Netflix, Spotify, Amazon... What Are They Really Costing You? Clean Up and Save 30%
🧠 Introduction, Subscribed... to what, exactly?
It's easy to lose track. A free trial here, a meditation app there, the Netflix‑Prime‑Disney combo "just to have choices," and that little monthly snack box subscription you forgot to cancel... The result? Every month, €20–60 disappear into services you barely (or no longer) use.
Here's the good news: you can tidy up this digital mess. You don't have to be a finance expert or live like a monk. With a few simple steps, you can declutter—just like cleaning out an overstuffed closet.
This guide will help you:
- regain control of your subscriptions (pain‑free),
- save up to 30% on your monthly expenses,
- and make sure you're only paying for what really matters.
Like a spring-cleaning session... but version 2025, in your banking app.
Ready?
🧹 Step 1: Empty the Closet (subscription audit)
Before you can sort, you need to see what you've got. Surprise: many subscriptions have gone invisible. They slip quietly out of your account every month like a silent letter.
🔎 Bank statements, emails, app stores... everything needs a look
Start by pulling your last 2–3 months of statements, via your banking app or PDF. Look for recurring charges:
- Vague app names (e.g., "DRI*Readly," "AMZ Prime"),
- Small regular amounts (€2–10),
- Automatic end-of-month debits.
Dig through your emails too—search keywords like "subscription," "renewal," "invoice." Many services send automated reminders.
Then, check your phone's app stores (App Store or Play Store) for active subscriptions tied to your Google or Apple account. Forgotten apps often hide there.
🧾 The visual list trick to bring clarity
Write each subscription down in a simple table or Excel sheet:
- Service name (Netflix, Calm, Spotify...)
- Monthly or annual cost
- Billing date
- Perceived usage: frequent / occasional / never
The more visual it is, the easier it becomes to sort later.
📌 5 subscription types you often forget
- Premium apps tried "just for one month"
- Fitness, meditation, or nutrition services
- Newsletters or digital newspapers
- Games or cloud‑gaming services
- Professional or personal software (Canva, Notion, Adobe...)
Lightbulb moment: Julie, 26, thought she had "two or three subscriptions max." Audit revealed 11 recurring charges—4 of them completely unused.
💡 She saved €312/year in just 20 minutes.
Ready for the sorting?
🔍 Step 2: Keep, toss, or pause? (usage-based triage)
Now that you have the full list, it's time to sort it. Not with harsh judgments, but with this key question:
"Is this subscription really useful to me today?"
📊 Rank subscriptions by true usefulness
Go through your list, and for each service, mark:
- Essential: used regularly, would be missed if gone.
- Optional: occasionally useful, but not vital.
- To cancel: rarely or never used, or redundant with another.
Add a "Usage Frequency" column: once a week / once a month / never?
✨ The Marie Kondo test for your budget
Inspired by the joy‑sparking method:
👉 Does this subscription genuinely improve my daily life?
👉 Would I subscribe again today if I had to?
👉 Can I replace it with a free or shared alternative?
Be honest—the budget will thank you.
📌 Example: duplicates and ghosts
- Two streaming platforms with similar content? Keep the one you use most.
- A fitness app downloaded in January and never opened? Time to ditch it.
- A digital newspaper paid out of habit but never read? That counts too.
💡 Tip: try a pause test
Pause a non-essential subscription for one month.
👉 No regrets? It wasn't that important.
👉 Missing it? You can always re-subscribe.
Real‑life case: Maxime, 24, cancelled Disney+ after realizing he only watched one show on it. He paused—saving €96/year, no regret.
Ready to negotiate?
📞 Step 3: Let's negotiate a bit
Some subscriptions are useful—but a bit pricey. Good news: many providers are open to discounts, especially if you hint you're about to leave.
📲 Easy‑to‑use scripts for customer service
No need to be a negotiation pro. Try these phrases:
"Hi, I'm reviewing my expenses. Do you have an offer better suited to my usage?"
"I noticed the price went up recently. Are there any promotions or loyalty perks available?"
"I'm thinking of cancelling unless there's a more affordable option you can offer."
Be polite, clear, and... patient. The first rep might say no, but the second might surprise you.
🧠 When to play the cancellation card (even just to test)
Some platforms trigger retention offers automatically when you press "cancel." Worth trying out.
Examples:
- Amazon Prime sometimes offers another free month.
- Canal+ may provide a temporary discount after you call.
- Internet providers often have wide room for negotiation.
📦 Think bundles too
Instead of separate subscriptions, check:
- Family plans (Netflix, Spotify, YouTube Premium),
- All‑in‑one bundles (Internet + TV + phone),
- Shared services (Prime includes shipping + video + music + cloud).
