# Subscription Audit: [Household or person name], [Audit date]

> A worksheet for finding every recurring charge you pay, turning each
> one into a yearly cost, judging whether it is worth it, and then
> cancelling, downgrading or keeping it with a record of what you did.
> It covers streaming, software, apps, memberships, deliveries,
> add-ons on phone and bank accounts, and free trials that turn into
> paid plans. The worked example uses the fictional household Sam and
> Jordan Ellison. The "Your rights" section points to the consumer
> rules on recurring charges and cancellation as of 2026-10: US
> Restore Online Shoppers' Confidence Act (15 U.S.C. 8403), EU Consumer
> Rights Directive 2011/83/EU and the UK Digital Markets, Competition
> and Consumers Act 2024 (Part 4, Chapter 2, not yet in force).
> Replace every `[bracketed]` value and every row marked *Example*.
> This is a document format for organising your own information, not
> financial or legal advice.

<!--
Guidance: How to use this template
- Set aside about two hours for the first audit, then 20 minutes every
  quarter. Use 12 months of statements so that yearly renewals show up.
- Work in order: find (section 3), list (section 4), cost (section 5),
  judge (sections 6 and 7), decide (section 8), act and record
  (section 9), then protect the result (sections 10 to 13).
- Never store passwords, full card numbers or account numbers in this
  file. Write the last four digits of a card at most.
- Related documents: Budget (`personal/budget`), where the kept
  subscriptions become a budget line; Emergency Fund Plan
  (`personal/emergency-fund-plan`) and Debt Payoff Plan
  (`personal/debt-payoff-plan`), where the savings can go; Financial
  Goals (`personal/financial-goals`); Insurance Review
  (`personal/insurance-review`) for insurance add-ons; Emergency
  Document File (`personal/emergency-document-file`) so that someone
  can cancel subscriptions for you if needed.
-->

## Document control

<!-- Guidance: Record the period you reviewed and who in the household pays for what. The audit only works if every payer takes part. -->

| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| Document ID | [SUBAUD-YYYY-QN] |
| Version | [0.1] |
| Status | [In progress / Decisions made / Actions complete] |
| Owner | [@person-1] |
| Approvers/reviewers | [@person-2], [other household members who pay subscriptions] |
| Last updated | YYYY-MM-DD |
| Classification | Private (household) |
| Period reviewed | YYYY-MM-DD to YYYY-MM-DD (12 months recommended) |
| Accounts and cards reviewed | [Bank account ending 1234, card ending 5678, app store accounts, payment wallets] |
| Currency | [currency]; foreign-currency charges converted at the statement rate |
| Next audit due | YYYY-MM-DD |

### Approvals

| Role | Name | Decision | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Household member | [Name 1] | [Agree with decisions in section 8] | YYYY-MM-DD |
| Household member | [Name 2] | [Agree with decisions in section 8] | YYYY-MM-DD |

### Revision history

| Version | Date | Author | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0.1 | YYYY-MM-DD | [@person-1] | Inventory started |
| 1.0 *(Example)* | 2026-10-25 | Sam Ellison | Inventory complete, decisions agreed with Jordan |
| 1.1 *(Example)* | 2026-11-08 | Jordan Ellison | Cancellation log closed, savings redirected |

## Contents

1. [Purpose and scope](#1-purpose-and-scope)
2. [Key terms in plain language](#2-key-terms-in-plain-language)
3. [Where to look](#3-where-to-look)
4. [Subscription inventory](#4-subscription-inventory)
5. [Yearly cost](#5-yearly-cost)
6. [Usage and value](#6-usage-and-value)
7. [Overlaps and bundles](#7-overlaps-and-bundles)
8. [Decisions](#8-decisions)
9. [Cancellation and change log](#9-cancellation-and-change-log)
10. [Free trials and renewal calendar](#10-free-trials-and-renewal-calendar)
11. [Price changes](#11-price-changes)
12. [Payment and account hygiene](#12-payment-and-account-hygiene)
13. [Where the savings go](#13-where-the-savings-go)
14. [Your rights](#14-your-rights)
15. [Review schedule](#15-review-schedule)
16. [References](#16-references)
17. [Standard and licence note](#standard-and-licence-note)

