Recently I've been cutting back on some of my spending because I somehow thought I was rich, lol. I had so many subscriptions to different apps, but what purpose were they fulfilling because they were dormant? I was not only subscribed to apps but other memberships ranging from the gym, wine clubs, business, and emails I signed up for. My checking account saw the impact, but there was no benefit to me, so I decided to cancel them. While unsubscribing, I started to think about how many things we find ourselves subscribing to that we know we shouldn't in the first place. We get caught up in a trial or introduction period and find ourselves trying to escape it.
Free Trial/Introductory Period
The trial/introductory period always starts with something appealing or intriguing. Most subscriptions will say it's a 7-day trial, but depending on the company, it could be 30 days. The terms are in the fine print, which lets you know a deduction from your card or checking account on file for a monthly or annual amount will happen on a specific date. We get caught up in the good-ass marketing strategies and say, "If it ain't free, it ain't for me," so why not try it out? It all makes sense until you wake up to a deduction from your account you were not anticipating. The reminder to cancel the subscription was on your calendar, but life happened, and you forgot. You are now upset because it's between paychecks, and sis, you barely had enough money to make it to the next one. Your girl has been there before and was livid because I thought I had calculated all my expenses down to the penny and was trying to figure out what I would do. The only option left was to call and see if Sweet Baby Jesus would let the most empathetic representative answer the phone. I needed them to hear the concern in my voice so I could get my coins back in my account and cancel the subscription like yesterday.
Cancellation
Depending on who you get on the phone, canceling can be easy or a nightmare. You are at the mercy of the person on the other end of the line, but baby, you can't get upset because you knew what you were signing up for. Accountability falls on you, and you must be okay with the consequences. In most cases, once you cancel that subscription, you are typically done with it unless you need the HBO app again to watch your favorite show's new season, like me. Still, I have to be careful to remember.
We must be cautious about what we subscribe to daily because of the potential cost in the long run. It can cause you to lose your life, sleep, peace, money, or even your mind because it has no purpose in being in your life in the first place. On the other hand, you don't have to accept something because it was free or introduced to you. The decision is yours to decline and say I don't need anything else, but it's up to you. If you decide to re-subscribe to something you canceled, be sure you are willing to accept the terms and conditions and not let it drain your account. Choose wisely because everything comes with a price!
I challenge you to ask yourself these questions.
What things or people have you subscribed to that you need to cancel?
If you have re-subscribed, is it worth the risk?