A subscription audit in twenty minutes

Watching your credit and debit card statements tells you right away when you're charged for something you didn't order. An audit puts every recurring charge on one list, with its amount and renewal date.

What you need

• The last two statements for each credit card, debit card and bank account
• Your email inbox, to search for receipts and renewal notices
• A notepad or a spreadsheet

Steps

1. 1

   Pull the statements

   Open the last two months for every card and account. A monthly charge shows up on both.

   3 min

2. 2

   List each recurring charge

   Write down the company, the amount, how often it's billed and which card it's on. Include streaming, apps, cloud storage, memberships, meal kits and software.

   7 min

3. 3

   Search the inbox for yearly renewals

   A yearly plan won't show on two months of statements. Search for "renewal", "subscription" and "receipt" to find them, and note each renewal date.

   4 min

4. 4

   Mark what you'll keep and what you'll end

   Go down the list with the household, one line at a time.

   2 min

5. 5

   Cancel the ones you're ending

   Look up the company that runs the subscription, and follow its cancellation instructions if it has them. Keep a copy of your cancellation request, with notes about any conversations.

   3 min

6. 6

   Check the list is complete

   Every recurring charge on the statements should have a line, and each line should say keep or cancelled, with a date.

   1 min

After you cancel

Check your debit or credit card for charges after you've cancelled a subscription. Look at the next statement for each one you ended.

Renewal notices

Don't ignore a renewal notice. A real renewal notice says when the subscription expires and that you'll be charged automatically, and it shouldn't ask for your card details. If one does, stop and read it carefully. Don't call the number on the notice or click a link in the email or text. Go to the company's site or app directly instead.

Free trials

Before a free trial starts, find the offer's terms and conditions. Check how long the trial lasts, and how and when to cancel if you don't want to be charged after it ends. Put the end date on your calendar when you sign up, and add the trial to your list. A free trial usually needs your card number, and if you don't cancel on time, you'll probably be charged. Look for pre-checked boxes at sign-up, which can give permission to keep charging you.