Subscriptions That Actually Improve Your Home Life

Not all subscription services are created equal. While some drain your wallet with little return, others genuinely save time, reduce stress, and improve your daily life. Here's our honest breakdown of home and lifestyle subscriptions worth considering—and which ones to skip.

1. Meal Kit Services

What they offer: Pre-portioned ingredients and recipes delivered weekly.

Worth it if: You want to cook more but hate meal planning and grocery shopping. They reduce food waste since portions are exact.

Skip if: You're on a tight budget (they cost more than grocery shopping) or you enjoy picking your own ingredients.

• Average cost: $8-12 per serving
• Time saved: 2-3 hours per week on planning and shopping
• Best for: Busy professionals, couples learning to cook together

2. Home Cleaning Services

What they offer: Regular professional cleaning on a weekly, bi-weekly, or monthly schedule.

Worth it if: Your time is worth more than the cleaning cost, or maintaining a clean home feels overwhelming.

Skip if: You find cleaning therapeutic or have a small space that's easy to maintain.

• Average cost: $100-200 per session for a standard home
• Time saved: 3-5 hours per cleaning session
• Best for: Working parents, those with physical limitations, busy households

3. Streaming Services (Entertainment)

The reality: Most households subscribe to too many streaming services. The average American household has 4+ subscriptions, totaling $50+ monthly.

Smart approach:

• Rotate services—subscribe to one for a few months, then switch
• Share family plans with relatives (where terms allow)
• Audit quarterly: if you haven't used it in 30 days, cancel it

4. Home Security Monitoring

What they offer: 24/7 professional monitoring, alerts, and emergency response.

Worth it if: You travel frequently, live alone, or want peace of mind.

Skip if: You're comfortable with self-monitored systems (many smart cameras now offer this for free or low cost).

• Average cost: $15-45 per month
• Consider: Many newer systems offer professional monitoring as optional

5. Lawn and Garden Services

What they offer: Regular lawn mowing, landscaping, seasonal cleanup.

Worth it if: You have a large property, allergies, or physical limitations that make yard work difficult.

Skip if: You enjoy outdoor work or have a small, manageable yard.

How to Evaluate Any Home Subscription

Before signing up for any service, ask yourself:

• Time calculation: How many hours does this save me monthly?
• Value equation: Is the cost less than my hourly rate × time saved?
• Joy factor: Does this task drain me or do I actually enjoy it?
• Cancel test: Can I easily cancel without penalties or hassle?
• Trial first: Is there a trial period to test before committing?

Red Flags to Watch For

• Annual contracts with no monthly option
• Difficult cancellation processes
• Introductory prices that jump significantly after the first period
• Hidden fees for pausing or skipping deliveries

The best subscription services genuinely improve your quality of life—they give you back time, reduce stress, or bring consistent value. The worst ones just drain your bank account while you forget you're even paying for them. Be intentional about what you subscribe to, and review your subscriptions quarterly.