How to Cancel Sneaky Subscriptions and Start Saving Today

From streaming services to digital fitness apps, subscription-based spending has quietly become one of the biggest drains on our wallets. It’s easy to sign up for a $9.99 monthly trial and forget about it, especially during high-stress transitions like leaving the military or relocating for a new job.

But if you’re trying to rebuild your finances after service, pay down debt, or start saving for your next chapter, it's time for a subscription check-in.

Why Subscriptions Add Up Fast (Without You Realizing)

Unlike one-time purchases, subscriptions keep charging you every month, even if you’re no longer using them. Here’s how they sneak in:

• Auto-renewals that often go unnoticed after free trials
• Small fees that add up — $8 here, $15 there
• Multiple platforms for entertainment, cloud storage, fitness, delivery apps, credit monitoring, and more

For Veterans and transitioning service members, this can quietly derail your budget during the financial shift into civilian life, especially as income, housing, and health expenses change.

3 Simple Steps to Audit and Cancel Subscriptions

This isn’t about guilt or cutting out everything that brings you joy. It’s about building awareness, taking control, and being more intentional with your money.

1. Do a 10-Minute Subscription Sweep

Set aside ten minutes and check:

• Your bank and credit card transactions
• Apple Subscriptions (Settings > Apple ID > Subscriptions)
• Google Play subscriptions
  
• PayPal or other third-party app payments

Make a full list of your active subscriptions. Seeing everything laid out can be eye-opening.

2. Cancel What You’re Not Using …Without Shame

If you only watched that streaming service twice last month or haven’t used your meal plan app in months, it’s okay to cancel it.

Canceling doesn’t mean forever. It just means you’re giving your money a job that aligns with your current goals.

Pro Tip: Set calendar reminders a few days before free trials end so you can cancel on time.

3. Redirect That Money Toward a Milestone

Once you’ve canceled a few unused subscriptions, give that money a destination. Without a plan, it’ll likely disappear into day-to-day spending.

Try one of these:

• Automatically transfer the amount into your emergency fund
• Apply it toward a credit card balance
  
  
• Put it into a savings bucket for a home, education, or a post-military getaway
  
  

Even freeing up just $20 in subscriptions can be the first step toward rebuilding your emergency savings and making you feel more in control.

Not Just Budgeting, But Rebuilding

If you're early in your transition out of the military or just trying to get ahead financially, the goal isn't perfection. It's progress.

A subscription audit is a low-effort, high-impact action step that can help you spend more intentionally without sacrificing your quality of life.

Need Support? 

Veteran Saves offers free financial coaching through our partnership with the Foundation for Financial Planning. You can also take the Veteran Saves Pledge to build better savings habits.