[tzs]

Fastmail is good enough that I'd suggest going for the 3 year subscription for $130. Unless you've got an investment available that will earn 16.3% annual returns over that time, $130 upfront beats 3 annual payments of $50.

In general, I find it a good idea to pay for all critical net services for more than a year out, and renew them before they get down to less than a year left.

That way if something goes wrong that causes me to neglect things for a while, things won't expire on me. I could lose my job, have my possessions wiped out in a disaster, become seriously ill or injured, all during a major economic downturn, and it is nice knowing that if I recover my domains will still be mine and my email will still work.