a worthy investment. However, since the rise of streaming services, many people have abandoned their physical media at second hand stores.
This isn’t necessarily a bad thing, considering that this makes CDs and DVDs now cheaper than ever if you know where to look.
If you’re looking to start collecting more physical media, I highly recommend checking out Goodwill, The Peddlers Mall, and Half Price Books. These stores have entire sections dedicated to DVDs and CDs.
You might think the selection will be disappointing, but since so many people have switched to streaming there are tons of actually good movies, tv shows, and albums available.
It’s so sad that as a society we have moved past CDs and DVDs, especially since there is no physical form of this media taking the disc’s place. It’s all subscriptions with content being moved around constantly.
There’s no consistency. I am so tired of Netflix removing all of the movies and TV shows that made me want to pay for it in the first place.
Why should I spend $17.99 to be disappointed when I could spend less than $10 at a second hand store to have my own permanent personal copy of my favorite movie?
Liberate yourself from the $9.99 a month it costs to stream everything. Join me in helping physical media to make a comeback.
