Talk Money Week and the Cost of Unused Subscriptions

Written by Al Baker | Founder & Editor, The Penny Pincher - Last updated: the 30th of October 2026

A streaming service you signed up to for one programme can still be taking money months after you stopped watching. A new YouGov survey for the Money and Pensions Service (MaPS) found that 31% of UK adults have paid for a subscription or service they no longer use. The findings accompany Talk Money Week, which encourages people to take a manageable step towards feeling more in control of their finances.

Talk Money Week runs from Monday the 2nd to Friday the 6th of November, with this year’s theme, “It All Counts”. Alongside reviewing subscriptions, MaPS is encouraging people to compare bills, look into financial support, make a budget and talk about money. That might mean dealing with one forgotten payment today, rather than trying to sort out every household bill at once.

What the research reveals about unused subscriptions and spending

YouGov surveyed 2,134 UK adults online between the 24th and 29th of September, with results weighted to represent the UK adult population. Alongside the subscription finding, 48% said they’d hidden or downplayed spending from a partner or family member. That doesn’t establish why they did so, or mean that every instance involved debt or a serious financial problem.

The subscription figure describes people who have paid for an unused service, rather than proving that 31% are doing so right now. It also doesn’t tell us how much each person could save. Someone with one forgotten monthly payment will have a different opportunity from a household that has already cut everything it can.

Find the payments that no longer earn their place

Start with your bank and credit card statements and look for regular charges you recognise but no longer benefit from. MoneyHelper recommends reviewing subscriptions and looking back a year for annual payments, which a single month’s statement can miss. Work through the payments in manageable batches if a full year feels like too much to tackle in one sitting.

For an illustrative example, a £9.99 monthly subscription costs £119.88 over 12 months, provided the price stays the same. Stopping future renewals could free up that money, but an annual plan you’ve already paid for might only produce a saving when its next renewal comes round. Keep the services you use and can afford, and focus first on those you’d struggle to justify buying again today.

When cancelling, look at the notice period, remaining contract term and any early-exit charge, then keep the provider’s confirmation. The Financial Conduct Authority explains that you can stop recurring card payments through your card issuer, even if you haven’t contacted the business first. Stopping the payment doesn’t necessarily end the contract, so you could still owe money for a commitment you haven’t properly cancelled.

Give yearly bills a place in your monthly budget

A month can look affordable until the car insurance, MOT or annual membership comes due. MoneyHelper’s free Budget Planner lets you enter costs over different time periods and works out a monthly average. For example, allowing £30 a month towards a £360 annual bill makes that cost visible before the renewal arrives.

Carolyn Pearson, 61, a self-employed woman from Leeds, told MaPS that using MoneyHelper helped her see costs she hadn’t fully allowed for, including insurance, motoring expenses and subscriptions. She’d already used spreadsheets and monthly goals, but the fuller picture showed that her personal budget was running short. Her experience shows why a budget needs to include irregular spending as well as the bills that leave on the same date each month.

A spreadsheet, notebook or free planner can all give those costs a home. If you’d prefer help keeping track of household contracts, our Nous review explains my experience of a service that monitors bills and some subscriptions. You don’t need to sign up to another paid service to begin reviewing what you already spend.

Compare bills using the cost of what you actually use

Carolyn also told MaPS she’d renegotiated her E.ON tariff and reduced her gas and electricity bills by £20 a month. That’s her reported experience, rather than a saving every household can expect. Your own result will depend on your current tariff, energy use and the alternative deals available.

For households in Great Britain, Ofgem’s guidance on comparing energy tariffs explains that a better option may be available from your existing supplier. Use your annual consumption when comparing deals and account for any charge for leaving a fixed tariff early. A lower monthly payment alone isn’t enough to establish that the energy itself is cheaper.

Look at support as well as spending cuts

If your income has fallen or your household circumstances have changed, MoneyHelper’s free benefits calculator can help identify support you may qualify for. Its results are a guide, and you’ll still need to follow the relevant application process. It can also identify possible help beyond benefit payments, such as grants and cheaper tariffs.

Cancelling an unused subscription can help, but it won’t solve a shortfall where essential bills already exceed your income. If you’re falling behind, MoneyHelper’s debt advice locator can help you find free advice. You don’t need to make your budget look better before asking someone to help you understand it.

Start a money conversation with something specific

A conversation about money can begin with a shared task, such as working out what’s available for Christmas or deciding which household subscriptions to keep. MoneyHelper’s guidance on talking to your partner about moneyrecommends focusing on shared goals rather than judging who’s good or bad with spending. A possible opener is, “Can we look at what’s leaving the account so we know what we can afford next month?”

Talking openly doesn’t mean giving someone permission to control your money or demand an explanation for every purchase. If you’re worried about a partner’s reaction or they control your access to money, seek confidential support rather than forcing a conversation that could put you at risk. MoneyHelper’s guidance also explains financial abuse and where to find help.

Choose one payment, bill or money worry to deal with first, and give yourself a specific next step. That could be finding a renewal date, entering an annual insurance bill into your budget or arranging a time to speak to an adviser. Once that task is done, decide when you’ll return to the next one.

Frequently asked questions

When is Talk Money Week?

Talk Money Week runs from Monday the 2nd to Friday the 6th of November 2026. This year’s theme is “It All Counts”, encouraging people to take a manageable step with their finances.

How does the Budget planner work?

MoneyHelper’s free Budget Planner adds up the income and spending you enter and shows what’s left. You can enter annual costs as well as monthly ones, helping you allow for bills that don’t arrive every month.

Can I cancel a recurring card payment through my bank?

Yes, you can ask your card issuer to stop a recurring card payment without first contacting the business. Ask by the end of the business day before the next payment is due, and remember that stopping payments doesn’t necessarily end your contract or remove money you owe.