I was paying for three streaming services, a meditation app I never opened, a meal kit service that sent me two boxes before I canceled, and a gym membership I used four times last year. Total wasted money: about $90 a month. That's $1,080 a year. That's a plane ticket to anywhere.
I'm not special. Most of my clients are paying for at least two subscriptions they don't use. The average American spends about $220 a month on subscriptions, according to a 2025 survey. That's $2,640 a year. For a Denver family on a tight budget, that's real money.
Let me walk you through a subscription audit in four steps. No shame. No judgment. Just math.
Step 1: Find Every Subscription (They're Hiding)
You'd be surprised how many subscriptions you've forgotten. Here's how to find them:
- Look at your bank and credit card statements for the last 3 months. Highlight every recurring charge.
- Check your email for receipts with words like "renewal", "monthly", "subscription", or "auto‑pay".
- Log into your PayPal account. Many subscriptions are linked there without your noticing.
- Check your phone's app store subscriptions (Apple App Store or Google Play).
I did this exercise with a client, “Tracy.” She found $140 in monthly subscriptions she'd forgotten: a language app, a cloud storage plan, a dating app (she'd met someone two years ago), and a streaming service her ex had signed up for. She canceled all of them and saved $1,680 a year. She used that money to pay down a credit card.
Step 2: Categorize and Prioritize
Once you have the list, put each subscription into one of three buckets:
- Essential: Things you need – internet, phone, cloud backup for work, maybe a streaming service if you don't have antenna TV.
- Nice to have: Things you use regularly but could live without – Netflix, Spotify, gym membership, meal kit.
- Forgotten: Things you haven't used in 30+ days. Cancel these immediately.
Be honest with yourself. I had a client who claimed his $40/month fantasy football analytics subscription was "essential." It was not. He canceled it.
Step 3: Do the "One Month" Test
For any nice‑to‑have subscription, cancel it for one month. See if you miss it. Most of the time, you won't. If you do, you can always resubscribe.
I did this with my gym membership. I canceled it for 3 months. I worked out at home and ran outside. I didn't miss it at all. I saved $300 over those 3 months. Now I pay for a month pass only when I want to use the pool in winter.
Step 4: Prevent Future Subscription Creep
Once you've trimmed down, set up systems to prevent it from happening again:
- Use a virtual credit card number for free trials. Services like Privacy.com let you create single‑use cards.
- Set a calendar reminder a few days before any free trial ends.
- Review your subscriptions every 6 months (put it in your calendar).
- Share logins with family or friends for services you keep. Most streaming services allow multiple profiles.
The Sarcastic Truth
Subscription services are designed to make you forget. That's why they auto‑renew. That's why they bury the cancellation button. They're counting on your inertia. Don't give it to them.
I once tried to cancel a gym membership and had to go in person during a 2‑hour window on a Tuesday. That's not accidental. That's intentional friction. But I still did it. And I saved $50 a month.
Real Client Success: From $200 to $70
“David” was a single dad with a 9‑year‑old. He had $200 in monthly subscriptions. He thought he needed them for his kid. We audited together. They were paying for Disney+, Netflix, HBO Max, YouTube Premium, and a gaming subscription. Plus a meal kit service he never used.
We kept Disney+ and Netflix. Canceled the rest. David saved $100 a month. He put $50 into his son's 529 plan and $50 into his emergency fund. He told me, “My son didn't even notice. He only watches the same three shows anyway.”
I will keep posting updates on this. Check back soon.
P.S. Cooper doesn't have subscriptions. He just watches the same squirrel through the window every day. Free entertainment.
This article is for informational purposes. Subscription costs vary; always check your statements.
Marcus Thompson
