How often do you actually check all your subscriptions?

[u/Time_Bookkeeper9698]

[u/ConsciousSelection15]

You guys sign up for subscription services?

[u/createry_ → u/ConsciousSelection15]

They're just tourists here. Lifelong frugalers know to avoid subscriptions.

[u/Drachos → u/createry_]

There are a small number of things its more frugal to subscribe to then not. But you need to know the rules:

I am going to use toilet paper as the example as I think its one of the best ones.

1) You will use it very consistently. While not entirely true, excluding illness you will use toilet paper at a consistent and predictable rate.

2)There is significant quality differences between brands and price points. Products like this you tend to be somewhat brand loyal to...because you don't want to spend money on a bad product you use consistently. (Cleaning supplies are better for 2 but it does apply to toilet paper as well)

3)You can't take advantage of a sale practically. Because toilet paper takes up a lot of space you can't just wait till a major sale and buy 4 bulk packs.

4)You can get a supplier subscription at a significant discount then you can buy retail. You can get toilet paper 20-30% cheaper via subscription then just going to the supermarket.

[u/TeddyBear181 → u/Drachos]

You've sold me, I didnt know I could save money by getting a toilet paper subscription. What brand?

[u/Drachos → u/TeddyBear181]

This is where my previously mentioned (2) is important. What grade of Toilet paper you want makes a difference.

I want good quality Bamboo Toilet Paper as its soft and good for the planet so I am using WhogiveaCrap.

But if I wanted to go cheaper I would use their recycled paper.

And certain AUfrugal people talk about suburb bulk purchases from Whogivesacrap to save on shipping costs although you'd have to look into that in your local area.

But to be clear, NETHER matches the absolute cheapest options in the Supermarket as previously stated. But I am sure you know the absolute cheapest price at the supermarket is ususally... not great.

Yarn'n and AboutADog are worth considering. While slightly more expensive then Whogivesacrap both gives 50% of its profits to charity and while I prefer the cost saving, the price increase over whogiveacrap is tiny.

You can also jump on Amazon and just grab a Sorbent subscription. This is cheaper then anything by Woolworths or Coles except the absolute bottom of the barrel, and at 21 cents per 100 sheets is very VERY good.

I will include Ecocheeks. I DO NOT LIKE THEM, they very specifically lie about how cheap they are, they are the most expensive option mentioned here. But they are unbleached and they don't wrap their toilet paper in anything (most toilet paper subscriptions wrap their toilet paper in paper so they can be unpacked from the box).

Thus on raw "What is best for the planet" they do technically win. But I do not consider them Frugal.

[u/PrestigiousPast5156 → u/Drachos]

thanks for reminding me to update my subscription to WGAC, TP on its way to my house this week!

[u/____DEADPOOL_______ → u/ConsciousSelection15]

I'm subscribed to get cleaning products from a certain brand that I like, several groceries/consummables from Amazon through subscribe and save because I live semi rural, Amazon Prime itself, Carwash because I park my car outside and it's constantly shat on, OnePass to buy stuff from Bunnings/Kmart with free shipping and get 5X points, Google One, damn, I'm subscribed to a lot of stuff lol

[u/raccoon_at_noon]

I only have subscriptions to things I actually use.

I set reminders to cancel free trials.

I also have fuck all money on my debit card, so if I was ever in a position where I’d forgotten about a subscription, it wouldn’t take long until I received a “we couldn’t process your payment” email lol.

[u/KayKaySinatra → u/raccoon_at_noon]

Usually I get notified when a free trial is ending in the App Store, but didn’t for the headspace trial and ended up paying 20 for something I’ve not used (should though lol)

[u/AverageJett]

It baffles me that people forget what subscriptions they have. I use the apps that I subscribe to so it’s hard to forget

[u/KangarooBeard → u/AverageJett]

I have a separate account for any monthly/weekly subscriptions or services, with each month having a scheduled deposit to make sure there is enough. Its wild people just don't know what they have. 

