Many companies use the subscription model these days, for example Hulu and Netflix, or a monthly beauty box from Amazon Prime. The cost of these online and/or offline subscriptions may seem affordable at first, but they can quickly add up. Having to pay for all those monthly subscriptions can be expensive. This means that the average American is spending more than $1,300 per year on things like Spotify, Netflix, Amazon Prime, and more. And that’s not even including things like their cell phone plans, which is another monthly subscription that most people have. On average, Americans spend over $110 per month on things like Spotify, Netflix, Amazon Prime, and more. This doesn’t even include their cell phone plans which is another monthly subscription. This means that the average American spends over $1,300 per year on subscriptions. The amount spent each month is increasing.
You may not be aware of how much money you are spending on credit monitoring subscriptions, streaming services, and news services until you add them all up. If you have several subscriptions that each cost $10 per month, you will spend more than $700 per year. The average family spends over $110 per month or $1300 per year on monthly recurring subscriptions.
Cancel the free trials to subscription services
If you’re interested in subscribing to free trials that require a credit card, just remember to cancel them before you’re charged monthly. MasterCard and Visa are working to protect customers from being automatically charged for physical product subscriptions every month. You need to approve these subscriptions each month. This means that even if you cancel a service, the vendor may still be able to charge your card if they offer recurring billing.
It is important to take charge so that you do not have your money drained by subscriptions. When you sign up for a free trial, be sure to keep track of that service so you can cancel it if and when needed. Review your accounts at least four times a year and set up calendar reminders.
Audit of all your accounts
Make sure to check your credit and debit card statements regularly for any unwanted or recurring charges. This should be done at least four times a year. You need to take into account all the different types of services that are available to you, from pest control and home security to streaming and video services. Search for charges from Netflix, your cable company, and your phone provider. Some credit card companies categorize your charges for you.
To calculate the total amount you will pay for the year, you need to take the list of monthly expenses and multiply it by twelve. If the amount is much higher than expected, you should plan to cancel some subscriptions.
You can use smartphone apps to keep track of your subscriptions and make sure you are not overspending. Truebill allows users to see how much they are spending on subscriptions and where they can save money.
The company makes it easy to cancel any unwanted subscriptions or services with just one click. The app also tracks your spending habits and provides personalized insights so that you can see how you’re spending your money and make changes if needed.
This app offers a one-click unsubscribe button for automatic withdrawals, saving users money without any extra effort.
Assess how much value you receive for each subscription
A gym membership may be expensive and not worth it if you don’t end up using it often. A subscription service for shaving razors that you don’t need, a subscription box service for exotic foods that you don’t enjoy — these may need to go. Try to be reasonable and not overly emotional. If you are not using the subscription service or using it infrequently, you should cancel it.
This means that you no longer need the service and it is taking up space that could be used for something else. This means that you are paying for multiple services that offer similar content. It would be a good idea to decide which of these services you would like to stop using.
It’s important to think about how much something is worth to you, and to make a decision based on that. This makes canceling seem like a more emotional decision.
Cancel then resign up for subscriptions
Since most companies have a significant online presence, they make it easy to log on and suspend or cancel service. You can do it whenever you want. This is a great way to watch multiple episodes of a show on Hulu, Netflix, Disney+, etc. in one sitting. You can cancel your online service to save money. If you want to watch a new show, you will need to sign up for it in the future.
The same concept can be applied to other services. When you have enough beauty products, cancel your Birchbox or other beauty box subscription, and sign up again later. If you have too much wine or beer of the month stocked up, you can cancel the recurring monthly subscription and sign up again later when you have drunk some of it.
Try to share the cost of subscriptions
Some vendors allow you to have other people use your subscription. If you subscribe to the New York Times, you may be able to share your subscription with someone else. You can share your YouTube TV or Netflix account with family members. You can share your cell phone plan with other members of your family. This can help you save money on your monthly bill.
Negotiate lower prices or get discounts
A good way to save money is to call your service provider and ask for a lower monthly cost. There are many companies that offer similar products and services, so it can be difficult to choose one. They would rather give you a discount or a free month or two to keep you as a customer. If you refer someone to a corporation, they may give you a discount or some type of benefit. The corporation also benefits because they save money on marketing and acquiring new customers.
Call the company and tell them you would like to cancel your account. You could try reaching out to the company and asking if they offer any type of discounts or deals. Alternatively, you could explain that you are facing a hardship and see if they are willing to work with you on a lower price. Some companies offer discounts to new customers, so be sure to ask for a “new customer” monthly rate. There are professional services that will contact companies on your behalf in order to get discounts and savings on subscription services, both offline and online. These services are provided for free. They only charge you based on how much money they save by using your service.
Try to get a lower level of service
You can save money by choosing a lower level of service for things like software, streaming, and websites. If your credit card has an annual fee, you can downgrade to a free card while still keeping your credit history.
A good way to save money is to cancel all your subscriptions and then see which ones you miss. After that, you can resubscribe to the ones you need. It can be difficult to keep track of all your subscriptions, and how much they cost, if you don’t regularly review them.
Get paid for referrals to the recurring subscription services
Many companies that offer monthly subscriptions are trying to grow quickly. The more customers a corporation has, the more profit it will make. This is especially true for new industries. Referral bonuses are often offered to help encourage growth.
If you are a customer of a meal subscription program, beauty box, streaming plan, or many others, you can refer a friend or family member to either (1) get paid a bonus or (2) get a credit on your account. The point is, you can make money from referral programs to save on subscription services.