This piece is part of my 2016–2026 archive migration. Some original formatting, content, and external links may be missing, changed, or not be optimized.
They cost me thousands of lost dollars
I had to remediate these issues immediately, or the consequences would continue to stack.
The longer you keep a subscription, the less money you have to invest and create more wealth.
My Active Subscriptions
Health Subscriptions
I had two massage therapy subscriptions and one chiropractor subscription. I also had two gym memberships.
I do not oppose maintaining multiple gym memberships if you use them frequently. However, if you can find a gym with multiple locations, this is a better bang for your buck and still gives you diversity if you need a change of scenery from your primary location.
I understand the intention behind these subscriptions since I’ve been active in the gym for two decades and desire to take better care of my body.
Still, they’re unnecessary to maintain – especially since I travel relatively frequently. I’m not home enough to maximize the utilization of them.
It’s better to use a service on demand than to tie yourself up in a monthly commitment because sometimes time and schedule don’t align, and you waste countless dollars.
Networking Subscriptions
I had three networking subscriptions. They were all useful, but I decided I only needed one.
Find a way to network for free.
Writing Subscriptions
Outside of Medium, I had two other subscriptions that I rarely used on up-and-coming platforms. You don’t need to write on every platform as a writer; it helps with awareness but is also unnecessary.
Stay Vigilant
Subscriptions are a dangerous game. We sign up for free trials and forget to cancel. Or we sign up for things we think we need but don’t.
Optional Exercise: Cancel every subscription you have. See which ones you can’t go without and which you can learn to go without.
Most we can go without.
Forgetfulness Is A thing.
Whether you have a lot of financial resources or not, you can forget about subscriptions you’re not using.
It’s easiest to forget about subscriptions when they’re not negatively impacting your finances “too much.”
But this sloppiness will cut you thousands of dollars over your lifetime.
Track your monthly spending and every transaction you’re being charged.
If you’re a responsible credit card user, I highly recommend linking all of your subscriptions to your credit card so companies don’t have access to your banking account. When you cancel subscriptions, sometimes companies struggle to let go and will continue charging you.
What’s Next: After Eliminating Most Subscriptions
Now that I’ve eradicated most of my subscriptions, I’m saving hundreds of dollars monthly.
Though a couple of hundred dollars might not seem like much, it adds up.
That money can pay for my monthly groceries and utilities or be allocated to investing.
Instead of detracting from my wealth, I’m adding to it even more.
Eliminate as much bloat as possible to increase your financial flexibility, freedom, and wealth portfolio.
This content is for informational purposes only — not professional advice. Consult a qualified professional before making any major decisions.
This content is for informational purposes only — not professional advice. Consult a qualified professional before making any major decisions.