Tired of paying for all the subscriptions? Use these 4 tips and save money!
Subscriptions emerged as a convenient alternative to upfront payments, yet they've introduced a new dilemma: paying for underutilized services. Let's explore some ways to save money and keep only the important subscriptions.
Subscriptions were considered a more economical model, a viable alternative to payment for a product in its entirety, when we do not even know how many months we are going to it. However, the seemingly great subscription system has a dark side, and it is that people are starting to pay for things they do not use or do not need permanently. Therefore, in this article, we are going to explore several tips on how to save money and avoid a big payment at the beginning of the month.
Streaming platforms are seen as a great way to stop piracy, offering lots of content at low prices. But slowly, prices went up, and ads appeared for those not paying for premium subscriptions. Plus, shared accounts got banned, meaning everyone had to pay more for the same service.
Hidden subscriptions in app stores
There is a high probability that you are paying for app subscriptions that you don't even remember when you first subscribed to. This can happen when you are given long trial periods, for example, three months for free. Many of us often forget to cancel the free trial and thus pay for the subscription.
To avoid this, on your iPhone go to your profile, which is located at the top of Settings, and click on Subscriptions. This way, you will be able to see what you are paying for within Apple's apps and services store.
Remove your credit card information when canceling an account
When you cancel an account, make sure to remove your credit card details. Some companies may still charge you even after canceling. Deleting your banking info from the app stops them from charging you. If you're still worried about being charged, you can ask your bank not to let the company take any more fees from your account.
Keep track of your subscriptions and set reminders if necessary
It's important to keep tabs on all your subscriptions. In the past, when we only had two or three subscriptions, it was easier. But now, with 6, 7, or more subscriptions, it's harder to manage, especially since not all of them are charged at the start of the month.
To stay on top of it, a good idea is to use your iPhone's calendar. Set a reminder to cancel a subscription or a free trial 48 hours before the next charge to avoid unexpected fees.
Think if a subscription is still valuable
Subscriptions may seem appealing initially but can lose their purpose if not used effectively. For instance, a Prime subscription for ordering products may become unnecessary over time, leading to an annual expense you could avoid. Similarly, iCloud subscriptions, starting from $0.99, may not be worth it if you don't use its features often, especially as prices increase over time.
What should you do to avoid extra costs?
- Find free alternatives
You can save money on subscriptions by using the free options available. YouTube lets you watch all kinds of videos for free. So instead of paying for services like Apple Music, Tidal, or Spotify, you can use YouTube for similar content at a much lower cost — or even for free.
Plus, if you use Spotify mostly on your Mac or iMac, you can listen to music without paying. Then, when you're out and about, you can use the YouTube app to keep listening.
- Use free subscriptions
Google Drive, Dropbox, and Microsoft offer free plans for uploading files to the cloud. If you prefer not to pay for a subscription for each one, it's a good idea to use all these services. Google Drive provides up to 15 GB of free storage, for example.