**Interviewer:** I often receive advertisements promoting subscription services. Is it really worth paying a monthly fee for streaming video, or even for everyday items like coffee or cooking oil?

**Expert:** Subscription services can be quite convenient, as they allow you to set up payments once and enjoy ongoing delivery of goods or services.

Monthly fees can range from under $10 to over $100, covering a wide array of items including cosmetics, food and beverages, pet supplies, wine clubs, gourmet treats, and services like credit monitoring and streaming apps.

If you’re looking to cut back on your monthly budget, prioritize your expenses, or pay off debt, it’s definitely worth reviewing your subscription costs. Assess their necessity and consider dropping any that aren’t absolutely needed; this can lead to significant savings.

US News has gathered insights from several experts on how to evaluate the necessity of subscription services.

**Interviewer:** What are the pros and cons of these automatic payments?

**Expert:** According to Emily Irwin, the Consulting Relationship Manager at Wells Fargo Bank, subscription services offer both advantages and disadvantages. On the plus side, automatic payments ensure that your bills are paid on time, helping to maintain a good credit score and avoid late fees—all while making life more convenient.

However, the downside is that once you set up automated payments, you might overlook these recurring expenses. You could be continuing to pay for services or products that you no longer use, which can lead to waste.

To weigh the costs and benefits, Irwin suggests asking yourself these three questions before subscribing:

1. Am I subscribing for security purposes? For instance, identity theft protection, credit monitoring, or antivirus software?

2. Is this service beneficial for my health? Like a gym membership, yoga classes, or fitness/meditation apps?

3. Is this subscription purely for entertainment? Such as eBooks, music, or streaming services?

If you’ve signed up for services in response to financial fraud or a cyberattack, it might be necessary to keep them for at least 12 months.

Many clubs offer subscription services for wine, cheese, pet toys, candy, and cosmetics, often delivering monthly, which can be a delightful experience. However, if you subscribe to too many clubs and end up overspending, the enjoyment may not outweigh the costs.

Trae Bodge, a shopping expert, points out that while some consumers treat themselves to subscription services as a reward, it becomes problematic if it leads to financial risk.

Kris Calef, the owner of MonthlyClubs.com, emphasizes that spending money on subscriptions that are ultimately unnecessary results in wasted funds. Conversely, if you’re mindful about what you consume and find products you truly enjoy, then a subscription can definitely be worthwhile.

Once you’ve decided to subscribe to a service or product, it’s best to cut back on other expenses or find ways to earn extra income so you can enjoy these subscriptions without worry.

Calef advises that if you’re facing financial difficulties, carefully choose and limit your subscriptions to only the best products or services. You can also pause subscriptions for a while and resume once your financial situation improves.

Sometimes, even if you love what you receive monthly, you may find yourself overwhelmed with excess. At that point, it might be wise to pause your subscriptions until you’ve used up enough of what you already have.

**Interviewer:** How can someone keep track of all their subscriptions effectively?

**Expert:** To manage subscriptions, Irwin suggests setting reminders and categorizing the goods or services you’re subscribed to, while reviewing total costs in detail. She recommends reflecting on whether you’ve frequently used these services in the past three months. When necessary, consider consolidating subscriptions and canceling any that are redundant. This can save you money and prevent accumulating unnecessary items at home.