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8 Tips to Save Money on Subscriptions (Without Canceling Everything You Love)
December 12, 2024
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Do you feel like your monthly subscriptions are out of control? You’re not alone. From streaming TV and music to subscription boxes, meal kits, cloud storage, and fitness apps – the average consumer has more subscriptions than ever (about 5 to 6 on average, studies show). It’s easy to sign up and forget, until your bank statement reminds you with a dozen line items. This “subscription overload” can wreak havoc on your budget and leave you wondering where your money went.
The knee-jerk advice is often “cancel them all!” – and yes, cutting unused subscriptions is Step 1. But what about the ones that genuinely bring you value or joy? Instead of axing every subscription, you can use smart strategies to save money on the services you keep. In other words, enjoy your Netflix and keep your budget happy, too.
Here are 8 clever tips to trim the cost of your subscriptions without canceling everything you love:
1. Conduct a Subscription Audit and Purge the Waste
First, get a clear picture. Make a list of every subscription and recurring bill you’re paying for. Check credit card and bank statements for the last 3-6 months to catch annual or quarterly bills too. You might discover subscriptions you forgot about (that meditation app you opened twice, or a free trial that quietly became paid). This audit is eye-opening – one Fox Business report noted a few $5–$12 subscriptions can add up to over $1000 a year when unchecked!
Once you have the list:
- Cancel anything you’re not using regularly. Be ruthless with those “maybe I’ll use it later” subs. If it’s been 3+ months since you really used it, let it go. You can always resubscribe when you truly miss it.
- Look for redundancies. Do you need Spotify and Apple Music? Hulu and Netflix and Prime and HBO Max? Perhaps cut down to the 1–2 you use the most, then rotate (more on that below).
- Total up the monthly and yearly costs. Sometimes seeing “this is costing me $500 a year” helps motivate change. It’s not to guilt you, but to ensure the value you get feels equivalent to what you pay.
By canceling the truly wasteful subscriptions, you free up budget that can either go to savings or to bolstering the value of the ones you keep (like upgrading one service instead of paying for two mediocre ones). It’s like weeding a garden: pull out the weeds so the flowers can thrive. Now, with your “active, I want this” subscriptions list in hand, move on to the next tips to save on those.
2. “Rotate” Your Streaming Services
If you subscribe to multiple streaming platforms but find you only binge one at a time, consider a rotation strategy. For example:
- Subscribe to Netflix this month, catch up on your shows.
- Next month, cancel Netflix and subscribe to HBO Max, watch what you want there.
- Month after, switch to Disney+… and so on.
This way, you’re only paying for one service at a time (or maybe two, if you must). You’re not paying for content you’re not watching. Many people have “subscription fatigue” with streaming – so much content, so little time. Rotating services every few months ensures you actually use what you pay for, and you can always come back later. Most services make it easy to cancel and resubscribe; your profiles/watchlists often stay for a while after cancelation, waiting for you to return.
An added benefit: streaming platforms frequently release new seasons or content intermittently. You can let shows accumulate and then subscribe for one month to binge them all, instead of paying for 6 months waiting.
Pro tip: Keep an eye out for return offers – if you’ve been gone for a few months, you might get an email like “Come back to Hulu for $2/month for 3 months.” Take advantage of those deals when rotating.Rotating can be applied beyond video streaming – e.g., rotate which subscription box you get this quarter (try a snack box this season, a wine club next, etc., rather than all at once). It keeps things fresh and cost-effective.
3. Share Accounts and Family Plans
This is one of the simplest ways to cut subscription costs: split them with someone. Many services allow multiple profiles or concurrent streams because they anticipate family sharing. If you trust a family member or friend:
- Share streaming services: Nearly all major streamers have multi-screen plans. For instance, a Netflix Standard plan allows 2 concurrent viewers. If you and a sibling both want Netflix, consider sharing one account and splitting the cost 50/50 – now you each pay half. Disney+, Hulu, Spotify (Duo or Family plans), YouTube Premium (Family plan) all offer multi-user options that drastically lower per-person cost.
- Family plans for software: Microsoft 365 Family covers up to 6 people. Google One storage can be shared among family members. These often provide far more space or features for not much more money than individual plans – ideal to split the bill.
- ‘Buddy’ up for subscription boxes: Some subscription boxes (like meal kits) send more than one serving. If you have a roommate or neighbor interested, you could share a meal kit subscription, splitting the cost and the meals. Similarly, share bulk “subscribe and save” orders for household supplies with a friend group if it’s too much for one person.
Make sure to do this sharing ethically – within the terms of service of the provider. (Sharing with one or two family members is usually fine; posting your password for 50 strangers is not!). By sharing, you essentially instantly cut costs by 30-50% or more, with zero loss of service quality to you.
4. Hunt for Discounts, Coupons, and Special Rates
Don’t ever assume the sticker price is the price you must pay. There are often discounts or special plans:
- Student/Teacher discounts: Are you a student or have one in the family? Many services have steep student discounts (Spotify for Students is about half price and includes Hulu, for example). Don’t be shy about using it if you qualify – you can save significant cash. Likewise, teachers/professors sometimes get deals on news subscriptions or software.
