This Sneaky Spending Trend Is Draining Budgets. Here Are 10 Ways To Stop It.

As tariff troubles and recession fears mount, many Americans are taking a look at their financial situation and reevaluating some spending habits.

One area that can eat up a surprising amount of budget is subscriptions. In fact, there’s a growing phenomenon known as “subscription creep.”

“Subscription creep happens when you rack up a laundry list of subscriptions without realizing how much is actually being spent, which can lead to budget strain,” Courtney Alev, a consumer financial advocate with Credit Karma, told HuffPost. “With so many products and services operating under a subscription model these days, it’s easy to fall victim to subscription creep, whether you forgot to cancel a free trial, lost track of recurring payments or didn’t notice a price hike.”

She noted that consumers often subscribe to a service they wind up using rarely or only use for a short time and then abandon, but then they don’t remember to cut off payment. And each individual cost can feel negligibly low on its own ― unless you add them up.

“It’s sneaky,” said Bola Sokunbi, the founder of Clever Girl Finance. “You slowly start collecting subscriptions like streaming, apps, meal kits, fitness memberships, software, you name it. Most subscriptions are low-cost upfront, which makes them easy to justify. Plus, they often start with free trials or limited-time discounts, so you sign up thinking you’ll cancel later. Life gets busy, and these little charges just slip under the radar. It’s not about being irresponsible ― it’s just how the system is designed: convenient to sign up, inconvenient to cancel.”

These days, it’s so easy to subscribe to something with just one simple click, and auto-renewals feel ubiquitous. Meanwhile, inflation has led service providers to increase their prices, so those initial low costs can quickly rise.

“Subscription creep [is] super common and totally understandable,” Sokunbi said. “It’s one of those things that feels harmless until you do the math.”

That doesn’t mean you have to swear off subscriptions entirely, however. If your favorite meal kit service is helping you save time, eat healthier and reduce food waste, that’s wonderful.

“There’s nothing inherently bad about subscriptions ― they can be convenient and cost-effective if used intentionally,” said Chris Powell, the head of checking and deposits at Citizens Bank. “The downside is when you’re no longer using a service but still paying for it, or you’ve lost track of just how many you have. Free trials turn into paid plans, charges hit different cards, and our spending is more fragmented than ever. A few forgotten charges can easily add up to hundreds each year.”

So how can people prevent subscription creep from chipping away at their money and overall financial well-being? Below, experts share 10 tips for keeping the sneaky phenomenon at bay.

“Do a ‘subscription audit’ every few months,” Sokunbi advised. “Literally pull up your bank statement and highlight any recurring charges. Ask yourself, ‘Do I still use this? Is it worth it?’ You don’t have to cut everything, but trim the stuff that no longer fits your life.”

Don’t forget to include subscriptions that charge you annually in your audits. And even for monthly charges, consider how much you’re spending on them in a year as you assess whether the subscription feels worth it.

“If a service hasn’t been used for some time, consider canceling,” said Alison Fyhrie, a financial advisor with Northwestern Mutual. “Worst case scenario, you realize that you do use it and can always rejoin.”

Set aside some time to take inventory of all your subscriptions ― from streaming services and meal deliveries to gaming apps and special software.

“A quick trick I recommend is to try logging into your account,” said Janelle Sallenave, chief spending officer at Chime. “If you can’t remember your password, it might be a sign it’s time to cancel.”

Think about how that money might be better used if you weren’t spending it on the subscription. Could it go toward a dream vacation?

“If your budget can handle it, consider reallocating some of those monthly subscription costs into a recurring savings deposit instead,” Sallenave said.

“Having a consistent monthly subscription on your credit card and paying it off on time can actually improve your credit and establish responsible credit use,” noted Monique White, an accredited financial counselor and the head of community at Self Financial.

But you want to make sure you can easily keep tabs on your active subscriptions and spending in general, particularly if you have multiple credit cards and bank accounts.

“Consider consolidating your subscription payments to a single account,” Powell advised. “It makes tracking easier and gives you a clearer view of your budget. Awareness is the first step.”

“While subscriptions can be convenient and cost-effective, it’s important to be cautious about signing up for too many,” said Rod Griffin, senior director of public education and advocacy at Experian. “A few dollars a month may not seem like much, but when multiplied by numerous subscriptions, it can add up to hundreds of dollars a year on services you might not be using. Take the time to determine if a service is a want or a need, and evaluate whether you can truly afford it.”

Before signing up, he recommended thinking about your financial goals and considering the alternative uses for that money, such as paying down debt or investing it. Do the math to see how much you’ll spend in a year. Sign up only for services that you can afford and absolutely know you will use.

“With subscriptions so easy to sign up for, inserting a little friction in the process can help you be more mindful about adding new subscriptions to your collection,” Alev said. “Consider establishing a ’24-hour rule,′ where you wait for at least one day before deciding to sign up for a new subscription, or deleting any saved credit card numbers to slow down the process of signing up for new services.”

