Gone are the days when subscriptions were only for newspapers and magazines. There’s now one for almost everything. And it makes sense: they can save you money, and it’s often one less thing to lug home from the shops.
A subscription can also be fun, with an exciting element of surprise if you’re using them for something that changes with each delivery, such as beer or fruit and vegetables. Most are flexible and can be altered or cancelled easily, meaning no everlasting contracts. We spoke to some subscription-service devotees to find out what made them sign up.
I get so excited when my olive oil arrives every month. The quality is better than what I’d find in the supermarket and the flavours are more interesting. We’ve had bottles from Portugal, Greece, Croatia and more. It motivates my partner and me to make new dishes, such as the tomato salads you get only in countries with superior quality produce. It’s a little luxury, like getting a gift in the post. Plus, it’s ethical: the company supports independent female farmers and sends refill pouches, so you can reuse the same bottle. Rosie, 30
Greek extra virgin olive oil refill set, £15 a refill
citizensofsoil.com
Try also: Moroccan extra virgin olive oil, £25.46 a month
morocco-gold.com
Good Book Club selects titles by women, non-binary and queer men authors. They’re books I wouldn’t necessarily stumble across, so this subscription has revealed new worlds and literary styles to me. Reading such diverse books challenges me to continually reconsider what I enjoy. There are book clubs and events that come with the subscription, but so far I’ve just been slowly reading the books I’ve received. I particularly loved Patrícia Melo’s The Simple Art of Killing a Woman. Sophie, 30
Good Book Club, £13 a month
goodbookclub.co.uk
Try also: Hand Me Down Book Club, from £11.99 a month
hmdbookclub.co.uk
I’ve used SimplyCook – boxes of ready-to-use spice blends, seasonings and marinades, along with recipe cards on how to use them – for a few years. I get four boxes a month so I can make one meal a week once I’ve bought the fresh ingredients like meat and vegetables from the supermarket. It adds variety to our meals, and the recipes are delicious. Some highlights so far include the lamb kofta flatbreads, Tamil black pepper chicken and ancho chilli glazed salmon. Tom, 43
Spices and seasonings with recipe cards, £2.50 a week
simplycook.com
Try also: spices and recipe library access, £8 a month
freshlyspiced.co.uk
The cost and convenience of getting a matching pair of socks and underwear delivered was what made me sign up to Oddballs. I also liked that the company was set up to raise awareness of testicular cancer. Everything I’ve had from there is super comfortable, eye-catching and colourful and made with a thick material that washes really well. I have a tight budget, so I’d rather pay £10 a month for top-quality items than buy underwear from elsewhere that might not last as long. I expect I’ll save money in the long run. Hannah, 42
Underwear and socks, from £10 a month
myoddballs
Try also: boxer shorts, £11.99 a month
onthatass.com
Try also: women’s knickers, £12.50 a month
stripeandstare.com
I’ve long been a fan of NTS, a global online radio station launched in Hackney, and now I’m a proud supporter of it. Half of the subscription proceeds go to artists who perform regularly for the station, and I’d rather support up-and-coming acts directly than give my money to streaming services or major record labels. The subscription also gives me a tracklist for all the music, and that’s the main thing I use it for. There’s a dedicated instant messaging channel on the social platform Discord and newsletters too, and NTS supporters can submit a mix for consideration for broadcast. I love this subscription for discovering new music I wouldn’t have necessarily come across otherwise. Fin, 30
NTS supporter, from £3.99 a month
nts.live
Try also: foundation FM supporter, £3 a month
store.foundation.fm
I started getting Who Gives a Crap when I lived with eight other people, mainly boys. I found I was always the one buying toilet rolls, and boys use so much of it. It was very annoying. So we ended up getting this toilet roll subscription and splitting the cost. I live with fewer people now, but still like getting it because it’s made in the most eco-friendly way possible from recycled fibres or FSC certified bamboo, instead of virgin trees, and half the profits are donated to environmental causes. Imi, 30
100% recycled toilet paper, from £23 a month
uk.whogivesacrap.org
Try also: unbleached bamboo toilet roll, from £21.15 a month
nakedsprout.uk
I used to forget to buy new razors and would end up rushing out to buy the first one I saw if I needed an urgent shave for a meeting or party. Now I get Harry’s razors delivered every two months, and no longer need to remember to buy them. I love that 1% of sales goes to men’s mental health charities, which makes me feel better about buying from them. Andrew, 62
Eight razor blades, from £15.50 every five months
harrys.com
Try also: four razor blades, from £9.95 every three months
estrid.com
I signed up for Mubi Go, which gives you a cinema ticket each week along with access to Mubi’s streaming service, three years ago. My job as a social worker can be stressful and going to the cinema helps me decompress. I like that Mubi chooses the film for me because I’m introduced to a wider variety of genres. I really enjoyed the Japanese drama Perfect Days, for example, and I don’t think I’d have seen it without this subscription. I persuaded some friends to sign up too, and it’s become a nice activity to do together that doesn’t revolve around drinking. James, 30
