How to Do a Subscription Audit (and Save Money Every Month)

Streaming services, apps, memberships and free trials that turned into paid plans can add up to a surprising amount each month.

Step 1: Find every subscription

• Check bank and credit card statements for the last three months.
• Look at subscriptions in your phone's app store settings.
• Search your email for "subscription", "renewal" and "receipt".

Step 2: List and total them

Write down each service, its cost and how often you actually use it.

Step 3: Decide

• Keep: used often and worth it.
• Downgrade: switch to cheaper or ad-supported plans.
• Pause or rotate: keep one streaming service at a time.
• Cancel: anything you rarely use.

Step 4: Look for discounts

Annual plans, family plans and bundles can be cheaper if you use the service a lot.

Repeat regularly

Do a quick subscription audit every few months. It's one of the easiest ways to save money without changing your lifestyle.