A $16 streaming plan doesn't look expensive. Neither does an $11 music plan or an $8 reading app. Add three more services, though, and our imaginary bank statement shows $60 leaving your account every month.
That's $720 a year if the prices don't change. But the most revealing figure isn't the annual bill. It's the money going to subscriptions you're not using.
Which subscriptions are actually earning their place?
In our example, a second streaming service costs $12 a month and a reading app costs $8. Neither was opened in the past 30 days. Together, that's $20 in monthly charges for zero recorded use.
That doesn't automatically make them worthless. Maybe you're saving a series for later, or keeping access for someone else. But it does make them worth checking before the next renewal.
Now look at the services you did use:
- $16 video plan, two viewing nights: $8 per night.
- $11 music plan, used on 20 days: $0.55 per day used.
- $9 fitness app, one workout: $9 for that session.
Those aren't prices per film, song or exercise. They're simply the month's fee divided by how often you used the service. And this test isn't perfect: a $4 cloud-backup plan may be doing its job without you opening the app at all.
The renewal date matters more than your good intentions
Ever signed up for a free trial thinking you'd decide later? The US Federal Trade Commission warns that trials can turn into paid subscriptions unless you cancel before the deadline.
For your own accounts, check the next charge date, the price after any offer ends and the cancellation terms. A calendar reminder is useful; assuming you'll remember isn't much of a plan. If you cancel, keep the confirmation and check future statements for unexpected charges.
The 30-second renewal test
Pretend each subscription expires tonight. Would you buy it again at its current price? If the answer is “maybe,” could you pause, downgrade or share an eligible household plan instead?
Choose which of the example services you'd keep and which you'd review before renewal.
If you successfully cancelled just the unused $12 and $8 plans before their next charges, you'd avoid $20 a month, or $240 across 12 months at unchanged prices. Clicking a choice here doesn't cancel a real subscription or guarantee savings; actual contracts and billing dates still apply.
Want to check your real spending? Add every weekly, monthly and annual payment to the CozyCalcs Subscription Cost Calculator. Put those recurring bills alongside everything else in the Budget tool, or use the Cost per Use Calculator to explore the value of something you use regularly.
The question isn't whether you can afford another $8. It's whether you'd choose to spend that $8 again today.
All subscription prices, usage counts and potential savings above are hypothetical, in one consistent currency. No real providers or market averages are being quoted. Monthly charges are annualised as 12 payments, with no price rises, refunds or cancellation fees assumed.