The Subscription Question: Which One Would You Keep?

When I started looking for ways to spend less, subscriptions were one of the first places I checked. Many can be canceled without a long-term commitment, which can be helpful when restructuring a budget. It’s still worth checking the cancellation terms and next billing date.

A monthly charge can seem small on its own. It’s easy to think, “I use that,” or “It’s only a few dollars.” But when several charges come out every month, I have to ask whether I’m still getting enough from each one to keep paying for it.

That question isn’t always easy to answer in my house. Some subscriptions matter more to my husband than they do to me. I might be ready to cancel something, while he still enjoys it. Living on less has meant having those conversations and deciding together what fits our situation.

I’m also learning that cutting expenses doesn’t mean I have to give up every convenience or every little thing I enjoy. It means choosing them on purpose. A subscription we regularly use may be worth keeping. One we forgot we had probably deserves another look.

If you want to try this with me, take a few minutes to look at your most recent bank or credit card statement. Write down the recurring charges you find. Then ask yourself:

• Do I still use this?

• Would I notice if I canceled it for a month?

• If I signed up for it today at this price, would I say yes?

  
  

I’ve done this exercise a few times. I tighten or loosen the belt depending on our budget, changing interests, and available sales or promotional bundles. What works for us one month may need another look a few months later.

One thing to remember: if you sign up at a promotional rate, put a reminder on your calendar before that rate ends. Check when you need to cancel to avoid the next full-price charge if you decide you don’t want to keep it.

That’s also a good time to revisit those three questions. Have you used the subscription enough to keep it? Does the regular price still fit your budget?

Some choices are obvious; others take a little longer to think over. Reviewing them gives me a chance to decide again.

If you’re saving for a special occasion, a gift, or the holidays and can’t find any more room in your budget, temporarily canceling one or more subscriptions could help you put money toward that goal. Once you’ve reached it, you can bring back the subscriptions you truly missed.

What’s one subscription you could live without—and one you’d never want to give up? I’d love to hear your answer.