You check your bank statement and wonder where the money went. Again. You’re not overspending on lattes or impulse buys. You’re just… subscribed. To everything. And so is everyone else.
Here’s what the average American is quietly paying for, month after month, whether they remember signing up or not.
1. At Least Three Streaming Services (And Probably a Fourth They Forgot About)
Netflix, Disney+, Hulu. The holy trinity. But most households don’t stop there. They’ve got Max for HBO shows, Paramount+ for that one series, and maybe Peacock because it came free with something else and then… didn’t.
The average? Around $50–$73/month across platforms. That’s nearly $900 a year just to avoid ads and keep up with water cooler conversations.
Pattern break: In 2010, cable cost about $60/month. We cut the cord to save money. Now we’re paying the same amount—just to six different companies.
2. Amazon Prime (But Mostly for the Shipping)
$139 a year. Most people justify it with “free” two-day shipping, but let’s be honest—half the value is avoiding the guilt of paying $6.99 per order.
The streaming library? Bonus. The exclusive deals? Rarely used. But that little checkmark at checkout that says “Prime eligible”? That’s the drug.
3. A Music Streaming Service They Use Every Single Day
Spotify Premium. Apple Music. YouTube Music. Whichever one, it’s $10.99/month and it’s non-negotiable.
Most people don’t realize: this is one of the few subscriptions with near-perfect utility. You actually use it. Every commute. Every workout. Every time you cook dinner. It’s the subscription that earns its keep—and we still complain about the price hike.
4. Cloud Storage (Because Your Phone Yelled at You)
iCloud. Google One. Dropbox. OneDrive.
You didn’t choose this. Your phone just said “Storage Full” one day, offered a solution for $0.99/month, and you tapped “yes” without reading. Now it’s $2.99. Then $9.99. You’re paying for 2TB and using 47GB, but deleting photos feels wrong.
5. A Gym Membership They Haven’t Used Since February
$30–$70/month depending on the zip code. Planet Fitness. LA Fitness. That boutique place with the Instagram-worthy lobby.
The average American goes to the gym… 5 times a month. At $50/month, that’s $10 per visit. A day pass would’ve been cheaper. But canceling means admitting defeat.
6. Some Kind of Meal Kit or Snack Box
HelloFresh. Blue Apron. ButcherBox. That organic snack thing from an Instagram ad.
It starts as “I’ll cook more.” It becomes $60–$120/month for ingredients you could’ve bought for half the price. But the recipes are already planned, the portions are pre-measured, and Wednesdays are hard enough without deciding what’s for dinner.
7. A Password Manager (That They Set Up Once and Never Think About)
$3–$5/month. Dashlane. 1Password. LastPass before the breach, now Bitwarden.
This might be the smartest $36/year anyone spends. But most people signed up during a security scare, saved 8 passwords, and now just use Chrome’s autofill anyway.
8. The New York Times, Washington Post, or Some Local News Paywall
$17–$25/month. You hit the paywall on a article someone texted you, entered your email for “3 free articles,” and somehow ended up with a full subscription.
Expectation: I’ll read it every day.
Reality: You read 4 articles a month and feel vaguely informed.
9. LinkedIn Premium (For Job Hunting That Never Quite Happens)
$29.99–$59.99/month depending on the tier.
You upgraded to see who viewed your profile. You were going to apply to 10 jobs a week. You checked InMail twice. Now it renews every month and you’ve convinced yourself it’s “career insurance.”
10. Audible or Some Other Audiobook Service
$14.95/month for one credit. You listen to half a book. The credit rolls over. You now have 6 unused credits and a backlog of books you’ll “get to eventually.”
Meanwhile, your library offers audiobooks for free. But you’ve already paid for January.
11. A VPN (That Made Sense During COVID)
NordVPN. ExpressVPN. Surfshark.
$5–$12/month. You signed up to work remotely, watch European Netflix, or because a YouTuber said you’d get hacked without it. You probably haven’t opened the app in four months, but it auto-renews from a card you forgot you saved.
12. Some App You Don’t Even Remember Installing
Calm. Headspace. Duolingo Plus. That AI writing assistant. A budgeting app.
You did the free trial. You forgot to cancel. It’s been 7 months. It’s only $4.99, so it doesn’t quite hurt enough to track down and cancel. But it’s there. Every month. Silently compounding.
13. Pet Subscription Boxes (Because Dogs Deserve Happiness)
BarkBox. Chewy Autoship. Something with treats and a bandana.
$25–$35/month. Your dog destroys the toy in 6 minutes. You could buy treats in bulk at Costco. But the box arrives and your dog loses their mind, and isn’t that worth it?
Spoiler: yes. This one gets a pass.
14. Car Washes, Warranties, or Roadside Assistance
Unlimited car washes: $20–$30/month. You go twice.
Extended warranties on gadgets: $7–$15/month. You’ve never filed a claim.
AAA or roadside coverage through your car insurance: $8–$16/month. Your car is 3 years old.
We’re paying for just in case. And just in case never comes. But the one time you skip it? That’s when the tire blows on I-95 at 9pm.
You’re not overspending. You’re just living in 2025, where everything you used to own, you now rent. Monthly. Forever. And honestly? Most of it makes your life a little easier, a little better, or at least a little less annoying.
The question isn’t whether you should cancel everything. It’s whether you even remember what you’re paying for anymore.
