So I know most of the time I’ve ever seen something like this advertised usually it’s a garbage product. But in New York for example you spend $750 and get a lifetime empire pass which lets you into all the state parks (including beaches) without having to pay. So it’s a great deal if you like to hike and or go to the beach, but granted it’s a big upfront cost. Was wondering if anyone knew of anything’s similar that might be an upfront cost but save you over the course of your lifetime.
I bought a lifetime subscription to National Geographic for $625 in 1996, a number I remember b/c the payback (ignoring lots of economics) was 25 years @ $25/year.
I’m ahead as of a few years ago. Even more handy is that I moved to Europe and get it delivered without a surcharge.
Also (like all subscribers) access to their digital archive, which is super cool.
An REI Co-op membership is $30 for life. 10% cash back annually, exclusive sales, etc.
Maybe not 100% in the spirit of the question, but it’s pretty decent value if you shop there frequently.
If you are over 65 the National Park Pass is a great deal. Free admission for life under a hundred dollars.
In Minnesota you can get a lifetime fishing license.
I love how many of these comments are absolutely useless because you can’t get the lifetime option any more.
I got a guitar tabs universe lifetime subscription for $20 back in 2014 or so, before everyone started moving to monthly/recurring subscriptions.
Now for the apps that still even offer any sort of lifetime subscription it’s like $250. Problem is they start rolling out new features that aren’t “grandfathered” in to try and extract that monthly revenue.
Fuck the subscription economy. All we hear about is how the average consumer debt is rising and nobody has a healthy savings account while at the same time we’re nickel and dimed by every “disruptive innovation”.
Own nothing and be happy.
I have Rosetta Stone Lifetime. I paid, maybe 350? Access to all their languages for ever and ever. If memory serves, it’s 100 for a year of one language.
Personally I wouldn’t buy a “lifetime” subscription for anything except like a state park pass as you mentioned. The chances of a service being the same (or even existing) for the next 40-60 years isn’t realistic imo.
I bought a lifetime TIVO subscription and it’s still alive after 15 years
Plex Pass. If you have a home server and wanna use your own media and never pay for streaming services.
See /r/Plex and /r/piracy
Mount Bohemia (UP of Michigan)has a lifetime ski pass(75 years) that they sell once per year in the fall. It includes 1-2 dozen other ski hills throughout the US. For 1300 dollars, it pays for itself in 1-2 trips. I’ve gone 5 years in a row and traveled across the US to go to the other hills. I’m definitely ahead thousands of dollars in a short time.
Kinda of a caveat but my wife and I were visiting a national park. Ranger asked if we had any disabilities. Wife and I rarely thought about it but technically she was born with type 1 diabetes. 5 minutes later she has a lifetime pass to all national parks for up to 3 guests. I believe after 65 you can get it too. So double check if you qualify and grab your card!
I always think seriously about lifetime passes now that we live in a subscription world. If I’ve subscribed for 3+ months, and the lifetime costs less than 2 years worth of the sub, I’ll generally go for it.
I regret missing out on the SiriusXM pass that used to be available… Hell, I would have paid that $150 back in the day just to get them to stop calling me.
$750 is a little steep for a park pass in Wisconsin. It’s $30 per year here, so that’s 25 years worth. Maybe I’d think about it at $300, but even then it’s a stretch.
$1000 for a lifetime mug at the local craft brewery. One free pint per day for life!
Where I live you can check out passes from the library for free.
We did the same - and it’s been 10 years! I think we got ours back in 2012 after buying our house and here we are! They do physical passes now but I’ve had it when it was on our driver’s license so I have a little maple leaf on my license and they sent me the car card. Mine also came with a NYS gift card (so I guess I can do rounds of golf or pay for camping fees) but it’s been totally worth it!
I’m not actually aware of other “lifetime” subscriptions. But upvoted since I like the question!
I’ve got a lifetime subscription to having fire ants - Texas resident
Bought a Sirus lifetime subscription way back when Stern was coming over from terrestrial radio in 05 or 06. Well worth it, now the subscription lives on my phone and works everywhere I can stream to… And no harassment to renew ever again.
So scrivener is a word processor - like Microsoft word. Except it’s built a lil different and only charges one lifetime fee to use (under $100).
Granted there are free online word processors now as well. But this is what came to mind