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The Subscription Trap: Still Paying for What You Own...Forever.
The shift from ownership to access and how it’s shaping more than our spending. It’s shaping how we live.
Devin Almonte
December 04, 2025
Hi friends,
You may have heard by now that some car companies are rolling out monthly subscriptions for things like heated seats, GPS, even safety features.
These are not upgrades or add-ons. These are features already built into the car. Hardware you can see, touch, and technically… already paid for.
But unless you keep paying, you can’t use them.
At first glance, it seems like just another modern-day business model. But I think it reveals something deeper.
We’re watching ownership slowly dissolve into access. And one convenience at a time, we hand over control.
That’s what this today’s main story is about. It’s not just what subscription models are doing to our wallets, but what they’re doing to how we live. What we expect and what we accept.
Because when everything becomes a subscription, we stop looking for permanence. We stop expecting to fully own anything. And before we know it, we’re renting our way through life. Is this good?
That’s the conversation I’m inviting you into today.
🎧 Listen to Episode 131: “The Subscription Trap. Still Paying for What You Own”
Start around the 7:00 minute mark if you want to jump straight to this story. Listen.
Have a blessed week.
Devin
Today’s episode:
Here’s what’s on today’s InSight Out Show:
⚓ Anchor Point: Too Much for One Visit
People are using AI chatbots like digital confessionals, typing in secrets and regrets they don’t feel safe sharing anywhere else. It feels safer than talking to God. But it’s not holy. This Anchor Point looks at what happens when we offload our souls into machines, and why healing still requires presence, not just privacy.
🛂 In The News: Forgot your ID? Get ready to pay.
Starting in 2026, TSA plans to charge a $45 non-refundable fee if you show up at security without a valid ID. They’ll walk you through an online verification process at the airport, but there’s no guarantee it’ll work. Another reminder that everything (even forgetfulness) has a fee now.
🚗 Feature Story: Still Paying for What You Own
Car companies are turning built-in features like heated seats, GPS, and even emergency crash notifications, into monthly subscriptions. You already bought the car. The hardware is there. But you can’t use it unless you keep paying. And this isn’t just about vehicles. It’s a shift in how we live. Ownership is being replaced with access. The power to fix, use, or decide is being quietly handed off to the companies behind the system. What does that do to how we think… and who we’re becoming?
🌍 The Bigger Lens: Living Like Renters. Paying like Owners.
We don’t fully own our music, photos, or even our homes anymore. It’s all subscription-based and it’s changing more than just our budgets. It’s reshaping our entire lives. Let’s be aware.
🎧 Come join me. Listen.
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