The Cost of Print Magazines

A few weeks ago, I mentioned that SmartMoney Magazine had ceased publication. At the time, I also mentioned that I still subscribe to the print versions of Money Magazine and Kiplinger's Personal Finance. In their October 2012 issue, Knight Kiplinger also mentions that SmartMoney is ceasing publication, but he is not gloating about losing a competitor.

He has some interesting commentary about the cost of finance magazines. It seems that consumers are willing to "pay $4 for a latte at Starbucks", but "balk at paying even $1 for an issue of a useful magazine." I think that Kiplinger really has a point here because in this age, there is plenty of free information on the internet. And these are some of the same issues that he faces as the editor of Kiplinger's. However, I often prefer to hold a physical magazine in my hands.

So let me ask, how much is a print magazine worth? Would you pay $12 for 1 year of Kiplinger's Personal Finance magazine? Or if you prefer Money magazine, would you pay $15 for 1 year of Money Magazine? There is even an offer to get 5 issues of Money for only $5. I think that it will be interesting to see what readers responses will be.

PFS