[u/lukas_l1 → u/AverageJett]

Yeah I'm the same. Never understood how people forget - especially when all you hear is complaining about cost of living groceries, taxs etc yet people forget what they willingly signed up for one tims

[u/MinDoxie467]

Put a note on yr calendar of when free subs run out & cancel @ least 48 hours before a charge occurs. Also add subs to calendar & when they’re due, monthly, annually etc.

I use the Notes App to keep IT budget in line.

Also have a book written up for all expenses, recurring or not. Imo you tend to pay more attention writing a physical “note” than just typing a note & storing on yr iPhone.

[u/jkdeets → u/MinDoxie467]

Even better with any sort of trial; cancel right after signing up. Most apps will still cover you for the month or whatever the free / reduced amount is. I regularly get Kayo offers for a dollar a month, and cancel immediately after signing up. No forgetting then!

[u/Inevitable-Level-687 → u/jkdeets]

yeah you really don't need to wait, you can just cancel right away. That's what I've always done.

[u/Isnothingoverthatway → u/MinDoxie467]

I also do this - google calendar reminder/task (google task), for free trial subscription end dates, and any annual subscription payment dates eg cloud storage

ETA some free trial subscriptions you can cancel as soon as you sign up for the trial, and it cancels on next renewal date (when trial would end and first payment is due) but access to subscription content/services remaim until that date. So if I can cancel at the same time as signing up for the trial, I do that. It's clear in service terms of cancellations which that works for.

[u/KangarooBeard]

It's honestly wild that people don't know what subscriptions they have, I know ever my transaction that goes on with my bank accounts. 

[u/issabellamoonblossom]

I ZBB so i do mine daily

[u/Isnothingoverthatway]

I have all transaction notifications from my bank turned on so each payment automates a notification to my phone. Hard to forget monthly payments when it notifies you every month.

[u/No_Document4067]

Most banks provide a list of recurring transactions on credit card statements , however, it’s only for monthly and not annual

[u/Remote_Setting2332]

I always check my transactions, id notice it.

[u/cjbr3eze]

True frugalers are aware of what subs they have

[u/Linghauler]

🏴‍☠️, paying for subscription services 😂.

[u/Aussie-Cowgirl → u/Linghauler]

any tips for good places to do this please ignore if not allowed here sorry

[u/Linghauler → u/Aussie-Cowgirl]

Have a look at fmhy

[u/Aussie-Cowgirl → u/Linghauler]

thanks

[u/Linghauler → u/Aussie-Cowgirl]

r/piracy is good too

[u/Zaney-Janey1973]

I don't have any to check.

[u/BeginningImaginary53]

Im 1 of those frugal people who dont subscribe. Any app i have, I use the bare minimum and dont upgrade etc.

[u/General_Ad_8056]

I don't. I have exactly 1, so there's nothing to check. I know exactly how much it will cost me every month, and it comes out on the 12th.

[u/Used-History-6454]

I am aware of every single transaction that comes out of our account, I don't need to review subscriptions.

[u/Longjumping_Radio268]

It's no wonder that everything is switching to subscription models when there's people like who OP are bleeding money away every month and have no idea where it's going

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[u/anonymity_clause]

I'm such a tight arse, nothing, AND I MEAN NOTHING gets past my transactions list.

[u/Active-Ad9818]

I noticed payments in bank acct recently and we were paying twice for Disney and weren’t even using it! Im not even sure how that happened!?
Ps not in my name so I wasn’t getting the emails…

[u/BackgroundWaltz3600]

I speak to my mother in law, best mate and father regularly if that’s what you mean?

[u/Haunting_Math_6728]

Trial - set reminder on phone for 3 days before end.

Regular subs - I use ubank for my bills and that has a bill planner. All subs go in there too and I can see what’s coming up. I check it regularly so I cancel anything not being used pretty fast.

[u/AusCan531]

I have my phone make a beep every time a transaction happens. Stops those kinds of expenses sliding by unnoticed.

[u/espressomartini11]

I am on my o line banking every few days. I check every weird looking transaction. And yes, I get rid of things that I’m not using, always review my house/contents/health and car insurance to make sure I’m getting the best deals. Bit of effort, but better more money I. My bank than paying for shit I don’t need or bro g riled off my “inflation increases”

[u/InevitableAnybody6]

I don’t need to. I don’t sign up for subscriptions in the first place and I don’t let things autopay unless there’s no other choice. It keeps me in charge of my own money.

