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This Is Uncomfortable

This Is Uncomfortable

Subscribe and save... or not?

Jul 30, 2026 · 32 min · 15 segments

How many subscriptions are you paying for right now? Whether we’re watching TV, listening to music, or even just storing photos, it feels like we are required to rent so many parts of daily life these…

How many subscriptions are you paying for right now? Whether we’re watching TV, listening to music, or even just storing photos, it feels like we are required to rent so many parts of daily life these days. Reema talks to tech reporter Lance Ulanoff and finance writer Hanna Horvath about the origins of the subscription economy, what lies ahead, and how we can cope. Plus, we’ve got another edition of “Alice Gets Her Life Together,” where producer Alice Wilders joins Reema to investigate their own subscriptions and find ways to cut costs. If you like this episode, share it with a friend! And let us know what you think by calling 347-RING-TIU or emailing [uncomfortable@marketplace.org](mailto:uncomfortable@marketplace.org) If you want to answer our “Uncomfortable Money Questions” see more info here. Follow us on Instagram and Tiktok! Support This Is Uncomfortable with your donation today: https://bit.ly/mkp\tiu\pod

How many subscriptions are you paying for right now? Whether we’re watching TV, listening to music, or even just storing photos, it feels like we are required to rent so many parts of daily life these…

Show signals: SuitabilitySafeBiasNot politicalAudience≈162k followers

Spotify Apple Podcasts YouTube Amazon Music Website

Speakers: Reema KhraisHostLance UlanoffGuestHanna HorvathGuestAlice WilderPanelist

Top entities: Lance Ulanoff×17 Raymond James×5 Optum×5 Spotify×8 Apple×6

Follow-Up: Rima & Alice Reveal Savings30:14 – 33:56

R

Reema KhraisHost

30:14

We both sat down and went through our subscriptions to see what we can cut out.

A

Alice WilderPanelist

30:19

Okay.

A

Alice WilderPanelist

30:20

Hi, Rima.

R

Reema KhraisHost

30:21

Hello, Alice.

R

Reema KhraisHost

30:22

We are back.

R

Reema KhraisHost

30:23

Before we go, we need to share.

R

Reema KhraisHost

30:25

We need to reveal our number, how much money we're saving.

R

Reema KhraisHost

30:28

What did you cancel and how much are you saving?

A

Alice WilderPanelist

30:30

So I decided to cut that stretching app and...

A

Alice WilderPanelist

30:35

I'm not cutting these two things, but I am moving to a family plan.

A

Alice WilderPanelist

30:39

So my partner and I and my partner's sister and some of our friends, we're going to a family plan for Spotify and for YouTube premium, which should save us a decent chunk of money.

A

Alice WilderPanelist

30:49

And then this is not like technically a subscription, but I have a credit card with an annual fee.

A

Alice WilderPanelist

30:54

And I think I'm going to switch to a credit card that doesn't have an annual fee.

A

Alice WilderPanelist

30:58

Cause I'm like, why am I giving you $95 a year to have this credit card? Yeah.

A

Alice WilderPanelist

31:03

I'm not getting into an airport lounge.

A

Alice WilderPanelist

31:05

Like what is this?

R

Reema KhraisHost

31:07

Okay.

R

Reema KhraisHost

31:07

So what's the total number?

A

Alice WilderPanelist

31:08

So my new total for the year is $790.

A

Alice WilderPanelist

31:13

So I'm saving $415.

A

Alice WilderPanelist

31:14

That's

R

Reema KhraisHost

31:15

amazing.

A

Alice WilderPanelist

31:16

Yeah.

A

Alice WilderPanelist

31:16

It's really nice.

A

Alice WilderPanelist

31:17

I'm going to like take that money and put it in a high yield savings account.