“Another helpful move is to set alerts or spending limits, so you know when you’re reaching your threshold,” Powell advised.

He noted that Citizens customers can use the app’s Spending Insights tool to see how recurring expenses fit into their overall cash flow and set alerts. Look into ways you can leverage your bank’s mobile system and other products to send reminders and otherwise keep you in check.

It’s harder to ignore subscription creep when the mounting costs are in your face. Be sure to pay attention to any alerts about cost changes for subscriptions.

“Keep an eye on your emails,” said Anel Andrew, an insolvency practitioner at MoneyPlus. “Watch out for emails about price increases. Regularly search your email inbox for keywords like ‘subscription’ or ‘renewal’ so price rises and auto-renewals don’t go unnoticed.”

“It’s tempting to sign up for a free or discounted trial period for an app or streaming and subscription services,” White said. “But it’s also really easy to forget to cancel at the end of the trial period ― particularly if you’re using autopay. Even if you recognize you’re not using the service anymore, hidden fees and multi-step cancellation processes can make things complicated and incentivize procrastination.”

Don’t let the end of a free trial period slip your mind. Stay vigilant and also double-check in your bank account that you were not charged after you canceled.

“Set a calendar reminder a few days before the trial ends to give yourself time to evaluate whether the service is worth keeping,” advised Jack Howard, head of money wellness at Ally. “If not, you can cancel before you’re billed.”

“See if you have redundant subscriptions,” Howard advised. “Subscription creep often happens when you subscribe to services that overlap, like multiple streaming services or workout classes. This can lead to unnecessary spending without increasing personal value.”

Consider if you might be able to consolidate your subscription spending without missing out on the things you enjoy.

“If you’re paying for multiple food delivery services like DashPass and UberOne, ask yourself if you really need both or if one will do the trick,” Sallenave said.

And before signing up for a new subscription, check to see if you are already enrolled in a similar one.

“Opt for bundled services that offer multiple features under one subscription,” Fyhrie advised. “This can help reduce costs and, in the long run, help you save money.”

Always be on the lookout for opportunities to lower the price of something you want or need to use.

“Consider switching to an annual plan ― paying annually, rather than monthly, often saves money,” Andrew said. “Consider trying a family or group plan at a lower cost per person, if possible.”

Check for subscription benefits you might be overlooking as well.

“Many credit cards and even retailers are offering free monthly subscriptions to other services if you link your accounts,” Fyhrie noted. “Those offerings can help you access premium access to things like grocery delivery, no-ad streaming and ride share apps at no added cost.”

“Consider using a subscription management app to track everything in one place,” Sallenave said. “It can make it a lot easier to catch anything you’ve forgotten about and avoid unwanted charges.”

There are lots of popular options, including Rocket Money, Trim by OneMain, PocketGuard and Bobby.

“Subscription management apps help you identify all the active subscriptions that you have,” Fyhrie said.

“As you are building your budget, account for all subscriptions,” White said. “For budgeting purposes, I recommend multiplying each monthly subscription cost by 12 ― this annual view will make it clear how much you’re truly spending, and help you determine whether or not it fits in your budget.”

She recommends using a 50/30/20 budget framework to simplify things ― 50% of your take-home pay toward needs, 30% toward wants and 20% toward debt payments and savings.

“At the end of the day, it’s important to make sure you are being intentional with your cash flow,” Fyhrie said. “Your budget should be a reflection of what you value in life. If there are subscriptions you actively use, account for the expense in your monthly budgeting. Treat these expenses as you would other nonessential items, setting aside enough cash each month so you can indulge and have some money left for fun!”

Powell suggested staying ahead of subscription creep by trying alternative approaches like the envelope budget method.

“This method involves allocating specific amounts to categories like entertainment, subscriptions, or dining out, helping you stay intentional and avoid impulse spending,” he explained.

“Subscriptions can offer comfort and convenience, especially in times of stress,” Howard said. “People may sign up for streaming services, meal kits or other subscriptions as a way to cope with emotional challenges. While the act of subscribing to new services can provide a temporary mood boost, similar to retail therapy, it’s just that ― temporary.”

Recognizing the feelings that drive this spending behavior can help you become more mindful with your money.

“Dig into the psychological triggers that drive your subscription sign-ups and renewals to help make choices that align with your financial goals,” Howard advised. “The intersection between money psychology and subscription creep goes beyond the reasonable temptation to optimize your life.”

As you begin to understand the behavioral and emotional factors influencing your financial decisions, you can develop strategies for more effectively managing subscriptions and other areas.

“Honestly, this isn’t about guilt ― it’s about awareness,” Sokunbi said. “There’s no shame in having subscriptions, but they should work for you, not against you. Taking control of them can free up more money for things that actually align with your goals, whether that’s saving, investing or just having extra breathing room in your budget. Little leaks sink big ships, and subscription creep is exactly that kind of leak.”