How to Audit Your Subscriptions and Save Hundreds
The average Kiwi wastes $127/month on forgotten subscriptions. This 5-minute audit finds every one — and shows you how to cancel them.
Weekly insights on saving, spending, and making your money work harder. No spam.
Subscription creep is real. A streaming service here, a gym membership there, that meditation app you used twice — it adds up fast. It's one of the biggest leaks when you're trying to save money in New Zealand.
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. See how Steady tracks bills.
Written by Sam Wilson
Founder, Steady
Sam is a New Zealand founder building Steady — a personal finance app designed for Kiwis, integrated with every major NZ bank via Akahu. He writes about money, bank integrations, and what actually works for everyday New Zealanders.More about Sam
Suggested reads
More from the Steady blog
How Much Should You Spend on Rent in NZ?
Is your rent too high? The 30% rule says most Kiwis are overpaying. Here's what you should actually spend — with NZ city benchmarks.
How to Manage Money as a Couple in New Zealand
Money is the #1 cause of relationship stress. Here's exactly how NZ couples manage joint finances without fighting — 5 proven systems.
12 Ways NZers Are Cutting $500/Year Off Their Power Bill
Twelve tested strategies to drop your NZ power bill by hundreds — without freezing through winter. Real savings, ranked by effort.
Ready to sort your money?
Steady connects to your NZ bank accounts and helps you track spending, set goals, and get AI-powered insights.
Try Steady free