This morning I used the Golden Ticket I received from DreamHost to purchase the basic VaultPress plan. Do a quick Google search if you don’t know what VaultPress is and what it does.
Initially when I first heard of VaultPress and later when I got my Golden Ticket, I didn’t want to spend an extra $15 a month on a backup service when I already backup my database and have old snapshots of my WP installation. Why would I want to pay more money when I already pay that much for my DreamHost account? I’m an impoverished grad student. That $15 could go toward beer or food.
Finally it dawned on me what VaultPress really is. It’s insurance. Just like car insurance or renters insurance. In fact, it’s better. Were I to get in a car accident, I would have to pay a deductible before the insurance would start paying out. With VaultPress, I only pay $15/month and have zero “deductible.” If something happens to my WP install, a few mouse clicks and I can restore it to its proper condition. And just like car insurance, there are several tiers of service. If I had the money, I’d go for the $40/month “pro” plan for peace of mind. It’s the same for my motorcycle insurance. If I had the money, I’d pay the extra to have full coverage .
So when you get your Golden Ticket, don’t think of it as a backup service. Think of it as insurance.