Weekly cinema ticket and streaming service access, £18.99 a month
mubi.com
Try also: British Film Institute membership, £39 a year
bfi.org.uk
9
Pet flea and worm treatment
I used to forget when I should be giving my dog her flea and worming tablets, so I subscribed to VetBox. Every month I get a package of either a deworming pill or a preventive tick and flea treatment, which is great because I now never forget when I’m supposed to do it. It also comes with a little treat for your pet every time. Tula, 29
Flea and worm treatment for cats and dogs, from £7.49 a month
vetbox.com
Try also: flea and worm pet health plan, from £5 a month
petsathome.com
I starting having a greens drink, made from a powder supplement that I dissolve in water, every morning because my doctor told me I was lacking vitamin D. It contains vitamins and minerals, including vitamin D, which the NHS encourages everyone in the UK to take during autumn and winter. I used to feel super tired but I’ve noticed I have more energy and I’m less bloated since I started taking the greens. It has a sweet vanilla-pineapple taste, and there’s something about having a nourishing drink that sets me up for the day. I subscribe to the supplement because I find it cheaper than buying the pouches individually. It’s not cheap, costing about £2.50 a day, but it’s still cheaper than buying a coffee. Emily, 31
Greens powder supplement, £79 a month
drinkag1.com
Try also: micro greens supplement, £21.24 a month
wellgard.co.uk
I pay £38 a month to have beer sent to my door from an ever-changing selection of amazing craft breweries, including some you’ve likely never heard of. I feel like a kid at Christmas when it arrives. This month I have beers coming from a brewery called Black Iris, which I discovered at a beer festival, so I can’t wait for my box to come. I also like how flexible the subscription is because you can change it however you like, whether that’s skipping months, adding more beers or getting some from a specific brewery. Stu, 33
8 large beers, from £29 a month
brewser.beer
Try also: small-batch beers and snacks, from £27 a month
beer52.com
I have my coffee delivered simply because I drink a consistent amount each month, and it’s one less thing to buy at the shops. I’m from Northamptonshire, and I try to buy products from local businesses. So, I decided to get my coffee delivered from a Northampton-based roastery: Yellow Bourbon Coffee. It delivers nationwide, runs a great cafe in Northampton town centre, is passionate about what it does and the coffee is exceptional. I’m sure it would be cheaper to buy directly from a supermarket but this subscription is a deliberate effort to support a home town business while I live in London. Tom, 37
Espresso blend, 250g, £8.25 every 30 days
yellowbourbon.net
Try also: ground coffee, beans or pods, from £7.95 a month
pactcoffee.com
13
Fresh fruit and vegetables
I love the excitement of getting home and there being a box of wonky but fresh vegetables and fruit from OddBox. You can find out what produce is coming in the post by logging into your account, but I choose not to, because I love surprises. I set up a WhatsApp group with friends who also have OddBox so we can decide what recipes to make together. This subscription has saved me from thinking about what vegetables to buy in the supermarket. I also eat a wider variety as a result of having it, such as swede, and it’s nice knowing I’m helping to tackle food waste in the process. Molly, 30
Wonky fruit and veg box, from £11.49 a week
oddbox.co.uk
Try also: wonky veg box, from £10.49 a fortnight
wonkyvegboxes.co.uk
I’m a fan of hiking and holidays with nice walks, but I don’t know how maps work, and I’m not familiar with many routes. I felt like whenever I went somewhere, I had to rely on more outdoorsy people. Then a friend introduced me to AllTrails +, and it’s been amazing. The app has walks worldwide, tells you the distance, and you can download 3D maps for use offline. I’m going to Scotland and I can now go for mountain walks, whereas before I would have worried about getting lost. I research walks before I go away, and I no longer need to ask for recommendations or have a guide. I’ve also been able to lead walks for the first time. Laura, 30
Trail guide app, £35.99 a year
alltrails.com
I use Akt, an all-natural deodorant balm. It’s the most effective one I’ve tried, and the fragrances smell divine. My favourite is orange grove, which contains petitgrain, mandarin and neroli. I prefer natural products because they’re gentle on my skin. Other deodorants have stained my clothes and worn off after a few hours, but this lasts the full day, even when I’m active. I find subscribing cheaper than buying bottles of deodorant individually because you get 15% off every order. I pay just under £18 a tube, which lasts me a couple of months. Candy, 51
Natural deodorant, from £17.85 a month
aktlondon.com
Try also: refillable deodorant, from £12 a month
getfussy.com
I developed a bald patch in 2019 and nothing I tried [to regrow my hair] worked until I came across Numan’s hair loss treatments for men in 2020. To get my GP-approved treatment, I completed a questionnaire about where I was losing hair, how fast, etc. I’ve found paying upfront at the start of the year works out cheaper than buying individual bottles, and it’s been easy to pause the subscription when I’ve needed to. Sam, 30
Treatments from £6 a bottle
numan.com
Try also: treatments, £14 a month
hello.manual.co