Subscription Fatigue? Do This 4 Times a Year to Save Money

If subscription fatigue this times is on your radar, this short guide cuts through the noise. Here is what is worth knowing, and how to put it to work today.

Key Takeaways

• Every business wants a piece of your wallet right now.
• Whether it’s your debit card, your credit card, or direct access to your checking account, companies are obsessed with putting your money on...
• They want you to subscribe to something — anything — to secure that ongoing, predictable monthly revenue stream.

Every business wants a piece of your wallet right now. Whether it’s your debit card, your credit card, or direct access to your checking account, companies are obsessed with putting your money on autopilot. They want you to subscribe to something — anything — to secure that ongoing, predictable monthly revenue stream.

Look at Apple. Where do they really make their money? It’s not just the hardware anymore; it’s AppleCare and their ongoing ecosystem of subscriptions. On a recent “Clark Stinks” segment, a listener called me out over my Oura Ring because you have to pay a monthly subscription just to see your own data!

These subscriptions are everywhere, and they quickly get out of hand. I’ve been trying to think of a strategy to help you get your arms around this problem without it turning into a grueling new part-time job. I’ve come up with a solution, and I want you to put it to work.

The Four-Season Subscription Audit

How do we mark the passing of time? We change seasons. Four times a year, we hit a milestone: the first day of summer, the first day of fall, the first day of winter, and the first day of spring.

On each of those days — at least four times a year — I want you to review all your recurring bills. Pull up your bank or credit union statements, check every single credit card statement, and look at anything tied to an automatic subscription.

Your mission is simple: Go through the list and either cancel what you don’t need, or reduce the cost of what you do.

How I Compromised With My Family

I’ve had to do this myself, and let me tell you, it isn’t always simple. Recently, I staged a bit of a household intervention. I noticed we were paying about $18 a month for Netflix and thought, “Nobody is watching this thing.”

Without consulting anyone, I just went ahead and canceled it. Well, the family was ready to march to the barricades! I caught a lot of grief.

So, we compromised. Instead of keeping the pricey plan, I downgraded us to Netflix’s cheapest, stripped-down version. We cut our cost nearly in half.

There are always ways to reduce the cost of a service you still want, or kill a service you don’t use entirely. If you follow my seasonal calendar, you will make it your responsibility to root out these hidden costs. I guarantee you’ll find something and say, “I didn’t even know I was paying for that!”

The Double-Billing Danger Zone

Let me tell you about the last hidden fee I uncovered in my own household. We were paying for a specific streaming service, but then I noticed an additional, separate bill coming from Roku. I didn’t know what it was for, so I logged into the account to investigate.

It turns out we were paying for the exact same streaming service twice — once directly, and once through Roku!

Needless to say, nobody in my family wants to get a text from me about streaming services right now.

But this happens to the best of us. A huge percentage of the things we subscribe to are either completely unused or vastly overpriced.

Beat the “Paradox of Choice” With Our Free Tools

I love this new seasonal audit strategy because it builds a regular, manageable habit into your calendar. But if you get stuck trying to find a better deal on your cell phone plan or your streaming packages, you don’t have to guess.

We have built some incredible, free tools to help you navigate what is known as the paradox of choice:

• Phone Plan Finder Tool: Find a cheaper phone plan that meets your family’s unique needs.
• Streaming Channel Tool: Find a cheaper streaming service without sacrificing channels.

For example, we have a tool specifically for live TV streaming services (like YouTube TV, Sling, or Fubo). You can actually build your ideal channel lineup. As you check off channels, the tool updates in real-time to show you the cost. You might see, “Oh, my monthly bill goes up $38 if I add that channel. Do I really need it?” Suddenly, you realize you can live without it and save that money every single month.

That exact decision-making tool is actually how my family ended up saving money by switching to Sling.

Sometimes there are so numerous options and prices out there that people get overwhelmed and do nothing. Our tools don’t just throw data at you; they give you actual decision-making ability.

Your Assignment This Summer

Here we are at the turn of a season, which means it’s time to get your wallet under control.

Check your statements, cancel the bloat, downgrade what you can, and use our tools at Clark.com to find a better rate. Then, set a reminder to do it all over again in three months. Your bank account will thank you!

The post Subscription Fatigue? Do This 4 Times a Year to Save Money appeared first on Clark Howard.

Final Thoughts

Before you check out, double-check subscription fatigue this times against current offers and any coupons you can stack. Small habits like this add up to real savings over a year.

Originally published at clark.com.