Many people are unknowingly paying for subscriptions they no longer use or even remember signing up for. Here are the most common culprits.
1. Free Trials That Converted
The biggest source of forgotten subscriptions:
Common Offenders
- Streaming services (Paramount+, Peacock, Apple TV+)
- Fitness apps (Peloton, Headspace, Calm)
- Software trials (Microsoft 365, Canva Pro)
- Amazon add-ons (Audible, Kindle Unlimited)
How to Find Them
- Search your email for "trial," "subscription," or "renew"
- Check your bank statement for small recurring charges
- Review app store subscriptions on your phone
2. App Store Subscriptions
Both Apple and Google make it easy to subscribe but hard to remember.
Check Your Apple Subscriptions
- Settings → [Your Name] → Subscriptions
Check Your Google Subscriptions
- Play Store → Profile → Payments & subscriptions
Common hidden charges:
- Dating apps
- Cloud storage upgrades
- Premium app features
- Game subscriptions
3. Domain and Hosting Services
If you've ever had a website or side project:
- Domain renewals ($10-50/year each)
- Web hosting ($5-30/month)
- Email services ($5-15/month)
- SSL certificates ($0-100/year)
These often auto-renew annually, making them easy to forget.
4. Old Software Licenses
Software that's moved to subscription models:
| Software | Monthly Cost |
|---|---|
| Microsoft 365 | $7-13 |
| Adobe Creative Cloud | $10-55 |
| Dropbox | $10-20 |
| 1Password | $3-5 |
| Grammarly | $12-30 |
Check if you have both old and new subscriptions to similar services.
5. Gym and Fitness Memberships
The classic forgotten subscription:
- Traditional gyms - Many people stop going but keep paying
- Boutique fitness - ClassPass, yoga studios, etc.
- Online fitness - Peloton app, Apple Fitness+, etc.
The math of unused gym memberships:
- Average cost: $50/month
- If unused for 6 months: $300 wasted
- National total: $397 million/year in unused gym memberships!
How to Find ALL Your Subscriptions
Method 1: Bank Statement Audit
- Export 3 months of statements
- Search for recurring charges
- Note anything you don't recognize
Method 2: Email Search
Search your inbox for:
- "subscription"
- "recurring"
- "monthly"
- "annual"
- "renew"
- "billing"
Method 3: Use Subssy
Add all your subscriptions to Subssy and get a clear picture of your monthly spending. Our calendar view shows upcoming charges so nothing surprises you.
Take Action Today
- This week: Check your phone's app store subscriptions
- This month: Review 3 months of bank statements
- Ongoing: Use Subssy to track everything in one place
Every subscription you find and cancel is money back in your pocket!