The subscription audit
Thirty minutes, two or three statements, and a decision for each charge: keep, downgrade, rotate or cancel. Most people find at least one they forgot about.
Step by step
- Gather. Two to three months of bank and card statements, plus PayPal or other payment apps.
- Check your phone. iPhone: Settings, your name, Subscriptions. Android: Google Play Store, profile, Payments and subscriptions.
- Search your email for "receipt", "renewal", "subscription" and "your trial".
- List everything with the price, billing cycle and next billing date.
- Decide for each one: keep, downgrade, rotate or cancel.
- Cancel and confirm. Save the confirmation and check your next statement.
Commonly forgotten subscriptions
Entertainment
- Video streaming services
- Music streaming
- Audiobooks and podcasts
- Gaming subscriptions
- Premium channels added to TV
Phone and apps
- Cloud storage
- Premium app features
- VPNs and security apps
- Photo and video editing apps
- Dating and social app upgrades
Shopping
- Shipping memberships
- Warehouse club memberships
- Meal kits
- Subscription boxes
- Auto-ship household items
Life
- Gym and fitness apps
- News and magazines
- Software and productivity tools
- Learning apps
- Extended warranties and protection plans