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These 3 Overlooked Subscription Fees Can Cost You Hundreds Every Year

Money Magazine
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A February 2026 analysis reveals consumers waste hundreds annually on forgotten subscriptions, with video streaming costs averaging $69/month—a 13% year-over-year increase per Deloitte data. Free trials auto-renewing into paid plans, unused gym or streaming memberships, and premium tiers with ad-free perks top the list of overlooked fees draining budgets silently. Hidden subscriptions often appear on credit card statements, Apple/Google Play accounts, or PayPal transactions, requiring manual reviews to identify and cancel unnecessary charges. Canceling via account settings or customer service—especially for gyms—can recover funds, while apps like Rocket Money automate detection and termination of unused services. Cutting $69 in monthly streaming alone could save $828 yearly, redirecting funds toward savings or higher-priority expenses without sacrificing essential services.
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Lifestyle Share Share Close Mail Page URL https://money.com/subscription-fees-to-cancel-now/ Link copied! These 3 Overlooked Subscription Fees Can Cost You Hundreds Every Year By: Marc Guberti Marc Guberti Marc Guberti is a personal finance writer who hosts Breakthrough Success, a podcast where he teaches listeners how to grow their businesses and achieve personal transformations. Has also written: Tricks Anyone Can Use to Make Retirement Feel More Luxurious Why Following These 3 Money Rules After 40 Can Be a Costly Mistake 7 Hidden Monthly Costs Quietly Draining Retirees’ Budgets 15 Everyday Purchases That Secretly Drain Retirees’ Wallets 3 Luxury Purchases You May End Up Regretting See full bio Published: Feb 10, 2026 4 min read Getty Images Nowadays, we pay subscription fees for everything from our favorite music streaming services and food delivery apps to news platforms and gym memberships. And there’s a good chance those services are eating away at your budget. Take video streaming services. Subscribers are spending $69 on average each month on these streamers, up just 13% since last year, according to a report from Deloitte. While you don’t want to be too restrictive in your budget and cancel memberships you use and enjoy, it’s a good idea to regularly review what you’re paying for, and whether you use the service enough to make it worth the price tag. Here’s how to get started. Can't Miss DealsCheck out Robinhood's online trading platform and get the first trade on themGet your first year of AARP for just $15See how you can get $1,000 in stock when you start a SoFi self-directed investing account Subscription services to cancel or downgrade Every person’s credit card statement will look different when it comes to what they spend on. But here are some sneaky fees you may be able to cancel or lower the cost of: Free trials that auto-review: Sometimes platforms will offer you a free trial but require you to enter your payment information. If you’re not careful, you may forget to cancel after the free trial is up and end up paying each month or year. Services you don’t use: Say you finished up a television show you loved on a streamer, stopped going to the gym or haven’t read a news site in months. Are you still paying for that service? Review your bank statements to make sure. Premium offerings: You can often downgrade to a lower-cost tier in exchange for watching advertisements. If you don’t mind ads or you don’t use the service too often, it may be worth cancelling a higher-cost premium membership and using the free or lower-cost version. Save Smarter: Take control of your money with the Rocket Money budgeting app How to find hidden subscriptions The best place to see hidden subscriptions is on your most recent credit card or bank statement. This statement lists all of the expenses you have incurred. You can also check the settings on your iPhone or Android to see monthly subscriptions you pay via the Apple Store or Google Play Store. Some people also pay for subscriptions via other platforms like PayPal, so make sure to review all your various payment systems. Pet Protection: See How Spot Pet Insurance Can Help Your Dog or Cat How to cancel hidden subscriptions Personal finance apps such as Rocket Money can help you identify and cancel monthly subscriptions. You can also go the more conventional route and cancel individual subscriptions after seeing them on your credit card balance. Most companies let you cancel your subscription if you go into your account’s settings, but you may have to call or email the company, especially if you’re trying to cancel something like a gym membership. Extra Money: Get up to $1,000 in stock when you fund a new active SoFi invest account The benefit of finding hidden fees Often, you can cancel or downgrade subscriptions without missing them — especially if they’re services you don’t actually use. The more money you save from cutting unused subscriptions from your budget, the more you have to spend on items you enjoy or save for your future. Take that $69 average spending on video streaming services: That figure would amount to $828 in savings over a year. Must ReadExperts are Bullish on Gold — Here's How to Get InRetirees: How a Small Gold Allocation Can Soften Losses When the Stock Market WobblesWarren Buffett on Market Volatility — and 3 Ways You Can Take Advantage

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