🙃 I wasted $1,847 on tools I didn't need

When I started my faceless business, I thought I needed everything.

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remium video editor: $240/year
Social media scheduler: $29/month
Graphic design tool: $13/month
Analytics platform: $49/month
Email marketing: $39/month
AI writing tool: $20/month
Stock footage: $29/month
Automation software: $97/month

Total: $316/month or $3,792/year

And you know what?

I didn't use half of them.

The tools I actually needed? Cost me $47/month.

Let me show you exactly what to use and what to skip.

Most “AI tools” talk... a lot. Lindy actually does the work.

It builds AI agents that handle sales, marketing, support, and more.

Describe what you need, and Lindy builds it:

“Qualify sales leads”
“Summarize customer calls”
“Draft weekly reports”

The result: agents that do the busywork while your team focuses on growth.

Start now with $20 in extra credits

Every guru sells you on tools.

"You NEED this to succeed."
"This will 10x your productivity."
"Everyone successful uses this."

So you buy it.

Then you realize it has 400 features you'll never use.

Or it requires 20 hours of training just to figure out the basics.

Or it only works if you have 50,000 followers already.

Meanwhile, your bank account is bleeding $300/month and you haven't made a single dollar yet.

After 18 months and way too much money wasted, here's my actual tech stack.

Everything I use daily. Nothing I don't.

What I use it for:

Everything content-related.

Free vs Paid:

The free version works fine for beginners.

I upgraded to ChatGPT Plus ($20/month) because:

But if you're just starting? Free version is enough.

Why this beats paid copywriting tools:

Most "AI writing tools" are just ChatGPT with a fancy interface.

They charge you $50-$100/month for the same thing.

Skip them. Go straight to the source.

My most-used prompt:

"Write 10 viral TikTok scripts about [topic]. Hook in first 3 seconds, deliver value in 30-45 seconds, end with engagement question. Make them scroll-stopping."

Gets me a week of content in 2 minutes.

Replace: Jasper ($49/month), Copy.ai ($49/month), Writesonic ($19/month)

What I use it for:

All my video editing.

Why this beats paid editors:

Adobe Premiere: $22/month, steep learning curve
Final Cut Pro: $299 one-time, Mac only
DaVinci Resolve: Free but confusing interface

CapCut: Free, simple, designed for social media content.

I edit videos in 10-15 minutes. No expensive software needed.

Pro tip:

The mobile app is actually better than the desktop version for quick edits.

I do 80% of my editing on my phone.

Replace: Adobe Premiere ($22/month), Final Cut Pro ($299), Filmora ($50/year)

What I use it for:

Everything visual except videos.

Free vs Pro:

Free version works for 90% of people.

I pay for Pro because:

But if you're starting out? Free version is fine.

Why this beats hiring a designer:

Designer: $50-$100 per graphic
Canva: $13/month unlimited graphics

Do the math.

Pro tip:

Use the "Content Planner" feature to schedule posts directly to Instagram, Facebook, and TikTok.

Replaces Buffer, Later, and other scheduling tools.

Replace: Adobe Creative Suite ($60/month), Figma Pro ($15/month), hiring freelance designers

What I use it for:

AI voiceovers for my faceless videos.

No recording equipment needed.
No editing needed.
No re-recording needed.

Paste script. Pick voice. Download. Done.

Free vs Paid:

Free plan: 10,000 characters/month (~20 short videos)
Paid plan: 30,000 characters/month (~60 short videos)

If you're posting 1-2 times daily, you'll need paid.

If you're posting 3-5 times weekly, free works.

Why the voices sound real:

Most AI voice tools sound robotic.

ElevenLabs voices sound human. Inflection, emotion, pacing—all natural.

People can't tell it's AI.

Alternative:

Your own voice works too. Free microphone recording.

But if you're building a faceless brand or don't like your voice? ElevenLabs is worth every penny.

Replace: Voice actors ($50-$200 per video), expensive recording equipment ($300+)

What I use it for:

Email marketing.

Building my list. Sending newsletters. Making sales.

Why email matters:

Social media is rented land. Instagram could ban you tomorrow.

Email is yours. Nobody can take it away.

And email subscribers convert 10x better than social followers.

Free vs Paid:

Beehiiv Free: Up to 2,500 subscribers
ConvertKit Free: Up to 1,000 subscribers

Unless you have 2,500+ subscribers already, start free.

Why these beat Mailchimp:

Mailchimp charges you $50+/month once you hit 1,000 subscribers.

Beehiiv and ConvertKit are cheaper and built specifically for creators.

Better automation. Better design. Better pricing.

Replace: Mailchimp ($50+/month), ActiveCampaign ($29+/month)

Here's what I wasted money on:

Hootsuite / Buffer Pro:
Use Canva's Content Planner instead. It's free with Canva Pro.

Grammarly Premium:
ChatGPT edits your writing for free. Premium Grammarly is $12/month for features you don't need.

TubeBuddy / VidIQ:
Only useful if you're serious about YouTube. Not needed for beginners.

Loom / Vimeo:
You don't need screen recording or video hosting software when starting out.

Adobe Creative Suite:
$60/month for tools 99% of creators don't need. Canva does everything for $13.

Airtable / Notion Premium:
Free versions are enough. You don't need paid plans until you're running a team.

Paid Stock Footage:
Use Pexels, Pixabay (free) or invest in a one-time clip pack. Don't pay monthly subscriptions.

Save your money.

Buy these tools when you're making $3k-$5k/month and actually need them.

Not before.

Here's what I actually pay:

Total: $38/month

That's it.

Everything else is noise.

Before:

After:

The tools didn't make me money.

Simplifying my stack and focusing on execution did.

Before buying any tool, I ask:

1. Does this solve a problem I have RIGHT NOW?

If no, I don't buy it.

2. Can I do this with a tool I already have?

If yes, I use what I have.

3. Will this save me 5+ hours per week?

If no, it's not worth the money.

4. Can I afford this if I make $0 next month?

If no, I wait until I'm profitable.

This filter has saved me thousands.

Step 1: Audit your current tools

Go through your subscriptions. Cancel anything you haven't used in 30 days.

Step 2: Start with the free versions

You don't need paid plans until you're making money.

Free ChatGPT, free CapCut, free Canva, free ElevenLabs, free Beehiiv.

That's $0/month to start.

Step 3: Upgrade only when you hit a limit

When you max out free tiers or need specific features, THEN upgrade.

Not before.