In this article, we will explore some effective strategies to help you minimize your subscription expenses while still accessing the services you love
1. Check if you need all the subscriptions
Many people use paid services. It is probably difficult to find a person who has never subscribed to at least a trial month in an online cinema or music service. However, then the conditionally free period ends, and money starts to be withdrawn from the user’s card every month. At the same time, not everyone uses their right to watch movies, read books and listen to music. Perhaps you also regularly pay for access to a service that you have not opened for a long time.
It’s worth making a list of all your subscriptions, indicating the payment amount, and deciding whether you still need each one. If some are no longer relevant, unsubscribe immediately. Otherwise, you may forget about the unnecessary service and remember it only the next time you receive a message about a monthly payment being debited from your card .
2. Regularly evaluate the relevance of subscriptions
To do this, you don’t have to pull out the list from the previous point once a month. You can simply set up reminders in the calendar for all the dates of payment for your subscriptions one day before the funds are debited.
Firstly, you can opt out of unnecessary services already at this stage. Secondly, every time you receive a notification, you should think about whether you want to renew this subscription or whether it is time to cancel it. If you decide that the service is no longer relevant, unsubscribe immediately.
3. Use free trials
If you want to sign up for a new subscription, test the service first. Most services now offer a free month of use. During this time, you can decide whether the service suits you and how often you need it.
For example, you skimmed through a book in an online library at the beginning of the month and then didn’t even open the app. Think about whether you’re going to use it next month. You can set a reminder in your calendar again and decide whether this subscription is useful to you before your first payment.
4. Choose a suitable tariff plan
Some services offer multiple subscription levels with different privileges. For example, with a basic plan, you can see most of the lessons from a popular artist. But some master classes are only available at an advanced and more expensive level. You can always upgrade to a higher plan if you need to, but it may not be worth it to start with.
Also, it’s worth remembering that not only leveling up is available, but also leveling down. If you’re happy with the basic content and don’t need exclusive materials, feel free to upgrade to a more advantageous plan.
5. Use discounts and promo codes
Sometimes you can stumble upon a promo code by accident – for example, by seeing an advertisement for a service. But you can also look for discount codes purposefully. For example, regularly visit websites that post information about promotions. Or sign up for a mailing list from a service you are interested in – letters also often contain promo codes and messages about discounts.
If the service has a Telegram channel, then information about all current promotions will probably appear there too. The main thing is not to miss it.
6. Use gift certificates
Sometimes the service offers the opportunity to get a subscription as a gift. You can also buy a subscription certificate for some online cinemas or libraries on marketplaces — and at a discount.
Let your friends and family know that you wouldn’t mind receiving such a gift for a holiday. Or just like that, for no reason. In the end, both you and they will be winners. They won’t have to rack their brains over what to please you with, and you will have a long-awaited subscription.
7. Create family or group subscriptions
Some services offer to include family members or friends in your tariff – do not neglect this opportunity. Make one subscription for several people and divide the payment between everyone.
You can get together with your loved ones and sign up for several group plans for different services if you all use them often. And agree that everyone pays for one of the subscriptions. This is a good way to split the costs so that everyone pays their share.
8. Choose annual payment instead of monthly payment
This method is suitable if you are sure that you will use the service constantly and for a long time. Most likely, paying for a year at once will be cheaper than making a monthly payment.
But before you click the “Subscribe” button, ask yourself again whether you really need this service all the time. If you’re going to open the app occasionally and not every month, it might not be worth buying an annual plan. Sometimes it’s worth postponing such a subscription and paying only when you need the service immediately.
9. Look for combo options
There are options that allow you to get one subscription , but get the opportunity to use several online services. For example, read, watch movies, listen to music, podcasts and audiobooks. If you buy such a combo, then each month you can pay less than for separate subscriptions to movies, books and music.
Such services also have trial periods. Free or discounted, with a symbolic contribution. It is worth taking advantage of such offers and determining whether the subscription is right for you. And only then apply for a full tariff.