How to Do a Subscription Audit in 30 Minutes
The average person wastes $240/year on subscriptions they don't use. A subscription audit takes just 30 minutes and can save you hundreds. Here's exactly how to do it.
Step 1: Gather All Your Charges
Start by checking your bank and credit card statements for the past 3 months. Look for any recurring charge — monthly, quarterly, or annual. Don't forget: - Credit cards (all of them) - PayPal recurring payments - Apple App Store & Google Play subscriptions - Direct debits from your bank account Write everything down or add them to LemSubs as you go.
- Check every card you own — subscriptions hide across multiple cards
- Look for annual charges you might have missed in monthly reviews
- Don't forget app store subscriptions on your phone
Step 2: Categorize and Total
Group your subscriptions into categories: - **Entertainment**: Streaming, gaming, music - **Productivity**: Cloud storage, email tools, project management - **Health & Fitness**: Gym, meditation apps, meal planning - **News & Education**: Newspapers, courses, learning platforms - **Security**: VPN, password manager, antivirus Total up each category and your overall monthly spend.
Most people are shocked by the number.
- LemSubs auto-categorizes from its 400+ app catalog
- Calculate both monthly AND annual totals
- Include taxes and fees in your totals
Step 3: Rate Each Subscription
For every subscription, ask three questions: 1. **When did I last use this?** If more than 30 days, flag it. 2. **Could I live without it?** Be honest. 3. **Am I on the cheapest plan?** Many services offer cheaper tiers.
LemSubs's Health Score does this automatically — scoring each subscription on usage, cost efficiency, and billing optimization.
- Be ruthless — you can always re-subscribe later
- Check if you're paying for features you don't use
- Look for family or student discounts you might qualify for
Step 4: Cancel, Downgrade, or Negotiate
Now take action: - **Cancel** anything unused or barely used - **Downgrade** plans where you're paying for features you don't need - **Switch to annual** billing for 15-30% savings on services you'll keep - **Negotiate** — call retention departments for better rates Do this quarterly and you'll save hundreds per year.
- Most services let you cancel online — check our cancellation guides
- Annual billing saves 15-30% but only for services you're sure about
- Set a calendar reminder to repeat this audit every 3 months
Key takeaways
- Check all cards, PayPal, and app stores — subscriptions hide everywhere
- Categorize and total your spend before making decisions
- Rate each subscription on usage, necessity, and plan efficiency
- Cancel, downgrade, or switch to annual billing — then repeat quarterly
Do this next
- Pull your last 3 months of bank statements
- Add every recurring charge to LemSubs
- Review your Health Score and Insight Engine recommendations
- Cancel or downgrade at least 2 subscriptions today
- Set a reminder to audit again in 90 days
Frequently asked questions
How often should I audit?
Quarterly is ideal. LemSubs sends automated zombie digest emails to flag unused subscriptions between audits.
What if I cancel something I need later?
You can always re-subscribe. Most services keep your data for 30-90 days after cancellation.
How much can I realistically save?
Most people find 2-4 unused subscriptions worth $20-80/month — that's $240-960/year.