📌 Example: Spotify Duo is €12.99 for two accounts—cheaper than two €10.99 plans.
📅 Tip: choose the right timing
Best times to negotiate?
- End of year (budgets wrap up, retention deals),
- January (new year, expense reviews),
- During price hikes (you're in a stronger position).
Real‑life case: Sarah paid €19.99/mo for her mobile plan. A 7‑minute call later, she was down to €9.99 with the same features.
🧮 €120 saved annually—just by asking.
Shall we move on to bundling?
👨👩👧👦 Step 4: Share, bundle, optimize
Some savings come not from cutting—but from synergy. By bundling or sharing services, you can keep your comfort and split the cost.
🤝 Family plans & shared subscriptions
Many platforms encourage sharing:
- Spotify Family: up to 6 accounts for €15/mo (€2.50 each)
- Netflix Standard with ads: shared at lower cost
- YouTube Premium Duo: 2 accounts for €11.99
- Microsoft 365 Family: 6 users, includes cloud storage
⚠️ Beware of same‑household rules—interpret them how you will.
📦 Bundles: simplicity pays off
Your internet provider may offer:
- TV with premium channels (Netflix, Disney+, OCS),
- Mobile or cloud storage included,
- Security, smart‑home features, streaming...
👉 Example: a SFR or Free all‑in‑one bundle might be €35/mo instead of €50 for separate services.
But don't pay for stuff you never use—200 extra TV channels you don't watch is still useless.
📊 Compare before bundling
Bundling doesn't always save money. Sometimes separate plans cost less than a "mega bundle."
Check with comparators like:
- HelloSafe, Selectra, AideAbonnement.fr,
- Or the app Boney, offering a global view of grouped expenses.
💳 The dedicated card trick
Use a virtual card just for subscriptions:
- fewer surprises,
- better control,
- alerts for hikes or duplicates.
Real‑life case: Yacine, 27, had Netflix, Spotify, and Amazon Prime on his own. He combined usage with his sister and a roommate through Duo and Family plans. The result? Nearly €200 saved in a year, with no lifestyle sacrifice.
Curious about ditching some altogether?
🆓 Step 5: Cancel—without deprivation
Contrary to myth, cancelling doesn't mean living like a hermit. There are plenty of free, flexible alternatives offering similar experiences—without commitment.
🎥 Streaming & entertainment: free still exists
- YouTube: tutorials, interviews, indie series helpers.
- Arte.tv, France.tv, Pluto TV: legal and free.
- Digital library services: books, magazines, documentaries with a library card.
📌 Tip: install AdBlock and curate a personalized YouTube playlist—nearly your own private channel.
🧘 Fitness, wellness, learning: welcome back to the classics
- Free apps with basic tiers (e.g., FitOn, Petit Bambou, Duolingo).
- Instagram/TikTok coaches, nutritionists, educators.
- Free podcasts, newsletters, niche blogs.
💡 Try these for 30 days before cancelling a paid subscription.
🎯 Go "à la carte"
Instead of a monthly subscription, pay as you go:
- Film rentals (Apple TV, Google Play, Canal VOD),
- One‑off purchases of magazines, courses, software by the day/week,
- On‑demand services: transport, cleaning, food delivery, etc.
This avoids the "I'm paying for nothing this month" trap.
💬 Share, borrow, mutualize
Sometimes overlooked:
- Account-sharing (within CGUs... or not),
- Borrowing access temporarily to test,
- Rotating use among flatmates, siblings, partners.
Real‑life case: Léa paid €39.99/mo for a premium fitness app. By exploring free YouTube channels and a community app, she found an equally effective routine.
Annual savings: €480.
🧪 Ultimate tip: the month‑off test
Pick one subscription per month, pause it.
- Did you miss it?
- Found an alternative?
- Forgot it even existed?
If yes—you've just saved pain‑free.
✅ Conclusion, 30 % savings, 100 % clarity
Decluttering your subscriptions isn't just about money. It's a way to take back control of your digital daily life, keep what truly serves you, and stop paying by autopilot.
With these 5 steps:
- You've sorted what you actually use,
- Learned to negotiate or bundle,
- And maybe discovered that free often suffices.
🎯 Mission accomplished: up to 30 % savings, with zero sacrifice.
💡 Final tip: do this digital cleanup yearly.
Add it to your New Year checklist—like a spring clean... but for your wallet.
And if it feels overwhelming? Tackle one subscription at a time. Like organizing a drawer—start small, breathe easier in no time.
So, which one are we starting with?
