5 Reasons Why You Should Always Keep Track Of Your Subscriptions

Reason 1: Helps manage your budget

Embarking on the journey to track your subscriptions is like having a map of your financial landscape. Ever wondered where those extra dollars disappear each month? Chances are, they’re partying away in your forgotten subscriptions!

Think of it this way: each subscription is like another member of your family. And just like with your kids, you need to know where they are, what they’re doing, and how much they’re costing you (though we hope your kids aren’t charging you monthly…yet!). Now, imagine sitting down at the end of the month to set up your budget and realizing you’ve been paying for an online yoga class that you haven’t attended since your little one discovered how fun it is to mimic a downward dog and ‘accidentally’ bump into you.

So, let’s do the math. If you’re spending $15 a month on that yoga class, that’s a grand total of $180 a year. That could buy a whole lot of diapers or, better yet, fund a fun day out for the family at your favorite amusement park, where the only stretching you’ll be doing is reaching for that cotton candy.

And here’s a chuckler for you. I had a friend who was unknowingly subscribed to three different music streaming services! “I thought I was a music lover,” he said, “but this is like being at a concert with three bands playing at once!”

Tracking subscriptions allow you to stop the unnecessary outflow of cash and ensure your money is being put to better use. It puts you in the driver’s seat, letting you decide where your hard-earned money goes. Remember, every dollar saved is a dollar earned. So, strap in, grab that subscription map, and take control of your budgeting journey! Trust me, it’s more exciting than it sounds.

Reason 2: Avoids unnecessary subscriptions

Imagine this. You’re about to sign up for a premium music streaming service because your toddler can’t get enough of that catchy kids’ album. You hit the ‘subscribe’ button, and suddenly, it hits you – don’t you already have a subscription to another music streaming service? Oops! Talk about an encore you didn’t ask for.

We’ve all been there. In the hustle and bustle of parenthood, it’s easy to forget which subscriptions we’ve signed up for and even easier to forget to use them. It’s like having a refrigerator full of food and forgetting what’s in the back until you discover a science experiment growing in a forgotten take-out box.

Now, if that box was charging you $10 per month for the honor of housing that new life form, you’d probably be less than thrilled, right? That’s precisely what unused subscriptions are doing. They’re like the surprise guests at a party who eat all the pizza but don’t chip in for the cost.

So, why is it that we often overlook these budgetary black holes? Well, most of us don’t play detective with our bank statements. But, when you start tracking your subscriptions, you become a sort of “financial Sherlock Holmes.” It’s time to solve the mystery of the disappearing dollars!

For those of you who prefer Agatha Christie, think of it as an episode of “Murder on the Expense Train.” Each subscription is a potential suspect in the case of your dwindling bank balance. Your task is to figure out who the real culprits are. Spoiler alert: it might just be that fitness app you downloaded during New Year’s resolution season, used once, and then completely forgot about.

So, dear reader, it’s time to don your detective hat, take out your magnifying glass, and start solving the mystery. Remember, every subscription you find and don’t need is another step towards winning the game of ‘Cluedough’.

Reason 3: Enables greater control over your time

They say that time is money. But if we’re honest, sometimes it feels like we’re running out of both! Especially as parents, we could all use a little more time in our day. Well, good news: tracking your subscriptions can help you save some.

Now, I know what you’re thinking. “Isn’t tracking subscriptions going to take more time?” Bear with me here, and let’s “clock” about it.

In the short run, yes, setting up a system to track your subscriptions can take a bit of time. It’s like cleaning out a closet. You start the task, find a box of old photos, and before you know it, you’re knee-deep in nostalgia, wondering where the last two hours went.

But in the long run, having an organized overview of your subscriptions saves time. It’s the same principle as tidying up that closet. Sure, it takes a little time upfront, but won’t it be nice when you can actually find that blue scarf when you need it without turning the whole house upside down?

Let’s “minute”-imize the chaos, shall we? No more wading through emails trying to find the latest bill or spending hours on the phone with customer service trying to cancel that magazine subscription from 2005. Once you’re on top of your subscriptions, everything is at your fingertips.

Think about it as turning back the “hands” of time. With a well-organized system, you’ll have more time for the things that really matter. Like finally beating your kids at that board game they always win or perfecting the art of hiding vegetables in food without them noticing.

In essence, tracking your subscriptions doesn’t “tick” off the boxes just for financial reasons, it’s also a real “time-saver”. So, why not give it a try? After all, it’s “time” you took control of your subscriptions and let the savings (both money and time) clock up!

