Why I'm Investing in Physical Media Again

After a few months of quiet while adjusting to life with a newborn, I'm finally sitting back down to write.

Instead of my second coffee of the day, I have a large glass of cold water beside me and a baby sleeping against my chest in her wrap. It seems this is how I'll be finding time to publish blog posts for the foreseeable future!

Although she's only seven weeks old as I write this, that has not stopped me from thinking about the future and wondering how I'll navigate the challenges of raising a child in the 21st century. When I think back to my own childhood in the '90s, I remember spending hours outside playing with friends. But I also remember Saturday morning cartoons and watching — and rewatching — the movies we owned.

With the rise of streaming services, it feels like we've lost something that was once a quintessential part of childhood: having a small collection of beloved movies to choose from. Today, nothing frustrates me more than scrolling endlessly through an overwhelming number of options, only to decide I don't want to watch anything at all (and inevitably fall asleep on the couch with the remote beside me).

I've noticed this feeling eases a bit whenever my sisters visit because we usually end up rewatching movies from our childhood. Limiting our choices somehow makes the experience more enjoyable. But even then, the movie we're looking for isn't always available on the streaming services we subscribe to. It's frustrating, and it makes me nostalgic for the days when you could simply pop a DVD into the player and watch a movie uninterrupted by ads, licensing agreements, or disappearing titles.

As I've reflected on why those memories feel so comforting, I've realized we've gradually traded ownership for convenience. Streaming has undeniable benefits, but it also means we don't truly own the media we love. Movies come and go, subscriptions increase in price, and access depends on licensing agreements we have no control over.

For the past several years, I've embraced minimalism and tried to own less. But I've started to think that digital media — whether movies, music, or books — is one area where ownership still has real value. If a shelf of DVDs gives me permanent access to stories my family loves, perhaps it's worth the small amount of storage space they require.

A few weeks ago, when I finally felt ready to venture out with my newborn, I stopped by Goodwill on a whim. Sitting on the shelf was an old DVD/VHS combo player for just $9.99. There was something instantly nostalgic about it, and I couldn't leave it behind.

Almost immediately, I had the idea of building a movie collection for my daughter. When she's older, I'd love for her to have a thoughtfully curated library of films that I've already watched and feel good about sharing with her, rather than an endless algorithm-driven catalog.

I know some parents are choosing to eliminate screens altogether, and I respect that approach. But I also know that screens are a part of modern life, and I don't think it's realistic to avoid them forever. Instead, I'd rather be intentional about what enters our home and what kinds of stories I deem appropriate for my child.

Since then, I've found an older television for $8.99 and have been scouring my local Goodwill and Salvation Army for DVDs and VHS tapes. Most of them cost only a dollar or two, making it a surprisingly affordable hobby for something you actually get to keep. I've already come across childhood favorites like The Sound of Music, The Wizard of Oz, and The Princess Diaries. It's also been fun rediscovering movies I've only seen once or twice but remember enjoying.

There's something unexpectedly satisfying about investing in older technology. In a small way, it feels like pushing back against a way of life we didn't deliberately sign up for. It's a reminder that the old ways are not always obsolete and still have something to offer.

If you enjoy browsing thrift stores, I'd encourage you to keep an eye out for an old DVD player or a favorite childhood movie. You might be surprised by how much joy there is in building a collection that's truly yours.