July 08, 2025

Greetings!

I'm a firm believer that small savings really do add up to big earnings. One of the quietest and most overlooked ways money slips away is through recurring charges.

It’s what some call the “latte factor,” where a daily $5 coffee adds up to over $1,100 a year. But today, we're looking at a different drain: subscriptions.

Monthly and annual subscriptions often seem harmless on their own. But when you add them up over the course of a year, they can quietly take hundreds or even thousands out of your pocket. I should know... I found $500 I was spending every year and didn’t even realize it. Details below.

Let’s take a closer look at how these costs pile up and how to stop them.

Be Well,
Anisa

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I Found $500 I Didn't Know I Was Spending

I like to sign up for credit cards for those juicy welcome bonuses and travel perks. But recently, I took a hard look at some old cards I wasn’t using anymore and found I was still paying over $500 a year in annual fees.

I canceled most of them right away. But quick note: canceling a credit card can affect your credit score. If you’re concerned about that, try calling the card company to ask if they'll waive the fee or downgrade your card instead.

Start With an Audit

The first step is awareness. Many of us sign up for free trials and forget to cancel, especially when a card is required at signup.

One company I know just discovered a software subscription they’d been paying for since 2017. Nobody had used it in years. At $10 a month, that’s nearly $1,000 gone.

Take time to go through your bank and credit card statements. Make a list of every recurring charge like streaming services, app subscriptions, monthly boxes, credit card fees, and more. It might surprise you.

Do the Math

Once you have your list, total up the annual cost of each subscription. That $12 a month music app? That’s $144 a year. Now ask yourself, is it worth it?

Seeing the yearly impact puts things in perspective. You may love a service, but if you’re rarely using it, it’s time to let it go.

Prioritize and Cut

Some spending is essential. Some just isn’t. One family I know canceled Netflix after realizing they spent more time searching for something to watch than actually watching. That $15 a month was better used elsewhere.

Cutting non-essentials is one of the easiest ways to reduce spending without feeling deprived.

Explore Free (and Better) Alternatives

Use the Library – From books to streaming movies and music, your local library is packed with free resources.

Try Free Community Events – Check your town’s website for free concerts, classes, or local festivals.

Enjoy Simple At-Home Fun – Board games, movie nights, or learning a new hobby at home costs little and saves a lot.

In Closing...

Subscriptions seem small, but together, they can make a big dent in your budget. By trimming just a few, you could free up money for bigger goals like saving, investing, or finally taking that weekend getaway.

What's one subscription you can review this week? Hit reply and let me know, I love hearing your wins!

Reader's Poll

Which one of these is your biggest "quiet drain" right now?
- Netflix, Hulu, or other streaming services
- Food or snack boxes
- Music apps like Spotify or Apple Music
- Cloud storage or photo backup services
- Newspaper or digital magazines
- Premium credit cards with annual fees
- I honestly have no idea!
Visit Here To Vote

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