Reason 4: Facilitates better planning for future expenses

If there’s one thing parenting has taught us, it’s that the ability to plan for the future is invaluable – be it planning your toddler’s meal schedule or the most effective route to traverse a toy-strewn living room without a sprained ankle. But have you ever considered how tracking your subscriptions can help you plan for future expenses?

Just like knowing when your child’s next “growth spurt” shopping trip is due, being aware of your subscription renewal dates helps avoid those unpleasant financial surprises. You know the ones – when you’re sure you’ve got your budget all figured out, and then – bam! – a forgotten subscription renewal swoops in like a hawk on a mouse, gobbling up your well-planned funds.

Imagine you’re planning for a family vacation, and you’ve budgeted every detail down to the penny. But, just when you think you’re on track, a wild subscription renewal appears, threatening to toss your dream vacation into the realm of fantasy. But, if you’ve been diligently tracking your subscriptions, you’d see that charge coming from a mile away and sidestep it like a pro at dodgeball.

This also comes in handy when it comes to big-picture financial planning. Just like you wouldn’t go on a road trip without a map (or at least GPS), you shouldn’t navigate your financial journey without a clear understanding of your expenses. And your subscriptions? They’re part of the journey, like those unexpected detours that lead you to the world’s largest rubber band ball (interesting, but was it necessary?).

Here’s a little parenting humor for you. Planning for future expenses with a clear overview of your subscriptions is like being able to predict your teenager’s mood swings. It might seem impossible, but with the right tools and a bit of perseverance, you might just get there!

In short, tracking your subscriptions isn’t just about managing the present. It’s about steering your financial future confidently, one subscription at a time. Now, isn’t that a plan worth subscribing to?

Reason 5: Prevents subscription overlaps

You wouldn’t buy two identical minivans just because one came with a free air freshener, would you? That would be, well, a bit redundant, not to mention a drain on your finances. The same logic applies when it comes to subscriptions. It’s essential to track your subscriptions to avoid overlapping services that offer similar benefits.

We’ve all done it at some point. Enamored by a new streaming service’s promotional offer (free for a month? Count me in!), we sign up, only to realize later that it offers the same movies and shows as a service we’re already paying for. It’s like getting twins for Christmas when you only asked Santa for one!

Subscription overlaps are a sneaky business. It’s like having two kids signed up for the same after-school activity, at different places, at the same time. You’d never intentionally do that. You’re not an octopus! But, without realizing it, we sometimes do the exact same thing with our subscriptions.

One way to keep track of it all and avoid subscription overlaps is by using a subscription management tool or a good old-fashioned spreadsheet. Think of it as your family calendar, but instead of soccer practice and dentist appointments, it’s Netflix and your favorite meal kit service.

And to put a little funny spin on it, imagine this scenario. You’re at a social gathering, and someone asks about a popular TV show. You say, “Oh, I watch it on service X,” and they respond, “But it’s also available on service Y you told me you had too!” Talk about being caught double-dipping in the subscription salsa!

So, remember, track your subscriptions to ensure you’re not subscribing to redundant services. It’s all about being a savvy consumer, and, let’s face it, it’s quite satisfying when you find those overlaps and sort them out. It’s like successfully completing a jigsaw puzzle of your financial life. Go, you!

Well, folks, it seems we’ve arrived at the end of our subscription journey, and what a journey it’s been! From managing budgets, avoiding the ‘mystery’ of forgotten subscriptions, saving precious time, and planning for future expenses, to preventing subscription overlaps, tracking your subscriptions has proven to be the superhero we never knew we needed.

Remember when we joked about subscriptions being like extra members of your family? Well, as with any family member, it’s important to know what they’re up to, especially if they’re quietly siphoning off your hard-earned cash. So, let’s not give our subscriptions any more free rides.

It’s time to take control, fellow parents. Take a moment to start tracking your subscriptions. Give yourself the gift of financial transparency and organization. I promise it’s even more satisfying than finally finding that missing Lego piece in the middle of the night without the help of your foot.

And remember, sharing is caring. So, why not spread the knowledge? Share this blog post with your friends and family. Because, let’s face it, we could all use a little less confusion and a little more clarity in our lives. After all, parenting is already an adventure without adding lost subscriptions into the mix!

Until next time, here’s to keeping track of where your money’s going, one subscription at a time. May your budget be balanced, your time plentiful, and your living room free of stealthy Lego pieces. Happy tracking!