Life on Lease: Why You No Longer Own Anything

There was a time when we actually owned things. A car was your car, a leather jacket aged with you, and a phone stayed in your pocket until it broke. Fast forward to today, and we’re deep in the age of subscriptions and rentals.

You're not buying anymore — you're renting

There was a time when we actually owned things. A car was your car, a leather jacket aged with you, and a phone stayed in your pocket until it broke. Fast forward to today, and we’re deep in the age of subscriptions and rentals.

It started with streaming platforms. You stopped buying music and movies, opting instead for monthly access. Then came clothing rentals, meal subscriptions, leased cars, rent-by-the-month apartments, and even phones on subscription plans. All dressed up as convenience, sustainability, and freedom from commitment.

Is it really freedom—or just dependence?

In places like the U.S., even high-income earners are subscribing to luxury cars and designer fashion. But behind the slick marketing lies a trap: permanent payment mode. Miss a payment, and you lose access. That’s not freedom — that’s just a new kind of debt-driven lifestyle.

Worse, this rental mindset is being sold as the smart, modern way to live. Don’t buy, just subscribe. If you’re not leasing or subscribing, you’re "behind the curve." The social pressure is subtle, but powerful — keeping you spending, subscribing, and never really owning a thing.

You're not the customer. You're the product.

This system has a purpose: keep you light, flexible, and easily replaceable. No assets. No roots. Just a productive little gear in the machine. menscult.net points out that subscription life isn't about freedom — it’s about control. The less you own, the less grounded you are. And the easier you are to move, replace… or delete.

How do you break the cycle?

First, wake up to what’s going on. You don’t need to cancel everything overnight, but start asking: “What do I actually own?” and “Where does owning make more sense than renting?”

Sometimes renting makes sense. But when everything becomes a subscription — you’re no longer in charge. Stability, control, long-term value — these things come with ownership. Be deliberate. Don’t just rent because everyone else is doing it.

Real freedom is the power to choose

You don’t have to play by the rules of the rental economy. You don’t have to be a "nomad" or a subscription addict to be relevant. Sometimes the things you own — a car, a home, a great leather jacket — are the things that give you real security.

As menscult.net puts it: true masculinity isn’t about how many subscriptions you manage — it’s about having the strength to say “no” to trends, and live on your own terms.