CSA Online by Andrew Moore-Crispin DISCOVER The first phase in tackling any mess is knowing what we’re up against. Spring cleaning digital subscriptions starts with taking stock of everything that we’re paying for. Here are a few ways to do just that. When we think of spring cleaning, we think about tidying up our living spaces. Maybe clearing out the garage or condo storage locker. While we’re in a cleaning state of mind, though, spring is also a great time to review our digital lives too, specifically the various online services to which we’ve subscribed that are costing us money each month. Streaming video services, streaming music subscriptions, online services, premium mobile apps and online (or offline) magazine subscriptions. It’s easy to accumulate a long list of services and recurring payments that can add up to a significant monthly expense. Here are some practical tips to audit your digital subscriptions and get rid of any that aren’t delivering value at least equivalent to their cost. Spring Cleaning Your Digital Subscriptions Check Your Email Search your email inbox for keywords such as “subscription,” “renewal,” “receipt,” “payment,” “billing” and so on. Look for emails from the various services that you use, including music and video streaming, online storage, and delivery services. You might be surprised to see how many emails you find. Review Credit Card Statements Most online services require a credit card, so reviewing your credit card statement and highlighting any recurring monthly or annual charges from digital services is a good way to take stock. Sometimes, the name of the service that we signed up for is not the same as the information listed on the credit card statement. A quick Google search for information listed in the “description,” “vendor” or “activity” column of the credit card statement should clear things up. Use an app There are various apps available to help track expenses, and recurring subscriptions is a standard category in these budgeting apps. Check your online banking or banking app first; many offer expense tracking and categorization. Mint from Intuit (mint.com) is free and ad-supported. It tracks expenses and highlights things such as recurring subscriptions for review. YNAB (You Need a Budget, ynab.com) costs around US$100 a year (gotta spend money to… save money?) and takes a more proactive approach to budgeting with its memorable Four Rules and no-nonsense financial advice. 40 | www.snowbirds.org
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy MzMzNzMx