I just realized I've been wasting money on subscriptions for years

I was looking at my bank statement last week and saw a $14.99 charge for a music app I haven't opened in maybe 8 months. That was the tip off. I added up all my auto-pay stuff and it came to over $80 a month for things I barely use. On one side, I think it's fine to pay for convenience and things you enjoy. On the other, it feels like I'm just throwing money away every month without thinking. What's your rule for cutting out subscription fat? Do you cancel anything you haven't used in a month, or do you keep a few 'just in case'?

2 comments

2 Comments

the_evan17d ago

Man I did this exact thing last year lol. My rule now is if I haven't used it in a full billing cycle, it's gone. I put a reminder in my phone for the day before it renews. That "just in case" feeling is how they get you, but honestly if you need it again you can just sign back up. Saved myself like $50 a month.

parkerk5617d ago

Totally agree with @the_evan, that "just in case" mindset is a killer. I set calendar alerts for a week before any free trial ends, so I have time to actually cancel and not forget. In my experience, you almost never go back to that service you meant to use. If you do need it later, signing up again takes two minutes. It's crazy how much money just leaks out from small subscriptions you stop paying attention to.