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Military Finances 101: How to Cancel Subscriptions You Didn't Even Know You Had Thumbnail

Military Finances 101: How to Cancel Subscriptions You Didn't Even Know You Had

Managing Your Finances

Life in the military can be hectic. And it can be really easy to put things on autopilot. One way to do so is with subscriptions. From streaming services to fitness apps, it seems like everything comes with a subscription model. Americans spend an average of $924 per year on subscriptions.1

While these subscriptions often make our lives easier, they can also lead to a pileup of monthly charges for services you don’t even remember subscribing to. Over time, these unnoticed charges can become a significant financial burden.

Here, we’ll walk you through how to uncover and cancel unwanted subscriptions, helping you save money and regain control over your finances.

1. Check Your Bank Statements Regularly

The easiest way to identify unwanted subscriptions is by regularly reviewing your bank or credit card statements. Many people sign up for free trials that automatically turn into paid subscriptions if they do not cancel in time. While a few dollars here and there may seem harmless, these charges can add up quickly, especially if you’ve forgotten about them.

Here’s what you can do:

  • Review the last three to six months of your bank or credit card statements.
  • Look for recurring charges or company names you don’t immediately recognize.
  • Make a list of all unfamiliar charges so that you can investigate them further.
  • If you find charges you don’t recognize, research them online or contact the company’s customer service department for more information. You may have signed up for a service you’ve forgotten about.

2. Use Subscription Management Apps

There are several apps designed to help you identify and cancel unwanted subscriptions. These apps automatically scan your bank or credit card transactions to detect recurring charges and allow you to cancel them directly through the app. Some of the most popular subscription management apps include the following:

  • Rocket Money: Rocket Money helps you track your recurring subscriptions, negotiate bills, and cancel services with just a few clicks.2
  • Trim: Trim is a financial assistant app that analyzes your spending and finds unwanted subscriptions. It even helps you negotiate down your bills.3
  • PocketGuard: While PocketGuard is best known for budgeting, it also has a feature that flags recurring charges so that you can review them and decide if you want to cancel them.4

These apps can be lifesavers, especially if you have multiple accounts or cards and it is difficult to keep track of everything manually.

3. Review Your App Store Subscriptions

If you’ve ever signed up for a subscription through the Apple App Store or Google Play, chances are that you’ve forgotten to cancel a few. Both platforms have built-in ways to review and manage your active subscriptions.

For iPhone users:

  1. Go to Settings on your iPhone.
  2. Tap on your name at the top to access your Apple ID.
  3. Select Subscriptions to see a list of all your active and expired subscriptions.
  4. If you find something you no longer need, click on it and select Cancel Subscription.

For Android users:

  1. Open the Google Play Store app.
  2. Tap on the profile icon in the top right corner.
  3. Select Payments & Subscriptions > Subscriptions to view your active subscriptions.
  4. Tap on the subscription you want to cancel and select Cancel Subscription.

These steps will help you quickly and easily cancel recurring payments for mobile apps.

4. Contact Companies Directly

If you’ve identified a subscription charge but can’t find a way to cancel it through an app or website, you might need to contact the company directly.

Look up the company’s contact information, which is typically available on its website. Then call or email customer service and ask to cancel your subscription. Be sure to ask for confirmation of the cancellation to avoid future disputes.

5. Set a Reminder for Future Cancelations

One of the main reasons people end up paying for subscriptions they don’t want is because they forget about them. Setting a reminder when you sign up for a free trial or subscription can save you money in the long run.

Here are some tips to help you remember to cancel your subscriptions:

  • Use a digital calendar to set a reminder a few days before a free trial expires.
  • If you have multiple subscriptions, consider creating a spreadsheet to track each one, including the billing cycle and cancellation policy.
  • Whenever possible, opt for a prepaid subscription model. This way, you’ll pay for a fixed term (such as six months or a year), and the subscription won’t renew automatically unless you choose to continue.

6. Use Virtual Credit Cards for Free Trials

If you frequently sign up for free trials, consider using a virtual credit card. These cards allow you to create a unique credit card number for each transaction. If you forget to cancel a trial, the company won’t be able to charge you once the virtual card expires.

Some banks and financial institutions offer virtual credit cards, or you can use services such as Privacy.com, which provides temporary card numbers specifically for online transactions.5

Each subscription may cost only a few bucks a month, but they can add up. With a little effort and some digital tools, you’ll be surprised at how much you can save by simply canceling those sneaky, forgotten subscriptions.

Military Finances are Different

Subscriptions can be a problem for everyone. But not everyone has the same financial issues as active and retired military members. That's why we think you should work with a financial planner/advisor that deals with your unique benefits each and every day. If you'd like to find out how we work with people just like you, use the button below to schedule a free, initial consultation.

If you found this article useful, you might like the following blog posts:

Military Finances 101: Start Your Financial Plan


Military Finances 101: Managing Finances for Recently Commissioned Officers


Military Finances 101: Focus on What You Can Control




  1. https://finance.yahoo.com/news/average-consumer-pays-nearly-1-190009547.html
  2. https://www.rocketmoney.com/feature/manage-subscriptions
  3. https://www.asktrim.com/
  4. https://pocketguard.com/
  5. https://privacy.com/

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