We all want to save a bit of money in January, December is a whirlwind of spending, gifting, treating ourselves and accidentally signing up for things we don’t quite remember. By the time the new year rolls in half of us are staring at our bank statements wondering what has happened. So here's a reminder to have a little money tidy up, just a simple look at the subscriptions that are nibbling away at your cash every month.
The mystery app you don’t remember downloading!
We’ve all got at least one of these lurking in the shadows. A random app offering premium features you’ve never used. Meditation apps, language apps, habit trackers and that random game you played once because an advert promised it would rewire your brain and boost your IQ. The worst part is these apps often cost a couple of pounds a month and we don’t notice.
Where to check:
If you’re on iPhone, go to Settings > Your Name > Subscriptions.
On Android, check Google Play > Payments & Subscriptions.
TV & streaming!
There are so many streaming apps now: Netflix, Disney+, Prime, Now, Paramount+, Apple TV and those are just the one's I can think of, there is probably more. We never watch all of them at once. January is a great time to ask yourself what you are actually watching! If you finished that big show on Netflix and haven’t touched it since, pause it. If Disney+ has been sitting there untouched except for that one time you rewatched Moana, pause it. None of them make you sign a contract for life so ditch what you’re not using and rotate through them when there’s something new you fancy.
The gym membership you’ve not seen since Autumn!
Gyms know exactly what they’re doing with those New Year, New You deals. They get you while you’re full of festive cheese and optimism but if your gym card hasn’t seen the light of day since the leaves turned orange maybe it’s time to be honest with yourself. Gym memberships can be pricey. If you love working out at home, switch to free YouTube workouts or a single, affordable fitness app you’ll actually use. If you prefer walking or running stick with that instead. Gyms often require 30 days notice so cancelling sooner rather than later helps.
Digital magazines & newspapers you forgot you signed up for!
These start out so innocently where you get 3 months for £1 and we think wow, what a bargain. Then January rolls around and suddenly it’s £9.99 a month for something you only read once because there was an interview with someone you vaguely recognised off Strictly. Take a little peek at your subscriptions and check if you’re still actually reading them. If not, wave them goodbye. You can always come back when there’s another cheeky £1 deal floating around, there usually is.
Those monthly little treat boxes!
Beauty boxes, snack boxes, craft boxes, stationery boxes, period boxes. There is a subscription box for absolutely everything and they’re fun! Opening a little parcel of goodies feels like Christmas every month but after a few months, the excitement fades and the products start piling up. Suddenly you’ve got six moisturisers still in their wrappers, enough fancy pens to start your own stationery shop and snacks you forgot to eat because you popped them in a drawer for later. If the box no longer gives you that excited little flutter when it arrives, it might be time to pause it.
Spotify Family!
The subscription we swear we needed because everyone in the house was going to use it. Cut to now and you're the only one actually listening, humming away in the kitchen while the rest of the family plan forgets it even exists. It’s such an easy one to overlook because it feels practical with six accounts and ad-free music but if you’re the only one logging in you’re paying premium prices for a party of one.
January is already a month of fresh starts, so trimming back the digital clutter fits right in. A simple sweep through the subscriptions you no longer use can make such a difference and it’s one of those jobs that feels good once it’s done.
Do you have any forgotten things that you are paying for?
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