- Military or Senior discounts: Some services (even Netflix in some regions, or Verizon mobile plans that include streaming) have military discounts. Always worth checking. AARP members sometimes get discounts on subscriptions like music services or security software.
- Annual payment discounts: Lots of subscriptions charge ~10-20% less if you pay for a full year. If it’s something you’re sure you’ll use for 12 months, paying upfront saves you money in the long run. And you can often do this on a service-by-service basis.
- Promo codes and coupons: Before hitting “Purchase” on any subscription sign-up, do a quick search for “[Service name] promo code” or check a site like RetailMeNot. You might find a code for, say, 15% off the first year, or 1 month free. This is common with digital subscriptions, from language learning apps to streaming services (especially around holidays or events).
- Email newsletters: As annoying as spam can be, sometimes being on a company’s email list gets you special offers. For example, The Washington Post or NY Times might send a “flash sale – 6 months for $1” to lapsed subscribers via email. If you can stand it, subscribe to emails of services you’re interested in, and wait for a deal to show up.
Every bit of discount is money in your pocket. A pro move is to combine this with tip #1’s knowledge: if you know you have say, 8 subscriptions active, maybe each year you contact a couple of them asking “Do you have any retention offers or discounts available? I’m considering canceling for budget reasons.” You’d be surprised – many companies will give you a temporary discount rather than see you go. A quick customer support chat could save you a few bucks a month for 6 months. Multiply that by a few services and it’s a solid saving.
5. Utilize Rewards Credit Cards and Offers
We covered this extensively in Article 1 and 2, but to reiterate in the context of saving money: using a good rewards credit card for your subscriptions essentially reduces their effective cost. If your card gives 5% back on a $10 subscription, you’re really paying $9 in the end.
Over time, that’s meaningful. Additionally:
- Credit card offers: Check your card’s online account for targeted offers. Amex Offers, Chase Offers, etc., often have limited-time deals like “Spend $X on XYZ service, get $Y back.” For example, an Amex Offer might be “Spend $9.99 or more on Hulu, get $5 back” (I’ve seen such offers, effectively half off a month). If you see one, activate it and use that card for that subscription to snag the credit.
- Stack with cashback portals: As discussed, portals like Rakuten can give cashback when paying for subscriptions or buying gift cards for them. You can double dip: use a rewards credit card through Rakuten to get portal cashback + card cashback together.
- Pay with points or credits: Some card programs allow you to redeem points to erase charges on your statement (like Capital One or Discover). If you have points accrued, you might choose to wipe out a month or two of subscription charges with them. It’s not always the highest value use of points (often travel gives better value), but if you’re not traveling, using points to offset expenses is fine – it’s free money.
In short, view your credit card as a tool in your “subscription savings” toolkit. The key is: don’t overspend because of rewards (no point buying stuff you don’t need). But for the spending you’re doing, make it reward-optimized. It’s a painless way to reduce costs.
6. Set Reminders for Free Trials and Renewal Dates
Those free trials and promotional periods we love can become money pits if you forget to cancel. Likewise, some annual subscriptions renew at a higher price after the first year. Stay ahead of these with simple reminders:
- Use your phone’s calendar or a task app. The moment you sign up for a trial, create an event: “Cancel [Service] trial by [Date]” a few days before it ends. Also note the method to cancel (email, online, etc.) in the notes.
- For any “intro pricing” that will increase later (like an initial 3-month discount), set a reminder on the month it ends: “HBO Max goes from $5.99 to $14.99 this month – decide to keep or cancel.” This prompt allows you to take action (maybe you’ll cancel and restart under a new promo, or switch to an annual plan if you’re sticking around).
- If you have a lot of subs, consider a subscription tracking app (like Rocket Money, Truebill, etc.). They automatically list your subs and can send alerts for upcoming renewals. Some will even handle the cancelation with one tap if you decide to nix it.
By never getting caught off guard by a renewal, you either cancel in time (saving money) or at least prepare for the charge (budgeting accordingly or looking for a downgrade option). It also gives you a chance to negotiate – sometimes when you go to cancel, the provider will offer you a retention deal (like “Stay for another 3 months at a discount”). Win-win: you save money and keep the service.
7. Consider Lower-Tier Plans or Alternate Solutions
Not all subscriptions have to be all-or-nothing. Some services offer different tiers:
Ad-supported plans:
Many streaming platforms now have a cheaper plan with ads. If you don’t mind an ad or two, switching from an $15 ad-free to a $7 ad-supported plan saves you $8/month ($96/year). That’s significant. YouTube, Hulu, Peacock, etc., have ad tiers. True, ads can be a pain, but it’s a personal call: is a couple of minutes of ads worth halving the price?
Individual vs Family:
On the flip side of sharing plans – if you’re currently on an expensive family plan but only you actually use it (perhaps you thought you’d share, but aren’t), downgrade to single. No need to pay for extra slots. Example: You pay for Netflix Premium (4 screens, UHD) but you only ever use 1 screen – drop to Standard or Basic and save a few bucks.
