JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – If your monthly budget feels tighter than it used to, the culprit may not be one big expense. It could be a handful of small ones you forgot about.
From streaming services to shopping memberships, fitness apps and free trials that quietly turn into paid subscriptions, recurring charges can add up fast.
I put a “subscription detox” to the test to see how much money our staff could save — and how you can do the same.
I started with my own budget, guessing that I had about eight subscriptions. After taking a closer look, I found closer to 15.
The same thing happened when I started asking around the newsroom.
Janis quickly listed Netflix, Hulu, Kindle Unlimited, HBO Max and Paramount before realizing there may be even more. Eden named Spotify, Hulu, Disney and Netflix, then remembered dog food through Chewy and protein shakes from Amazon. Rance started with five subscriptions, then realized his list was growing as he talked.
The pattern was clear: almost everyone thought they had fewer subscriptions than they actually did.
After going through my own recurring charges, I found nearly $200 a month that I could probably cut.
So why do we keep paying for things we barely use?
Dupont Counseling Group Therapist Nicole Davidson-Harshaw says it can feel like a loss to cancel something once we’ve decided it matters to us. She says our brains also minimize small monthly charges.
A $12 subscription may not seem like much, but when it’s on autopay, it can become almost invisible.
Her advice: Make a list of every subscription you have and ask yourself one simple question: Would I pay for this today?
If the answer is no, it might be time to let it go.
Experts recommend reviewing your bills about every three months, paying close attention to recurring subscriptions. Make sure you’re still using them, and if you’re not, cancel them.