That small monthly debit you barely notice could be one of several subscriptions quietly taking money from your account.
Streaming services and fitness apps are easy enough to remember. It is the old free trial you forgot about, an annual plan you rarely use, or an app subscription linked to an old phone that can catch you out.
Also see: Costly and repetitive content: DSTV subscriptions on the decline
The good news? A quick audit can reveal what is still being charged to your accounts.
Start with your bank statements
Your bank statements are one of the best places to begin because they show the money actually leaving your account.
Ideally, check at least 14 months of transactions, CostLoop suggests. Looking this far back can help uncover both monthly payments and subscriptions that renew once a year.
Pay attention to small recurring payments, unfamiliar business names and transactions in foreign currencies. An unfamiliar company name does not necessarily mean fraud. Some services charge customers under a parent company or different billing name. Search the name before assuming you do not recognise it.
Also remember to check credit cards and older cards you may still have linked to online services.
Search your email for clues
Your inbox can act as a second record of your subscriptions.
Search terms such as ‘receipt,’ ‘invoice,’ subscription,’ ‘renewal,’ ‘billing,’ ‘charged,’ and ‘auto-renew’ can uncover services you have forgotten about.
Check every email address you regularly use, including older accounts. Look at the sender as well as the email subject. You may spot a company you signed up with months or even years ago.
Also see: DStv unveils major package shake-up under new management
Check your app store
CostLoop explains that deleting an app does not necessarily cancel its subscription.
On an iPhone, open the App Store, tap your profile and select Subscriptions. On Android, go to Google Play, then Payments and Subscriptions and select Subscriptions.
Review active subscriptions carefully, particularly those connected to apps you no longer use.
Don’t forget work accounts
Businesses can also accumulate subscriptions without realising it.
Third-party apps connected to Google Workspace or Microsoft 365 can reveal tools employees have linked to company accounts. These may include paid services or forgotten software.
Reviewing these connections alongside your bank records can help uncover unnecessary spending and potential shadow IT, notes CostLoop.
A small audit can add up
One forgotten subscription may not seem like a big deal. Several can become a meaningful annual expense.
Set aside a little time to check your statements, inboxes, app stores and connected accounts. You might be surprised by what is still charging you.
Also see: Struggling to pay bills? What to prioritise when money is tight
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