Subscriptions are designed to be forgotten. In one US study, people spent an average of $111 a month on them, about $252 a year went on ones they didn't use, and 70% had forgotten to cancel a free trial at some point.
The 20-minute subscription audit
- Find them all: go through 3 months of bank and card statements, plus your phone's app-store subscriptions and PayPal.
- Turn every one into a yearly cost. 12.99 a month is 155.88 a year: yearly figures make the decision obvious.
- Ask one question: did I use this in the last 60 days? If not, it's a cancel candidate.
- Cancel or downgrade on the spot, and screenshot the confirmation.
- Set a reminder for every free trial a few days before it ends, the day you start it.
Keep it from creeping back
Review your subscriptions every three months. Most of the waste comes from things you meant to cancel "later".
FAQs
How much do people waste on unused subscriptions?
In one US study, about $252 a year, out of an average $111 a month spent on subscriptions.
How do I stop free trials charging me?
Set a calendar reminder a few days before the trial ends, the day you sign up, and decide then.
Plan it in minutes
Shows every subscription's yearly cost, flags trials about to bill you and anything unused for 60 days. Editions for the UK, US, Canada and Australia.
See the Home & Life Admin Command Center →
