It's easy to lose track of the myriad apps and subscriptions we accumulate over time. Whether for business or personal use, these services often charge us behind the scenes, quietly deducting from our profits or budget dollars.

When was the last time you reviewed your bank statements for recurring tech charges?

Subscription Trap

Many of us find ourselves subscribed to services we no longer use or need. These subscriptions can quickly add up, leaching money better spent elsewhere.

Tools like TrackMySubs, Monarch Money, or Rocket Money can help you identify and track your subscriptions.

It's essential to regularly audit these expenses, ideally monthly or quarterly, to ensure you're only paying for what truly adds value.

Free Trial Dilemma

Conversely, consider the services you use as "free trials." While it might seem cost-effective, remember that you're likely the product if you're not paying. Your data, preferences, and attention are valuable commodities.

When you subscribe to select services (such as Google Workspace), you invest in better data practices and often buy into more data protections.

For businesses, relying on free services for critical operations can be risky. Supporting these tools by upgrading ensures their longevity and improvement. This ultimately benefits your operations and avoids possible downtime or costly transition costs to other services.

Scheduling Regular Review

Could you make a routine of looking over your billing statements more closely? I have a process I usually do monthly, and not longer apart than quarterly. Could you add a time block to do this to your calendar right now?

1. Identify recurring charges and evaluate whether these services still provide the value they once did.
2. Additionally, consider the apps and tools you use daily. Is it time to upgrade to unlock more features and support the technology that supports you?
3. Go to the account billing screen and make the changes.

By staying vigilant and proactive, you can ensure that every dollar spent on technology contributes meaningfully to your business's success.

Your tech pal,

—Joshua

P.S. Two more new podcast episodes from yours truly this week — Listen:

• "From Keywords to Short Form Video: Marketing Evolution with Mickey Mellen"
• "Aligning Communication Tactics with Business Goals: Shawn FitzGerald on Intentional Change"

Disclaimer: I use AI to help write emails like these. I review & edit all AI-assisted work I publish.