A subscription audit takes 30 minutes and can save $200–$1,000/year. Here's the complete checklist.
Step 1: Gather Your Statements (5 min)
- Download the last 3 months of bank and credit card statements
- Open your Apple, Google Play, and Amazon subscription pages
- Have a spreadsheet or notepad ready
Step 2: List Every Recurring Charge (10 min)
Go through each statement and list every recurring charge — same merchant, same amount, monthly or annually. Note the name, monthly cost, and billing date.
Step 3: Rate Each Subscription (10 min)
For each, answer honestly:
- Have I used this in the last 30 days? (Yes/No)
- Is there a free alternative that covers 80% of what I use? (Yes/No)
- Could I share this with family or a friend? (Yes/No)
- Is there a cheaper tier that meets my needs? (Yes/No)
If you answered "No" to the first question, cancel immediately. You can always resubscribe — most services restore your account instantly.
Step 4: Cancel Ruthlessly (5 min)
Cancel anything that didn't get a clear "Yes, I use this" in Step 3. Don't overthink it — the cost of keeping a $15/month subscription you don't use is $180/year. That's a car payment.
Step 5: Prevent Future Creep
Set two habits to keep subscriptions from sneaking back:
- Calendar a reminder for any free trial 2 days before it ends
- Repeat this audit every 6 months — put it on the calendar now
Now that you've audited, add up what's left to see your true monthly subscription cost with the Subscription Cost Calculator.