While self-hosting offers appealing independence, it’s not always a complete escape from subscriptions. Realistically,most of us rely on a few essential services,adn even dedicated self-hosters sometimes opt for subscription-based Virtual Private Servers (VPS) too run their setups.
I’ve found that identifying truly *essential* subscriptions is key to a manageable digital life. These aren’t impulse buys, but tools that genuinely save you time, money, or frustration in the long run. Here’s a look at subscriptions worth keeping, and why a complete rejection of all paid services isn’t always practical.
### Some Subscriptions Are a Must-Have
while self-hosting is often touted as a way to free yourself from subscriptions, the reality is that most of us will have some sort of essential subscriptions. Even when it comes to self-hosting, some people choose to host their services on a subscription VPS.
I’m always looking for ways to streamline my budget, but these subscriptions will stick around for a while. And when I do make changes, it will likely be a switch from one provider to another, rather than choosing to self-host something like email or a website by myself.
4 ways you can save money with a NAS at home
A NAS is the perfect companion for our modern digital lives.