Trim features:
Some software subscriptions let you pick levels (Basic, Pro, etc.). Maybe you subscribed to Pro for features you ended up not using – see if you can downgrade to Basic and still get what you need. Even something like a cloud storage – do you really need 2TB at $10/mo, or can you manage with 200GB at $3/mo? This goes back to the audit step: understanding your usage.
Alternate free or one-time-pay options:
This is a bit broader, but worth mentioning. For some types of subscriptions (especially apps or software), there might be a free alternative or a one-time purchase alternative. Example: paying for Adobe Photoshop monthly? If you’re casual, perhaps a one-time purchase of Affinity Photo could replace it. Paying for a music streaming? Maybe you could manage with a free (ad-based) version or an online radio service for a while. It depends on your tolerance and what it is. The idea is to question if a recurring payment is necessary or if there’s a cheaper way to achieve the same benefit. Often, subscription models bank on convenience – but if you’re willing to do a bit of research, you might find cost-effective alternatives.
Even small downgrades can save a lot annually. Just ensure the trade-off (ads, lower quality, fewer features) is acceptable for you – otherwise you won’t be happy and it’s not worth it. But often, we overbuy or forget to adjust plans as our needs change.
8. Use Subscription Aggregators or Bundles (and Ditch Duplicates)
Tech is stepping in to help with subscription overload: services like Amazon Prime Channels, Apple TV Channels, Hulu’s add-ons let you subscribe to other services within them. While these don’t necessarily give a discount, they centralize your subscriptions into one interface, which can sometimes offer bundle deals or at least make it easier to cut duplicates.
- For example, Amazon Prime offers channels like Starz, Showtime, etc., often with introductory rates. If you’re already paying for Prime (for shipping, etc.), you might occasionally get a deal like “Add Showtime for $0.99 for 2 months” as a Prime member incentive.
- Apple TV app aggregates a bunch of services – it might prompt you “subscribe to Paramount+” and sometimes has free trial extensions.
- Hulu (Disney Bundle) – If you have Hulu, consider the Disney bundle that includes Disney+ and ESPN+ for a combined lower rate than each separate. If you also have Verizon Unlimited, check if Disney+ is already included (you don’t want to pay twice).
The key is to avoid paying twice for overlapping content. A common example: you subscribe to HBO Max directly, but you also pay for HBO through your cable provider – one of those should go. Or you have YouTube Premium for ad-free YouTube and background play, but also pay for a music service – note that YouTube Premium includes YouTube Music, which might replace Spotify for you if you’re not picky. Assess what you’re getting from each subscription; sometimes one can cover the role of another.
Finally, if you are really overloaded and none of the above tips salvage your budget sufficiently, consider a short-term “subscription detox”. As NerdWallet experts and our own Kudos guide suggest, cancel everything non-essential for one month. Experience the freedom (and perhaps FOMO) – then slowly add back only what you truly missed. You might find you didn’t miss some at all, or you found cheaper hobbies in the meantime. It’s a bit extreme, but it can reset your relationship with subscriptions. After the detox, apply our saving tips to whatever you re-subscribe to, and you’ll have a lean, optimized set of services.
Frequently Asked Questions
What if I want to save money and support content creators? (I feel bad sharing or canceling.)
It’s great that you’re thinking about supporting creators. Remember, though, you need to take care of your own finances first – there’s no obligation to subscribe to everything. Many creators/companies offer multiple ways to support. If you cancel a streaming service, maybe you can rent a show or movie you really love once (giving a direct boost). Or support a creator on Patreon or buy their merch occasionally, rather than a continuous sub. Sharing accounts within a family is typically allowed by the service (so you’re not doing something against the rules). And if a service truly provides you value, by all means keep it – our goal is to cut the ones that don’t or find win-win savings on the ones that do.
How often should I review my subscriptions?
A good rule of thumb is to do a subscription review every 3-6 months. Things change – new services emerge, old ones raise prices, your interests shift. Mark it on your calendar (maybe every June and December) to sit down for 30 minutes and go over what you’re paying for. Alternatively, use a subscription tracking app that keeps a running list – you can glance at it monthly. Certainly do it at least once a year.
I’m overwhelmed... Which tip should I start with to save the most?
Start with the subscription audit (#1) – it’s the foundational step. You can’t effectively apply other tips until you have the clear picture. That alone might save you a ton if you find things to cancel. After that, the account sharing (#3) and checking for discounts (#4) can yield quick wins. For many, splitting Netflix or dropping to a family plan, etc., immediately slashes costs in half. Also, rotate services (#2) if you have many entertainment subs – it’s a fast way to cut your number of concurrent subscriptions without feeling deprived. The credit card optimization (#5) tends to be smaller per month but adds up over time (and has other benefits like buyer protection, etc.). And reminders (#6) will save you from accidental spending, which is an easy thing to implement right away.
By using these tips, you can tame your subscription overload. Remember, subscriptions are meant to enrich your life, not impoverish it. With a bit of planning and savvy moves, you can enjoy what you love and keep more money in your pocket. Happy saving!
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Editorial Disclosure: Opinions expressed here are those of Kudos alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, hotel, airline, or other entity. This content has not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of the entities included within the post.
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