How to Audit Your Subscriptions and Save Hundreds
The average Kiwi has 4-6 active subscriptions. At least one is probably something you forgot about. Here's how to find and cancel them.
Subscription creep is real. A streaming service here, a gym membership there, that meditation app you used twice — it adds up fast.
The average NZ household
Most Kiwi households spend $150-300/month on subscriptions and recurring services. That's $1,800-3,600/year. At least 10-20% of that is typically going to services you don't actively use.
The 3-step audit
Step 1: Find them all
Check your bank statements for the last 3 months. Look for any recurring charges. Common ones people forget: - Streaming: Netflix, Spotify, Disney+, Neon, Apple TV+, YouTube Premium - Apps: Cloud storage, productivity tools, dating apps, news paywalls - Fitness: Gym memberships, fitness apps, class passes - Insurance: Contents, car, health, life, pet - Software: Adobe, Microsoft 365, password managers
Don't rely on memory — check the actual statements. Or use an app that automatically detects recurring payments from your bank transactions.
Step 2: Categorise them
For each subscription, mark it as: - Essential — you'd notice immediately if it stopped (power, internet, insurance) - Regular use — you use it at least weekly (Netflix, Spotify, gym) - Occasional — you use it monthly or less - Forgotten — you didn't even remember having it
Step 3: Cut the bottom two
Cancel everything marked "forgotten" immediately. For "occasional" subscriptions, ask: would I sign up for this today at this price? If no, cancel.
Common savings for NZ households
| Service | Typical cost | Alternative | |---------|-------------|-------------| | Unused gym membership | $15-25/week | At-home workouts, outdoor exercise | | Duplicate streaming | $15-20/month | Pick 2, rotate the rest | | Premium app tiers | $5-15/month | Free tiers are usually enough | | Magazine/news subscriptions | $10-20/month | Library access, free news sources |
The rotation strategy
Instead of keeping 4 streaming services year-round, keep 2 and rotate the others. Subscribe to the third for a month, binge what you want, cancel. Subscribe to the fourth next month. You get access to everything but only pay for 2-3 at a time.
Set a quarterly reminder
Subscriptions creep back. Set a calendar reminder every 3 months to review your recurring payments. Most people save $20-50/month on the first audit alone.
Automate the detection
Rather than manually checking statements every quarter, use a personal finance app that automatically detects recurring payments and shows you the total. Apps like Steady flag new subscriptions and show your total monthly recurring costs — making it easy to spot creep before it compounds.