How Many Subscriptions Are You Really Signed Up To?

Subscriptions are everywhere now. From streaming your favourite shows and music to meal kits, software, books and monthly boxes, recurring payments have become part of everyday life. But while they seem harmless one by one, the total can quietly add up.

Let’s unpack the subscription world and help you understand what you’re actually getting out of the ones you pay for.

What the Numbers Say

Australians hold around 54.6 million entertainment subscriptions, including video, music and gaming services. Almost half of video on demand users describe their service as “non-negotiable”, and many people say music streaming is essential.

A recent study also found that the average Australian household has more than five subscriptions at a time, and many people pay around $140 a year more than they expect because some services go unnoticed.

The Subscriptions Hiding in Plain Sight

Streaming and music

Netflix, Spotify, YouTube Premium, Disney+, gaming passes. Ask yourself:

• When was the last time I opened this?

• Do I watch or listen weekly, or just during one good month a year?

• Am I paying for features I do not use, like downloads or multiple screens?

Books, audiobooks, and learning apps

These sound productive, which makes them easy to keep.

• Have I finished anything in the last three months?

• Are credits piling up unused?

• Would I still subscribe if it was charged weekly instead of monthly?

Food and meal subscriptions

Meal kits, protein boxes, coffee drops.

• Do I actually cook the meals before they expire?

• Am I skipping deliveries but still paying?

• Does this make life easier, or does it add pressure?

Fitness, wellness, and lifestyle apps

Gym apps, meditation, habit trackers.

• Do I open it without reminding myself?

• Has it become part of my routine, or just a good idea?

• Would a free version change my behaviour?

Boxes and deliveries

Beauty, grooming, pet, or random monthly boxes.

• Do I use most of what arrives?

• Is this convenience, or just clutter showing up monthly? 

A More Real Way to Be Savvy

Being savvy is not about being strict. It is about being realistic.

Instead of asking “Is this worth it?” try:

• Would I notice if this disappeared tomorrow?

• Does this save me time, or just promise to?

• Am I paying for my current habits, or my ideal self?

Subscriptions should support your life as it is now, not the version of you who might exist one day. 

Final Thought

Subscriptions are designed to stay invisible. The more visible you make them, the more control you have. Awareness is not about cutting back. It is about choosing what earns its place in your life, month after month.