The average person spends over €500 per year on subscriptions they don't actively use. That's streaming services collecting dust, gym memberships you stopped going to, and SaaS tools from a project you finished months ago.
The problem isn't that subscriptions are bad — it's that they're designed to be forgettable. A small monthly charge doesn't trigger the same awareness as a one-time purchase. Over time, these charges stack up silently.
Here's how to take back control.
Step 1: Find Every Recurring Charge
Before you can cancel anything, you need a complete picture. Most people underestimate how many subscriptions they have by 2–3x.
Check these sources:
- Bank statements — Go back 3 months and highlight every recurring charge
- Email inbox — Search for "receipt", "invoice", "subscription", and "renewal"
- App stores — Check subscriptions in iOS Settings or Google Play
- Password manager — Any saved login is a potential active subscription
Use a subscription tracker like Rellivo to consolidate everything in one place. You can add subscriptions manually in seconds and get a clear overview of your total monthly spend.
Step 2: Categorize Each Subscription
Once you have your full list, sort each subscription into one of three buckets:
- Keep — You use it regularly and it provides clear value
- Downgrade — You use it occasionally but could switch to a free tier or cheaper plan
- Cancel — You haven't used it in the past month or forgot you had it
Be honest with yourself. "I might use it someday" usually means you won't.
Step 3: Cancel the Easy Wins First
Start with the subscriptions you clearly don't use. These are usually:
- Free trials that converted to paid plans
- Duplicate services (two cloud storage providers, two music apps)
- Tools tied to old projects or hobbies you've moved on from
Some services make cancellation intentionally difficult. If you can't find the cancel button, check our Cancel Any Service guides for direct cancellation links and step-by-step instructions that bypass the retention flow.
Step 4: Negotiate or Downgrade the Rest
For subscriptions in your "downgrade" bucket:
- Check for free tiers — Many SaaS tools offer generous free plans that might be enough
- Switch to annual billing — If you'll keep it, annual plans are typically 20–40% cheaper
- Ask for a retention discount — Contact support and say you're considering cancelling. Many services will offer a discount to keep you
Step 5: Set Up Ongoing Monitoring
The biggest mistake people make is doing a subscription audit once and then forgetting about it. New subscriptions creep in, free trials convert, and prices increase without notice.
Build a system to stay on top of things:
- Review monthly — Set a calendar reminder to check your subscription list on the first of each month
- Track free trials separately — Know exactly when each trial ends so you can cancel before being charged. Our Free Trial Reminder tool creates calendar alerts in one click.
- Set spending alerts — Define a monthly subscription budget and get notified when you approach it. Try the Budget Simulator to see where you stand.
Rellivo sends automatic reminders before free trials expire and before renewal dates. It's designed to prevent exactly this kind of subscription creep.
How Much Can You Actually Save?
Based on data from our early users:
| Action | Average Monthly Savings |
|---|---|
| Cancelling unused subscriptions | €18 |
| Downgrading to free tiers | €9 |
| Catching forgotten free trials | €12 |
| Switching to annual billing | €5 |
| Total | €44/month (€528/year) |
That's real money — enough for a weekend trip, a new gadget, or just peace of mind knowing you're not wasting money on autopilot.
Want to see your own numbers? Use our Subscription Cost Calculator to see the true yearly cost of what you're paying, or check your Subscription Score for a quick health rating.
Start Today
You don't need to do everything at once. Even spending 10 minutes reviewing your bank statement will likely uncover at least one subscription you forgot about.
The key is to start, and then build a habit of checking regularly. Your future self (and your wallet) will thank you.
Related Reading
- How to Audit Your Subscriptions in 10 Minutes — The complete 10-minute audit process, from gathering to setting up defenses.
- How Much Do You Really Spend on Subscriptions? — See what the average person pays and benchmark your spending.
- 7 Subscriptions Most People Forget They're Paying For — The most common hidden charges and where to look for them.