How to Find and Cancel Subscriptions You No Longer Use
Small monthly charges are easy to forget. A quick subscription review can free up money without changing anything you actually enjoy.
Step 1: Gather your statements
Look through the last two or three months of bank and credit card statements. Highlight anything that repeats.
Step 2: Check your app stores and email
- Subscriptions in your phone's app store settings
- Email receipts with words like renewal, subscription or trial
- Payment services you have linked to your accounts
Step 3: Sort them
Mark each one as keep, pause or cancel. Ask yourself when you last used it and whether you would sign up again today.
Step 4: Cancel properly
Cancel through the same place you signed up, such as the website, app store or the company's account page. Save the confirmation email or a screenshot, and check your next statement to be sure the charge stopped.
Step 5: Prevent the next surprise
Set a calendar reminder a few days before any free trial ends. Consider using a single payment card for subscriptions so they are easy to review.
Repeat the review a couple of times a year. It takes about half an hour and keeps your recurring costs under control.
