The True Cost of “Small” Subscriptions

Five dollars here, twelve dollars there—it doesn’t feel like much until you add it up.
Digital life is full of tiny leaks: apps we’ve outgrown, channels we never watch, free trials that forgot to end. They whisper, “It’s only a few bucks,” until suddenly they’re shouting from your statement.

Set aside 20 minutes this week to scroll through your debit or credit card history. Circle every recurring charge. Then ask three questions:

Do I still use this?

Do I still enjoy it?

Would I sign up again today?

Cancel the ones that no longer earn their keep. (Pro tip: use that same 20 minutes to change passwords or update expired cards—it stops “ghost renewals.”)

Behaviorally, these small leaks thrive on mental accounting drift—we categorize each cost as trivial and ignore the total impact. But when we see them together, clarity returns.

A client once freed up $80 a month this way and redirected it to an automatic IRA deposit. She called it “my stealth raise.”

That’s the beauty of awareness. You’re not depriving yourself; you’re reallocating toward what matters. Every canceled subscription is a small act of stewardship, proof that your money now works for you—not the other way around.