In May, I canceled all of my streaming service subscriptions.

My reasoning was two-fold: One, I was curious how much my partner and I spend on all of the services combined and what we could do with that money instead. And two, most importantly, I felt my consumption of the endless TV shows and movies draining my energy, dulling my spark for the things I’m actually passionate about, and taking away from quality time with my partner. 

“I often thought to myself that I didn’t really care about or even like the content I was watching.”

Every evening we’d watch up to two hours of a show, and on weekends we’d marathon a couple movies or several episodes of TV. I often thought to myself that I didn’t really care about or even like the content I was watching. When I registered that these were the actual thoughts I was having, I knew it was time for a change. 

I love a dramatic shift, and I equally love an experiment, and luckily my partner is no stranger to my ways. He was down as well — as a frugal guy he was personally excited to see how much money we could save! 

The sudden cancellation was a thrilling decision and my way of intentionally exploring the feelings I was having.  

The adjustment period 

I canceled subscriptions to HBO ($18.50), Amazon Prime ($16), Netflix ($18), Disney+($12), and one video subscription on Substack ($7). 

In total, we canceled $71.50 per month of streaming service subscriptions. We had the immediate gut reaction that we’d rather be spending that money on hobbies or travel. This is not where we wanted to put $858 a year (which could pay for round-trip flights for two!!!). Seeing these real numbers was an immediate realignment of values. But not only did my spending values realign, but the way I was spending my time slowly began to realign as well. 

“Not only did my spending values realign, but the way I was spending my time slowly began to realign as well.” 

In June, we were weaned off of our subscriptions as they ended throughout the month. Each streaming service had a different end date, so we glumly watched as they dwindled one by one. We switched on Netflix and the notification that “Your subscription has ended” popped up. So we switched to Prime to get our fix. Until, finally, they had all run their course. 

One of my favorite shows, “House of the Dragon,” released a new season right after our HBO subscription ended. My partner asked if I was sure I didn’t want to start our subscription back up. 

“I’m sure,” I said.

Did I really need to watch that show right now? 

As June faded into July, and all of our streaming services disappeared, I found I didn’t feel their absence. My habit of reaching for the remote shifted in a different direction, one that I actually feel aligned with. 

What I’m doing instead 

Renting DVDs from the library 

The initial shock of all of our streaming services ending was lessened by renting movies from the library. I didn’t cancel our subscriptions because I’m against watching TV shows and movies, but because I was consuming fast content that felt meaningless just to avoid boredom. 

“I didn’t cancel our subscriptions because I’m against watching TV shows and movies, but because I was consuming fast content that felt meaningless just to avoid boredom.”

I started using my local library app to rent DVDs and Blu-rays that are on a list of Oscar-nominated and winning movies from the last 20 years. It’s been so fun to intentionally seek out these movies, wait for the movie to arrive at the library (typically it takes 2-7 days), pick it up, and slip it into our player (we use an Xbox, but DVD players can still easily be found at thrift stores). The clicking of the disc in the player and the movie home screen menu is soooooo nostalgic. There is a certain joy I feel returning to this very physical practice and reminding me of my 90s-kid roots. 

This simple change is helping me take advantage of the free public services available in the U.S. and is instilling intention in my consumption. Instead of 14 hours+ spent streaming a week, I’ve reduced it to around four hours by watching only one or two rented movies. 

You can also rent TV shows from the library! I’m planning to put Girls on hold next.  

Completing The New Yorker crosswords

My favorite replacement for watching streaming services has been completing The New Yorker crossword puzzles with my partner. I’ve been receiving The New Yorker once a week since the start of the year (I know, another subscription, but I personally will pick a fight that a paper subscription is far superior to a streaming subscription ☺️).

We’ll lie around for an hour or more as I read off the clues and we both guess the answers, ideate together, and slowly fill in the entire puzzle. It’s been a tradition I’ve started to incorporate into long weekend hangs with friends and family too! I feel so much satisfaction and connection doing this with the people I love. 

A person holds four sketchbooks open on a table, displaying colorful drawings and sketches, with metal clips holding the pages flat.
Person wearing a white and red shirt and brown pants holds a silver film camera with a beaded strap. Visible arm tattoos and two rings on their hand.
A person completes a crossword puzzle in a New Yorker magazine while seated on a patterned rug; another issue of the magazine is partially visible beneath.

Making more art

After dinner and on lunch breaks, I’ve been mindlessly playing in my sketchbook — scribbling, painting, writing. I don’t put pressure on myself to make anything specific, just try to decompress from the day by putting down my thoughts and feelings through pencil marks. I’ve also made time for some of the crafts I’d been putting off, like beading a wristlet for my film camera! 

Going on walks & bike rides 

Post-dinner walks or bike rides in my neighborhood are becoming more frequent. Instead of watching a TV show past sunset, I head out after dinner in the warm night air for some gentle movement, which is great for both digestion and blood sugar regulation. 

Playing guitar 

Though I’m not a musician, my partner is a guitarist and has felt inspired to play his guitar more and learn new songs. Cutting streaming services is truly helping us invest more time in our respective hobbies! 

Making meals from actual cookbooks

I’m finally getting around to cooking recipes from a cookbook I recently acquired! It sounds silly, but we’d often bypass making dinner just to watch our shows faster. It’s been rewarding making meals from scratch since reclaiming our time. 

A bowl of green grapes, chopped cucumber, sliced almonds, and garlic are arranged on a counter near a cookbook and utensils.
A bowl of creamy white soup garnished with almond slices and a drizzle of oil sits on a white surface next to a spoon, a ceramic container, and a cookbook.

Reading more 

As a replacement for my time sinking into the couch at the end of the night, I’ve been reading. We all know this, but I loved the reminder that reading is naturally de-stimulating and puts me to bed faster than watching a show ever did. 

Going to bed early

Instead of staying up late because I’m caught in a TV show marathon, I’ve had many nights where I bypass watching anything altogether and instead take my time getting ready for bed and go to sleep early. I realized how often I had watched a show even though I was exhausted and probably should have just gotten my sleep. I’m leaning into being a sleepy girl! 

Will I ever return to streaming services? 

I plan to spend the rest of the summer without streaming services, and I’m not sure when I’ll add them back into my life. When I do so, I plan to do it intentionally. Maybe only one streaming service subscription at a time. Maybe just two nights a week as streaming nights. Now I know there are options instead of getting swept up in saying yes to every single one! 

“Though I’m sure a day will come when I desperately want to see my favorite show… this summer break has shown me that I’ll also be okay without it.”

Though I’m sure a day will come when I desperately want to see my favorite show or keep up on the latest movie everyone is talking about, this summer break has shown me that I’ll also be okay without it. There are plenty of other things to do instead.

Overall, streaming services were distracting me from what is truly calming, restful, connective, and inspiring for me, and canceling them has given me the gift of intentional consumption, lower monthly spending, a more nurtured connection with my partner and loved ones, and ultimately encouraged me to fill the lulls in my days and nights with hobbies that actually support my wellbeing.

Stevie Rozean is a writer and wedding planner based in Joshua Tree, California. She has a Bachelor of Science in Journalism and writes about her pursuit of a creative life on her Substack, Mixed Multitudes. In her free time you can find her sketching with her friends at art club, curating her home through flea market finds, and exploring the desert.