Lance UlanoffPersonAmerican commentator
99%17 mentions
Raymond JamesCompanyInvestment banking company
96%5 mentions
OptumCompanyHealthcare company
94%5 mentions
SpotifyCompanyCompany
92%8 mentions
AppleCompanyTechnology company
89%6 mentions
Amazon.comCompanyMultinational conglomerate company
87%5 mentions
MarketplaceRadio SeriesRadio program
85%7 mentions
SubstackSoftware ApplicationWebsite
82%1 mention
Zohran MamdaniPersonMayor of New York City
80%3 mentions
TechRadarWebsiteSite
77%3 mentions
Jane AustenPersonWriter
75%1 mention
Mitsubishi ElectricCompanyElectronics company
73%4 mentions
Hanna HorvathPersonFinancial planner
70%1 mention
RAYMOND JAMES & ASSOCIATES, INC.CompanyBank
68%1 mention
InstagramSoftware ApplicationSocial networking service
65%7 mentions
OdooSoftware ApplicationSoftware
63%7 mentions
BitlySoftware ApplicationSoftware
61%1 mention
TikTokSoftware ApplicationWebsite
58%3 mentions
YouTubeWebsiteVideo sharing company
56%3 mentions
New YorkCityCity in New York State
54%2 mentions
TikTokWebsiteCompany
51%1 mention
PeacockCompanyTelevision network
49%2 mentions
GodEntitySupreme being
46%2 mentions
App storeEntityType of software
44%1 mention
CrunchyrollCompanyEntertainment company
40%1 mention
PBSCompanyBroadcasting television network
40%1 mention
HuluOrganizationTelevision network
37%1 mention
NetflixEntityTelevision broadcaster
35%3 mentions
MetaCompanyTechnology company
32%1 mention
AdobeCompanyComputer software company
30%1 mention
iPhoneProduct ModelSmartphone
27%1 mention
Apple NewsSoftware Application
23%1 mention
FitnessEntity
23%1 mention
iCloudSoftware ApplicationDownloadable software
23%1 mention
Paramount+OrganizationTelevision channel
18%1 mention
LibbySoftware ApplicationSoftware
15%1 mention
The New York TimesPeriodicalNewspaper
13%2 mentions
Joanne GriffithPersonFounder of Jane Hannah Media
11%1 mention
The New YorkerPeriodicalMagazine
8%1 mention
ChristmasEntityCelebration
6%1 mention
EarthPlacePlanet
4%1 mention
The Washington PostPeriodicalAmerican newspaper
1%1 mention

Society
EconomicsBusiness
Subscription ModelsMedia > Television > Streaming Services
Subscription ServicesBusiness > Economics > Consumer Behavior
Consumer CultureSociety > Lifestyle
LifestyleSociety
Subscription EconomySociety > Lifestyle > Consumer Culture
Consumer TrendsMedia > Television > Streaming Services > Subscription Models
Behavioral FinancePsychology
Consumer PsychologyPsychology > Behavioral Finance
Consumer BehaviorBusiness > Economics
Technology
AppsTechnology > Software
Psychology
Business
Media
TelevisionMedia
SoftwareTechnology
Streaming ServicesMedia > Television
Financial ImplicationsBusiness > Economics > Consumer Behavior > Subscription Services
Psychological ImpactSociety > Lifestyle > Consumer Culture > Subscription Economy
Subscription-Based ServicesTechnology > Software > Apps
User ExperienceTechnology > Software > Apps > Subscription-Based Services
Ownership vs. SubscriptionPsychology > Behavioral Finance > Consumer Psychology
Identity and ConsumptionPsychology > Behavioral Finance > Consumer Psychology > Ownership vs. Subscription

Follow-Up: Rima & Alice Reveal Savings30:14 – 33:56

R

Reema KhraisHost

30:14

We both sat down and went through our subscriptions to see what we can cut out.

A

Alice WilderPanelist

30:19

Okay.

A

Alice WilderPanelist

30:20

Hi, Rima.

R

Reema KhraisHost

30:21

Hello, Alice.

R

Reema KhraisHost

30:22

We are back.

R

Reema KhraisHost

30:23

Before we go, we need to share.

R

Reema KhraisHost

30:25

We need to reveal our number, how much money we're saving.

R

Reema KhraisHost

30:28

What did you cancel and how much are you saving?

A

Alice WilderPanelist

30:30

So I decided to cut that stretching app and...

A

Alice WilderPanelist

30:35

I'm not cutting these two things, but I am moving to a family plan.

A

Alice WilderPanelist

30:39

So my partner and I and my partner's sister and some of our friends, we're going to a family plan for Spotify and for YouTube premium, which should save us a decent chunk of money.

A

Alice WilderPanelist

30:49

And then this is not like technically a subscription, but I have a credit card with an annual fee.

A

Alice WilderPanelist

30:54

And I think I'm going to switch to a credit card that doesn't have an annual fee.

A

Alice WilderPanelist

30:58

Cause I'm like, why am I giving you $95 a year to have this credit card? Yeah.

A

Alice WilderPanelist

31:03

I'm not getting into an airport lounge.

A

Alice WilderPanelist

31:05

Like what is this?

R

Reema KhraisHost

31:07

Okay.

R

Reema KhraisHost

31:07

So what's the total number?

A

Alice WilderPanelist

31:08

So my new total for the year is $790.

A

Alice WilderPanelist

31:13

So I'm saving $415.

A

Alice WilderPanelist

31:14

That's

R

Reema KhraisHost

31:15

amazing.

A

Alice WilderPanelist

31:16

Yeah.

A

Alice WilderPanelist

31:16

It's really nice.

A

Alice WilderPanelist

31:17

I'm going to like take that money and put it in a high yield savings account.

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