These days, it feels like more and more things either have memberships or subscriptions. However, that’s not necessarily a bad thing. Some of these signups are genuinely great—but it takes a keen eye to know what’s worth its weight in gold and what’s fluff that’s draining your budget.
Inspired by redditor u/CamHalf, the members of the r/AskReddit online community revealed the top memberships that they personally feel are “100% worth every penny.” Of course, that’s a bold claim. However, many of the internet users were happy to elaborate. Scroll down to see what they had to share!
Bored Panda reached out to the author of the viral thread, redditor u/CamHalf, aka Cameron, who together with Tyler co-hosts the 'Lagers and Loudmouths' podcast. The OP was happy to share his thoughts with us about the types of memberships that are good to embrace and which ones it is best to avoid. Read on for our interview with him!
#1
Public library.
u/Lemonbear63:
Some libraries offer tool rentals and others offer culture passes that allow two people to attend attractions. Absolutely worth the price of free.
u/SlippidySlappity:
We got all sorts of cool stuff. Trail cam, bird watching kit, telescope, tools, Roku with subscriptions, Nintendo switch, toys, yard games, night vision goggles, and more on the way! Libraries are the best!
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We were curious to get Cameron's, aka u/CamHalf's, opinion on memberships, so we asked him which ones he personally values the most. "Outside of the standard streaming services that many people have, the memberships I feel my family gets the most bang for our buck is the public library. It’s free, you can’t beat free!" the co-host of the 'Lagers and Loudmouths' podcast shared with Bored Panda.
"We pay for an annual kid’s science museum membership for my almost 6-year-old son. We also pay for a yearly membership for my wife and son at Dollywood Theme Park. But after reading the thousands of responses to my question, I feel like I need a Costco membership! Unfortunately, our nearest Costco store is over an hour away. But perhaps that’s still worth it. The people of Reddit seem to think so," he said.
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The reality is that many people these days are looking to cut costs to save more money. We wanted to get the OP’s take on how someone might go about evaluating whether or not a membership or subscription is worth keeping if their budget’s in trouble.
From his perspective, this is a relatively simple thing to do. "Are you using it consistently enough to justify the cost? It’s just a matter of sitting down and doing the math to see if the numbers are in your favor. If you use something once or twice a year, it’s not likely worth the membership price. But if you use it weekly or evenly monthly, one might be able to justify the cost."
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According to Cameron, probably few people expect their posts to go as viral as they do. However, he said that he can “certainly see” why the topic got so much attention.
"So, I think people are always trying to get the most bang for their buck, and memberships are often one of the best places to get that bang. They usually have a higher initial cost, but they pay out in dividends as long as you consistently utilize them."
Feel free to check out Cameron and his co-host Tyler's podcast 'Lagers and Loudmouths,' where they address various debatable questions. "We like to do one more serious topic and one fun topic. For example, our last episode that dropped discussed the pros and cons of legalizing psychedelics as the serious topic and ‘who are your top 3 TV dads?’ as the fun topic,” he shared with us.
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From our perspective, there are two broad types of memberships. There are the ones that help you save money and ensure brand loyalty. Then, there are the ones that gobble up your cash in exchange for a (theoretically) useful or entertaining service.
The former would be something like a grocery or retail store membership where you get discounts, collect points, and get all sorts of promotions. Meanwhile, the latter are things like annual memberships to cultural and recreational events and activities, as well as monthly gym memberships or streaming service subscriptions.
In our experience, the memberships and subscriptions that are usually most worth it have two aspects to keep in mind. First of all, they’re ones that you use constantly. Look, many of us have had moments where we imagine the type of person that we want to be. We put in the effort and resources to set up the groundwork.
#10
As a parent, the local children's/science museums. Got more than my money's worth on bad weather days.
u/PinkMonorail:
When my kid was little we had Disney and LEGOLAND passes. Can’t afford Disney anymore and at 29 they’re too old for LEGOLAND.
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u/BramStroker47:
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For instance, you might buy lots of art supplies and sign up for digital lessons, get a gym subscription, or sign up for tango lessons. However, we might not have the energy, willpower, or passion to follow through with that commitment. So that membership or subscription becomes a money sink. It’s a relic of our (lukewarm) desire to be someone else.
So, if an activity isn’t an integral part of your life, cut it out. You’ll save money. But the bigger victory here might be something else entirely: it’s being honest with yourself about who you are and who you’re not. Maybe it turns out that you like the idea of being an artist more than the hard work it requires to become a pro. Or you might want to take some pressure off your shoulders and simply draw or paint for fun.
Similarly, you might realize that gyms aren’t for you. You might not enjoy the crowded social space as much as other people do. Instead, you might prefer jogging, hiking, swimming, tennis, playing team sports, or some other way of moving.
#13
u/Breakfast_1796:
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#14
YouTube Premium. Use it everyday.
u/Mallay:
It's jarring for me when someone else uses YouTube around me and I see an ad play.
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The second aspect that you want to consider when evaluating any membership is to look at how it impacts your life. To put it simply, if the service is something that makes you happy and gives at least some meaning or purpose, keep it. The activity should more or less align with your values and lifestyle.
That might involve signing up for memberships in local heritage foundations, volunteering efforts, or national park organizations, depending on what you value the most!
#16
A gym membership you actually use.
u/pm_me_ur_bidets:
Worth paying extra to join a gym you go to than save money on a gym you dont visit
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#17
TSA Precheck.
u/Puzzleheaded_Key6211:
I have global entry. For a few dollars more it’s definitely more beneficial if you go internationally often
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#18
For ADHDers - ChatGPT, the amount of learning random s**t has increased exponentially since.
I ask it to explain complex subjects to me as if I were a child and once I have the concept I confirm with it by asking it if what I theorize is correct, it'll let you know if it is or isn't and will proceed to explain why it did/didn't.
In my case, the one I stuck with the most was Computer Networking. I struggle with learning and require a little more help. Once it explained what "network", "subnet", "LAN", among other bespoke terminology were, I started to, mentally, build a network from the ground up, checking every step of the way to ensure I was fully grasping the concepts.
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Alternatively, if you're pressed for money but get a lot of use out of your (possibly expensive) memberships, you can always cut costs elsewhere. However, that requires a thorough analysis of your income and expenses. The first step is to come up with a realistic budget. The second is to cut back on your expenses. While the optional third step is to increase your income.
In terms of expenses, you can dial back on dining out and cook more at home. Buying groceries on sale and in bulk can also help you save more than just a few pennies. And you may even want to consider going meatless one or more days a week. Quality red meat is expensive. However, there are plenty of good protein sources out there that are cheaper.
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Similarly, going out for coffee less often isn't going to magically solve all of your financial worries, but those small savings quickly add up. If you think you've cut back on everything realistic, you may want to consider your options for earning more cash, too.
For instance, it might be time to talk to your boss about that raise you deserve. Or you may want to pick up more hours, get a second job, or start a side hustle. Alternatively, if paying the bills, putting food on the table, and enjoying life is getting next to impossible, it may be time to search for a better-paying (and hopefully more meaningful) job.
What memberships or subscriptions have you personally found are worth every penny, dear Pandas? On the flip side, which ones did you find to be overhyped and not as useful as you thought? Share your experiences in the comments.
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#23
Costco… For the chicken and food court alone it is worth it.
u/SibylUnrest:
Also the over the counter medications. It's wild how much cheaper my allergy meds are there compared to someplace like CVS.
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