What do my subscriptions actually cost?
Subscriptions are priced monthly precisely because the yearly number would give people pause. Here is the yearly number.
Almost exactly a decent laptop
1,200 USD is more than 5 of the 8 references on this page.
Reference figures are measurements and are rounded; the unit conversion behind them is exact.
| Reference | Size | Yours ÷ theirs | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| music streaming | 132 USD | 9.09× | |
| one streaming service | 180 USD | 6.67× | $15 a month |
| gym membership | 480 USD | 2.5× | |
| phone plan | 600 USD | 2× | |
| four streaming services | 720 USD | 1.67× | |
| a decent laptop | 1,200 USD | 1× | |
| a week’s holiday | 2,000 USD | 0.6× | |
| a used car | 25,000 USD | 1/20.8 |
Worth knowing
- Four streaming services at $15 a month is $720 a year — a laptop every other year.
- Surveys consistently find people underestimate their own subscription spending by 100–200%, because each line is individually trivial.
Frequently asked
How do I find forgotten subscriptions?
Search a year of bank statements for the same amount repeating monthly. Card issuers increasingly list recurring merchants directly.
Is annual billing worth it?
Usually 15–20% cheaper, but it removes the monthly prompt to reconsider. That trade is the whole business model.