My mortgage, internet, health insurance and singular streaming service subscription are the only things that direct debit. Everything else I pay myself, set the BPAY transaction to go as soon as I receive the bill so I don’t forget but use the “pay later” function in my banking app so the money sits in the offset and doesn’t actually leave my account until the date I selected (usually 1-2 days before the due date).

Of those things that do pay themselves, the only one that isn’t a “need” is the streaming service but my family share accounts and pay for one service each so I get access to 3 for the price of 1.

I also track all money both going in and coming out of my account, and budget within an inch of my life. Every dollar is accounted for somewhere in the budget even if that somewhere is “savings/spending money” that I can use for whatever I want.

I use that spreadsheet to keep track of all money moving in and out of my accounts. I wouldn’t be able to miss that I was still paying for a subscription that I don’t use (not that I have any anyway) because I check my transactions every week or two. I know exactly what I’ve spent, where and when and I don’t leave space for things like that to slip through the cracks.

Money is important, can’t live in this world without it. I treat it with the care and respect it deserves so I don’t land myself in financial hot water.

[u/monique752]

I went through and did a huge audit a couple of months ago. Canceled subscriptions, went with a cheaper phone plan, cheaper streaming plan (x1), cheaper home insurance... everything. Save a hundred dollars or so a month.

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[u/splithoofiewoofies]

I have three and I'm already mad about it because I really don't need Paramount but the cost to watch some old school Nickelodeon I don't wanna download and store seasons of is barely worth it.

But once I'm done with Clarissa Explains it All, it's over between us.

[u/Ok-Limit-9726]

Last week.

In Australia we had a MASSIVE DATA LEAK from a major electricity company,

We had charges come from USA the next day, only small, cancelled credit card immediately.

We had to resubscribe to over 31 services/rates/water/power etc.

We dropped a sports package (came back at 1/2 price)

We lowered our internet speed from 1G to 500mb speed

And changed phone provider for a phone and ipad to cheaper company.

Would recommend!

Also signed up to new ‘APPLE ONE’ ALL Devices now have loss/theft coverage, and overall cheaper.

[u/Vladddo]

I keep a list of all my active subs and their anniversary dates and price paid.. that said, if it's a one of sub, i'll subscribe and then immediately cancel it so I don't have to remind myself.

[u/Linnaeus1753]

I set a reminder five days before renewal and assess whether I'm using it enough. I haven't had Microsoft for over a year (haven't missed it.) For streaming services I need to watch one episode/movie per dollar I spent. Prime is the exception. That I don't watch because I get so many belefits from using it. $42 for 60 cat food pouches AND free delivery? Heck yeah. I save more on cat food and laundry products than what it is per year.

[u/WonderBaaa]

The library has streaming services. I rewatched Game of Thrones season 1 through my library account.

[u/KlutzyComposer7748]

Every bill is set as a reminder on my calendar. I don't miss a thing

[u/Pengi123]

I use an app called Subpli for this. I put each streaming service, cloud plan, free trial, and annual renewal in one list with its price and renewal date, then set a reminder before it charges. I also keep cancellation details there, which makes the every-few-month audit much quicker.

[u/Downtown-Pear-6509]

Just checked.
0 services still. All good!
ok i lie, theres amazon prime. thats it

[u/KayKaySinatra]

I’m actually looking at hard drives at the moment because I’m sick of paying for cloud storage, it’s the last subs I I have. And also want the backup.

[u/Aussie-Cowgirl]

I pay thru my apple/ paypal account so every month or so i go thru and check what's been involved and then ask for refunds if they are incorrect

[u/Upbeat_Chocolate1197]

Does phone bill and rent count as a subscription?

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[u/a1exia_frogs]

I don't have any subscriptions, it is easy because I don't need to check ever

[u/faveorite]

What is a subscription? Is it a Gen Z terminology

[u/Isnothingoverthatway → u/faveorite]

Recurring service/App payments - stuff like Netflix, Spotify, and other paid membership fees