Losing track of all your subscriptions? Here are some tips to help you track and manage all your subscriptions and save money in the process.
What kinds of subscriptions?
More and more services seem to be headed to a subscription model, so it’s more important than ever to keep yourself organized and know what you’re paying for. Here are some examples of the subscriptions you might be signed up for:
- TV or movie streaming services (like Disney+, Apple TV, Netflix, Crave, etc.)
- Music streaming services (like Spotify or Apple Music)
- Shopping subscriptions (like Amazon Prime)
- Cloud/Google storage for email or photos
- Magazines or newspapers (print or digital)
- Product subscriptions (like meal kit delivery services)
- Phone apps
- Video or photo editing services or apps
- Technology subscriptions (such as anti-virus software)
- Video games
4 tips to help you manage your subscriptions
- Take stock of the subscriptions you’re paying for. Make a list of all the subscriptions services you are currently paying for. You might be surprised by subscriptions you didn’t know you had.
- Keep your subscriptions all on one credit card. This will make it easier to track and manage them all in one place.
- Decide if the subscriptions are worth the price. Here are some question to help you decide:
- Do you have two subscriptions for the same thing? Decide which one is better and cancel the other.
- Can you get the same thing for free? Many subscriptions have a free alternative. Do some research to find out if there’s a free or cheaper option.
- Do I really use this subscription? Avoid paying for something you don’t use. You might want to use a budgeting app to help you decide!
- Track your free trials. While they’re great for testing a service, lots of free trials automatically charge your account once the free trial is over. Set reminders in your calendar so you have time to cancel the trial (if you want to) before it rolls over into a paid subscription. Keep in mind that not all free trials are what they appear. Learn how to spot a free trial trap.
Where to go for help
We can’t help with subscription issues under the laws we oversee. If you are having trouble cancelling a subscription, consider escalating the issue through the business’s customer service line.
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About Consumer Protection BC
We are not-for-profit regulator responsible for overseeing certain industries and specific consumer transactions in British Columbia. If your concern is captured under the laws we enforce, we will use the tools at our disposal to assist you. If we can’t help you directly, we will try to offer a referral to a relevant organization, if one exists. Other times, court or legal assistance may be the best option. Explore our website at www.consumerprotectionbc.ca.
Well written and informative.
Thank You
Excellent advice.
We tend to sign up for things and then, likely due to auto-payment setups, stop thinking about them and just accept them as a monthly cost. Your advice is excellent because it reminds people to take stock of what they are actually using and watching and to check out alternatives, including cancellations.
Thank you.