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The 15-Minute Subscription Audit That Saves Hundreds
By LifeWell Compass Editorial Team · Published · Updated · 3 min read
Streaming, apps, memberships, boxes: small monthly charges add up fast. Here's how to find and cut them.
Five dollars here and twelve dollars there doesn't feel like much, until you add it up. Most people underestimate what they spend on subscriptions.
Step 1: Find them all
- Scan the last three months of bank and credit card statements.
- Check the subscriptions list in your phone's app store settings.
- Search your email for "receipt," "renewal" and "subscription."
Step 2: Sort them
Put each one in a group: love it, use it sometimes, or forgot I had it.
Step 3: Cut and trim
- Cancel everything in "forgot I had it" today.
- Rotate streaming services. Keep one at a time and switch when you've finished a show.
- Switch to annual billing for the ones you love. It's often cheaper.
- Ask about cheaper tiers. Many services quietly offer ad-supported or basic plans.
Step 4: Keep it clean
Set a calendar reminder to repeat the audit every quarter. When you sign up for a free trial, set a reminder to cancel before it ends.
Common ones people forget
- Magazine and newspaper subscriptions that auto-renew.
- Extra cable TV packages you no longer watch.
- Memberships from a free trial years ago.
- Duplicate streaming services bought by different family members.
- Phone apps charged through the app store.
Ask for discounts
Many services, from streaming to warehouse clubs, offer discounts for people 60 or 65 and older, AARP members or veterans. It never hurts to ask. Call and say, "Do you have a senior discount?"
Ask a family member to help
Reviewing statements together with a son, daughter or grandchild can make this quick and even fun.
