Conscious consumption of digital services

Access doesn’t necessarily mean value

An educational app offers an annual subscription for 72 euros or a monthly one for 9 euros. If you use it all year, the annual option is cheaper. But if you only need the service for two months, two monthly payments would total 18 euros. These are hypothetical prices that don’t include additional fees; the result depends on how you actually use the service and its specific terms.

When considering a subscription, distinguish between being able to use something and getting real value from it. A large catalog of courses won’t mean the same to someone who studies regularly as it does to someone who needs one specific topic. Check whether another service you already pay for meets the same need. Even a cheap membership is another commitment if the payment recurs regularly.

Before confirming, check the billing period, automatic renewal, cancellation terms, and any restrictions on access. Don’t rely on general rules from another platform. If you’re trying the service out, decide what specific benefit you expect and set a reminder to make a decision before the next payment. The reminder won’t cancel the subscription by itself; you still need to take action.

Don’t decide based only on how much time you spend in the app. A short session can solve an important task; a long browsing session may not get you the result you want. If the service no longer serves its original purpose, reconsider whether to keep it. The money you’ve already paid is in the past; decide whether to pay for the next period based on the expected benefit and future cost.