How to Find and Cancel Subscriptions You Don’t Use

Small monthly charges are easy to forget, but they add up. A quick audit can put money back in your budget.

Step 1: Find every subscription

• Review the last two or three months of bank and card statements
• Check your email for receipts with words like “renewal,” “subscription” or “billing”
• Look at the subscription lists in your phone’s app store account
• Check payment services and streaming accounts

Step 2: Sort them

Make a list with the name, price, billing date and how often you use it. Mark each one as keep, cancel or think about.

Step 3: Cancel the ones you do not need

Log in to the service and look for account, billing or membership settings. Save a confirmation email or a screenshot. If cancelling online is not possible, contact the company and ask for written confirmation.

Step 4: Watch for the next charge

Check your statement after the next billing date to make sure the charge stopped. If you are billed after cancelling, contact the company first, and your card issuer if it is not resolved.

Avoid surprise renewals

• Set a calendar reminder before a trial ends
• Use a note listing every trial you start
• Read the terms about automatic renewal before you sign up

Bottom line

A twice-a-year subscription review is a simple habit that can keep unwanted charges from piling up.

This article is for general information only and is not financial, legal or tax advice. See our Disclaimer.