It’s important to keep a close eye on where your money goes.
One area that quietly eats into many people’s budgets is subscriptions. From streaming services and music platforms to app memberships and online deliveries, these costs can quickly pile up without you noticing.
Subscriptions have become increasingly popular, but also increasingly expensive. A recent report by Bango found that the average Brit now spends £696 each year on subscription apps and services. That’s nearly £60 a month.
Taking control of your subscriptions doesn’t have to be hard. Try this three-step check to help you cut back and make your money work harder:
Review: Check your bank statements for any regular payments. You might be surprised how many small amounts add up when you write down the monthly cost.
Cancel: Think about whether you really use or need each subscription. Many people keep subscriptions out of habit, even when they no longer get value from them, so consider cancelling services you rarely use.
Save: The money you’ve freed up can be put towards something meaningful – whether that’s building your savings, paying off debt, or covering rising household bills.
Before paying for more content, see what’s available for free. Hertfordshire Libraries offer a huge range of digital magazines you can read online or download at no cost. It’s an easy way to cut out a subscription or two while still enjoying your favourite reads.
For free advice, call the Citizens Herts Advice line on 0800 144 88 48 or visit www.northhertscab.org.uk
If you need personalised help, drop into one of our local sessions: Monday and Wednesday mornings, 9.30am to 12noon at Royston Town Hall. Wednesday mornings, 9.30 to 11.30am at Melbourn Community Hub.
To find out more about volunteering opportunities visit: northhertscab.org.uk or email volunteering@nhdcab.org.uk
