How do I do a subscription audit?

What counts as a subscription?

Anything that renews without you clicking buy again. Streaming, cloud storage, news, music, fitness apps, meal kits, software seats, domain names, kids' apps, donation pledges, and free trials that quietly flipped to paid.

Don't forget annual plans. They hit once a year, not monthly, which is exactly why they slip by.

Rule of thumb: if money leaves on a schedule and you didn't start that exact payment, it goes on the list.

How do I find every recurring charge?

1. Pull recent statements

Open checking, credit cards, payment apps and your phone's app store billing. Search for "subscription," "renewal," "membership," or names you know. Annual charges can hide outside a 30-day window, so go back at least three months and skim last year for yearly renewals.

2. Check app stores and email

Phone subscriptions live in your app store account settings. Search email for "your subscription," "renews on," and "receipt."

3. Write one row per charge

Note the name, amount, cycle (weekly / monthly / yearly), next renewal if you know it, and which account it hits. To compare, turn yearly prices into monthly with simple division (example: $120/year ÷ 12 = $10/month). That's arithmetic, not survey data.

How do I decide keep, cancel, or downgrade?

Three questions:

1. Did I use this on purpose in the last 30 days?
2. Would I buy it again tomorrow at this price?
3. Is there a cheaper tier or a free option I'd actually use?

Then mark it:

A 45-minute honest pass beats a perfect sheet you never finish.

How do I cancel safely?

Stopping a debit isn't the same as ending a contract. The CFPB notes that canceling automatic payments doesn't cancel what you still owe. For gyms, cable and similar agreements, cancel with the company too.

The order that works:

1. Cancel or change the plan in the company's account (or through their cancel path). Save the confirmation.
2. Charges keep coming? Tell the company in writing that you revoke permission for automatic payments, then tell your bank or credit union. The CFPB walkthrough covers calling and writing both, and keeping an eye on things after.
3. Watch the next billing cycle so a "final" charge doesn't sneak up on you.

How automatic payments work, in the CFPB's words: How do automatic payments from a bank account work?.

Worked example (illustrative only)

An example household finds eight recurring items:

The cash you free up is whatever you cancel or cut. Not a national average. Use your own statement lines.

What do I do with the money I free up?

Give it a name: holiday sinking fund, emergency buffer, debt payment, groceries. Budget by payday? Put the freed amount on the next check as its own line. See How do I budget by paycheck through the holidays? and the year-round paycheck budget how-to.

When a template helps (and when it doesn't)

Helps if: you want reusable columns (yearly×12, keep/cancel, money freed) or a short checklist to run every quarter.

Want the whole audit on one printable page? The Subscription Audit worksheet ($0.99 on Etsy) walks you through it.

Cut what you don't use, then give the freed-up money a job on your next payday. The Paycheck Budget Spreadsheet ($9.99 on Etsy) handles that. Want sinking funds and bill tracking too? The Budget Spreadsheet Bundle covers both.

Doesn't help if: you've only got a few subscriptions and a notes app does the job, or your bank already lists recurring merchants clearly. Skip the download. The steps above work fine on paper.

Browse the shop: Greenskeeper.studio shop.

FAQ

How often should I do a subscription audit?

Once a quarter is plenty for most households. Add an extra pass before the holidays and again in early January, when trials and annual renewals pile up.

Does canceling automatic payments cancel my contract?

Not necessarily. Stop the debit and cancel the service or membership with the company if you want the contract ended. The CFPB is clear that you may still owe amounts already due.

What if a charge posts after I canceled?

Contact the company and your bank quickly. Federal rules on unauthorized transfers are summarized in the same CFPB guidance. Timing matters, so don't wait.

Should I include annual shop memberships?

Yes, if they renew automatically. Put the yearly price on the list and decide whether you still use the perks enough to keep them.

Can I do this without a spreadsheet?

Yes. A one-page table in a notebook works. A template mostly saves you from rebuilding the columns next time.

Related guides

• How do I budget by paycheck through the holidays?
• How to budget by paycheck (biweekly or weekly)
• How much should I budget for Christmas gifts?

Written for Greenskeeper.studio. Not financial advice. Updated October 2026.