Subscription · Video & Music
YouTube Premium
Personal recommendation by Marshall Delpé. Not made by Marshalldelpe.com.
YouTube Premium
Subscription · Video & Music·
No ads, background play and offline videos, so your learning never gets interrupted.
What it does: A paid YouTube membership (individual, family or student plans) that removes ads across YouTube, lets videos keep playing in the background or with the screen off, allows downloads for offline viewing, and includes YouTube Music Premium. New members can usually start with a free trial.
Who it's for: Anyone who uses YouTube as a classroom, podcast player or music library — people who learn from long videos, listen on the go, or travel often and want content available offline.
Why I use it: YouTube is one of my biggest sources of ideas, and ads break concentration. Premium buys back that time and focus: no interruptions, lectures and podcasts playing in the background while I work or train, and downloads ready for flights and places without signal. Music is included, so it replaces a separate streaming subscription — one service instead of two.
Tradeoffs: It is a recurring cost for something you can watch for free with ads. Downloads expire if you stay offline too long, and the free trial rolls into a paid plan unless you cancel. Removing friction also makes it easier to watch more than you intended — use it to learn, not to scroll.
Alternatives: Free YouTube with ads, Spotify Premium for music and podcasts, Nebula for ad-free educational creators, or podcast apps for audio-only learning.
This is a personal recommendation, not a paid promotion.
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Abacus.AI
AI Assistant & Agent Platform·
An entire team of AI assistants for about the price of a few coffees.
What it does: An AI platform that puts many of the leading AI models in one place for a single subscription, along with an autonomous AI agent that can research, write, create images and video, build and deploy apps and websites, and automate multi-step tasks.
Who it's for: Anyone who wants access to top AI models without paying for several separate subscriptions — creators, small-business owners, students and professionals who want an AI that actually gets work done.
Why I use it: This website was built with it. Instead of hiring a developer, I described what I wanted and worked with the AI agent to design, write and launch marshalldelpe.com. Having many models under one subscription means I can pick the best one for each job. It is leverage — the B and I side of the Cashflow Quadrant applied to time and effort.
Tradeoffs: There is a learning curve to getting great results — clear instructions matter. Heavier agent tasks use credits, so you need to watch usage. As with any AI, outputs should be reviewed rather than trusted blindly, especially for facts, health or money decisions.
Alternatives: ChatGPT (OpenAI), Claude (Anthropic), Gemini (Google), and Perplexity for AI-powered search.
Referral link — I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. I only recommend what I actually use.
Amazon Prime
Membership · Shopping & Streaming·
Free fast shipping, and a lot less time wasted driving around for stuff.
What it does: A paid Amazon membership (monthly or annual) that bundles free fast shipping on millions of eligible items with Prime Video streaming, Amazon Music Prime, Prime Reading, Prime Gaming, member-only deals such as Prime Day, and free photo storage. New members can usually start with a free trial.
Who it's for: Anyone who orders from Amazon more than a few times a year, households that would otherwise pay for a separate streaming service, and busy people who want everyday essentials delivered without thinking about it.
Why I use it: It is automation applied to errands. My supplements, soap, jojoba oil and books arrive in a day or two without a trip to the store, so I spend my time on work, training and reading instead of shopping. Free shipping on small orders means I can reorder exactly what I need when I need it, and the streaming and reading perks come along at no extra cost.
Tradeoffs: It is a recurring cost, and free shipping makes impulse buying easy — the membership only pays off if you would be ordering anyway. Not every item is Prime-eligible, prices are not always the lowest, and the free trial rolls into a paid membership unless you cancel. Review your orders now and then to make sure it is still worth it.
Alternatives: Walmart+ (similar shipping and streaming perks), Target Circle 360 (same-day delivery), Costco membership for bulk buying, or simply batching orders to reach Amazon's free-shipping minimum without a membership.
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases, at no extra cost to you. I only recommend what I actually use.