The Subscriptions We Choose Shape Us
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A freelance consultant reflects on how tool and service subscriptions affect not just finances but cognitive load, workflow alignment, and business focus. The post covers the hidden costs of SaaS fragmentation (especially Italian invoicing compliance), the tradeoffs of cloud providers like Hetzner vs hyperscalers, communication tool friction with Slack vs email, and a measured approach to LLMs and agentic coding. The core argument: every subscription is a commitment of attention, and attention is the real scarce resource for a solo consultant.
Table of contents
Maximizing What I’m Good AtSubscriptions Are Not Just About MoneyThe Infrastructure RealityWorkflow Alignment MattersThe LLM Elephant in the RoomService Proliferation and FragmentationWe Are AlignedSort: