Quick — without checking your bank account, how much do you spend on subscriptions each month?
If you're like most people, your guess is about half of the real number. Studies consistently show that consumers underestimate their recurring spending by 2–3x. The average European spends €86 per month on subscriptions — that's over €1,000 per year flowing out on autopilot.
Where Does the Money Actually Go?
Here's a typical breakdown for someone with 8–12 active subscriptions:
| Category | Common Services | Typical Monthly Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Streaming | Netflix, Spotify, Disney+, YouTube Premium | €30–45 |
| Cloud & storage | iCloud, Google One, Dropbox | €5–15 |
| Productivity | Microsoft 365, Notion, ChatGPT Plus | €15–30 |
| Fitness & wellness | Gym, Headspace, Strava | €15–40 |
| News & reading | Medium, newspapers, Kindle Unlimited | €10–20 |
| Other | VPN, domain names, app subscriptions | €5–20 |
The total adds up fast. And this doesn't include subscriptions you've forgotten about entirely.
Why We Underestimate
Three things work against you:
1. Small amounts don't trigger alerts. A €9.99 charge doesn't feel significant. But ten of them add up to €100/month. Our brains are wired to notice large one-time purchases, not small recurring ones.
2. Free trials blur the line. You signed up for a 7-day trial, planned to cancel, and forgot. Now you're three months into a paid plan you never consciously chose.
3. Prices increase silently. Netflix has raised prices multiple times. Spotify just did the same. These increases rarely trigger a "should I keep this?" conversation — they just happen.
How to Find Your Real Number
The fastest way to get your actual subscription total:
The 15-minute bank statement method
- Open your bank app or statement
- Look at the last 30 days of transactions
- Highlight every recurring charge (look for round numbers, familiar brand names)
- Add them up
Most people find 2–4 subscriptions they'd forgotten about during this exercise.
The quick calculator method
If you want a faster estimate, try our Subscription Cost Calculator. Pick your services and see the true cost over a month, a year, and 5 years. For budget-specific advice, the Subscription Budget Simulator shows you instantly if you're overspending and what to cut first.
Don't forget annual subscriptions. Divide those by 12 and add them to your monthly total. A €120/year domain renewal is still €10/month of recurring spend.
What "Good" Looks Like
There's no universal right number — it depends on your income and what you value. But here are some useful benchmarks:
- Under €50/month — Lean and intentional. You're probably only paying for what you use.
- €50–100/month — Normal range. Worth reviewing quarterly to catch creep.
- €100–150/month — Getting heavy. Likely includes 2–3 services you could cut or downgrade.
- Over €150/month — Time for an audit. There's almost certainly meaningful savings available.
A good rule of thumb: your subscription spending should stay under 5% of your take-home pay. If you earn €2,500/month after taxes, that's a €125 ceiling.
The Subscription Creep Problem
The real danger isn't any single subscription — it's the slow accumulation over time. This is subscription creep:
- January: you add a streaming service (€13)
- March: a productivity tool for a new project (€10)
- May: a fitness app (€15)
- July: another streaming service because of one show (€9)
- September: a free trial converts (€12)
By December, you're spending €59/month more than you were in January — and you barely noticed.
Rellivo tracks your total subscription spend over time and alerts you when it increases. You can set a monthly budget and get notified before you exceed it — so subscription creep doesn't happen silently.
What to Do Next
- Find your number — Use the budget simulator or check your bank statement
- Check your subscription health — Our Subscription Score tool gives you a 0–100 rating with personalized tips
- Set a budget ceiling — Pick a monthly limit and stick to it
- Review quarterly — Put a recurring reminder in your calendar every 3 months
The first step is knowing. Once you see the real number, the motivation to act usually follows.
Related Reading
- How to Audit Your Subscriptions in 10 Minutes — A fast method to review every recurring charge and set up defenses against creep.
- How to Find and Cancel Unused Subscriptions — Practical steps to cut what you don't use and negotiate what you keep.
- 7 Subscriptions Most People Forget They're Paying For — The recurring charges that slip through unnoticed.