How to Track Your Subscriptions
List every recurring payment, convert each one to a monthly cost and review whether it still earns its place.
- Author
- Spendika editorial team
- Published
- 19 September 2026
- Last reviewed
- 2 November 2026
- Reading time
- 6 minutes
Quick answer
List every recurring payment from your bank, card and app store accounts, convert each to a monthly cost, note its renewal date, and review the list every three months. Annual subscriptions need the most attention because they renew quietly at full price.
Subscriptions are designed to be easy to start and easy to forget. A few pounds here and there – streaming, cloud storage, an app on a weekly plan – quietly become a three-figure monthly bill.
This guide shows where subscriptions hide, how to compare weekly, monthly and annual plans fairly in a subscription tracker or a list, what to record for each one and a quarterly review routine that keeps the list honest.
Where do subscriptions hide?
Subscriptions hide in direct debits on bank statements, recurring card payments, the Apple App Store and Google Play, PayPal automatic payments and your email inbox. Checking all five usually reveals at least one forgotten payment.
Check all of these – most people find at least one they had forgotten (then find the unwanted ones):
- Bank statements: direct debits and standing orders.
- Card statements: recurring card payments (continuous payment authorities).
- Apple App Store and Google Play subscriptions.
- PayPal automatic payments.
- Your email: search for "receipt", "renewal", "trial" and "subscription".
How do you compare weekly, monthly and annual subscriptions?
Convert every subscription to a monthly cost: weekly price × 52 ÷ 12, and annual price ÷ 12. A £4.99 weekly plan costs about £21.62 a month – more than many monthly services that look more expensive.
A £4.99 weekly app, a £10.99 monthly service and an £89 annual plan are hard to compare. Convert them: weekly × 52 ÷ 12, annual ÷ 12 – or use the Subscription Cost Calculator. Seeing the monthly total – and the yearly total – is usually what prompts action.
What should you record for each subscription?
Record the name, price, billing frequency, next renewal date, the card or account that pays it and who uses it. The renewal date matters most because annual plans renew quietly at full price.
- Name and what it is for, under one subscriptions budget category.
- Price and billing frequency.
- Next renewal date, and whether a price rise is due.
- Which card or account pays it.
- Who in the household uses it.
How often should you review your subscriptions?
Review subscriptions every three months, plus a week before any annual renewal. Ask whether you used it last month, whether you would sign up again today at this price and whether a cheaper or shared plan exists.
Every three months, ask of each subscription: did I use it in the last month, would I sign up again today at this price, and is there a cheaper plan or a family plan I could share? Put annual renewals in your calendar a week before they are due.
Example: what one household actually paid
Subscriptions found after checking bank, card and app store accounts:
| Two video streaming services | £23.98/month |
|---|---|
| Music (family plan) | £19.99/month |
| Cloud storage | £2.99/month |
| Gym | £34.00/month |
| Fitness app (weekly) | £4.99/week → £21.62/month |
| Annual software licence | £89/year → £7.42/month |
| Total | £110.00/month – £1,320 a year |
The weekly fitness app looked cheap but cost more than either streaming service.
Key takeaways
- Check five places: bank, card, app stores, PayPal and email.
- Compare everything as a monthly and a yearly cost.
- Weekly plans often cost more than they appear.
- Put annual renewal dates in your calendar a week early.
- A quarterly review is enough to stop subscription creep.
Use Spendika with this guide
Frequently asked questions
How do I stop a card subscription?
Cancel with the company first. You can also ask your bank to stop a recurring card payment, and it must do so.
Are free trials subscriptions?
Yes – most turn into paid subscriptions automatically. Record the trial end date when you sign up.
How often should I review subscriptions?
Every three months, plus a week before any annual renewal.
How much does the average UK household spend on subscriptions?
It varies widely and published estimates differ by survey. The reliable figure is your own: list every recurring payment, convert each to monthly, and multiply by 12 to see the annual total.
Can I track subscriptions automatically?
Yes. Spendika can spot recurring payments in the expenses you record and suggest them as subscriptions, then show monthly and yearly totals. Many banking apps also list regular payments and direct debits.
What is a continuous payment authority?
It is a recurring card payment that lets a company take money from your card repeatedly. Unlike a direct debit it is set up through the card, and the FCA says your bank must stop it if you ask.
Are subscriptions direct debits?
Some are. Subscriptions can be paid by direct debit, by a recurring card payment (continuous payment authority) or through an app store or PayPal. Check all four when you build your list.
Do subscriptions affect your credit score?
Ordinary subscriptions such as streaming are not usually reported to credit reference agencies. Contracts with credit, such as some phone contracts, can be. Missed payments on those may affect your credit file.
Do subscriptions renew automatically?
Most do, unless you cancel before the renewal date. Free trials usually turn into paid plans automatically, so note the end date when you sign up.
Conclusion
Tracking subscriptions comes down to one complete list, one comparable monthly figure for each service, and a short review every quarter. That is usually enough to cut at least one payment you no longer value. Spendika keeps subscriptions next to your everyday spending and shows their monthly and yearly cost in one place.
Related guides
Sources and disclaimer
This guide is general information, not personalised financial advice. Figures in examples are illustrative; check current rates and rules with the official sources below before making decisions.
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