## 1. Purpose and scope

<!-- Guidance: Say what you want from the audit: a savings target, fewer accounts, or simply knowing what you pay. A target keeps the decisions honest. -->

Small recurring charges are easy to forget because each one looks
cheap and is taken automatically. Together they can be one of the
largest flexible lines in a household budget. This audit finds them
all, shows their full yearly cost and records a decision for each.

| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Goal of this audit | [Cut recurring spend by amount or %, or keep only what we use weekly] |
| Who is included | [Household members, children's accounts, shared family plans] |
| What is included | Any charge that repeats without you approving each payment |
| What is excluded | [Rent, utilities, loan payments, insurance policies reviewed elsewhere] |
| Savings target | [currency] [amount] per year |

*Example:* The Ellisons want to free up at least USD 150 a month for
their emergency fund (GOAL-001 in their Financial Plan,
`personal/financial-plan`), which holds 18,000 against a 36,000
target. They include every recurring card and account charge except
the mortgage, property tax, utilities, loans and their main insurance
policies, which are covered in their Budget (`personal/budget`) and
Insurance Review (`personal/insurance-review`).

## 2. Key terms in plain language

<!-- Guidance: Read once. These words appear on statements and in terms and conditions. -->

| Term | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Subscription | An agreement under which you are charged again and again for a product or service until you cancel. |
| Auto-renewal | The subscription renews for another period and charges you without you taking any action. |
| Negative option | A legal term for an offer where your silence or failure to cancel is treated as agreement to keep paying. |
| Free trial (free-to-paid conversion) | A trial period that turns into a paid plan unless you cancel before it ends. |
| Introductory or promotional price | A lower price for a limited period, after which the normal price applies. |
| Billing cycle | How often you are charged: weekly, monthly, quarterly, yearly. |
| Annualised cost | What a subscription costs over a full year, whatever its billing cycle. |
| Cost per use | Yearly cost divided by the number of times you use it in a year. |
| Downgrade | Moving to a cheaper tier of the same service. |
| Pause | Stopping charges for a period without closing the account, where the service allows it. |
| Cooling-off or withdrawal period | A short period after signing up during which the law may let you cancel without giving a reason. |
| Foreign transaction fee | A charge some cards add when a payment is made in another currency or processed abroad. |

## 3. Where to look

<!-- Guidance: Check every source below, not only your main bank account. Subscriptions hide in app stores, payment wallets, phone bills and on cards used once for a trial. -->

| ID | Source | Checked | Charges found | Who checked |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SRC-001 | Main bank account statements (12 months) | [Yes / No] | [count] | [@name] |
| SRC-002 | Each credit and debit card (12 months) | [Yes / No] | [count] | [@name] |
| SRC-003 | Phone app store subscription list (each family member) | [Yes / No] | [count] | [@name] |
| SRC-004 | Payment wallets and online payment accounts | [Yes / No] | [count] | [@name] |
| SRC-005 | Mobile phone and broadband bills (add-ons, third-party charges) | [Yes / No] | [count] | [@name] |
| SRC-006 | Email search: "receipt", "renewal", "your subscription", "trial" | [Yes / No] | [count] | [@name] |
| SRC-007 | Online shopping accounts (memberships, subscribe-and-save orders) | [Yes / No] | [count] | [@name] |
| SRC-008 | Bank account add-ons (packaged account fees, card protection) | [Yes / No] | [count] | [@name] |
| SRC-009 | Workplace or business cards used for personal services | [Yes / No] | [count] | [@name] |
| SRC-010 | Children's and older relatives' accounts you pay for | [Yes / No] | [count] | [@name] |

Tip: search statements for amounts that repeat on the same day each
month, and for yearly charges that appear once in the 12 months.

## 4. Subscription inventory

<!-- Guidance: One row per subscription. Record the price you actually pay now, not the advertised price. The "owner" is the person who uses it and decides about it, not necessarily the card holder. -->

| ID | Service | Category | Owner | Price | Cycle | Next renewal | Paid with | How to cancel |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SUB-[NNN] | [Service name] | [Entertainment / Software / Fitness / News / Food / Insurance add-on / Membership / Other] | [Name] | [amount] | [Weekly / Monthly / Quarterly / Yearly] | YYYY-MM-DD | [Card ending 1234 / App store / Wallet] | [Website settings / App store / Phone / Letter] |
| SUB-001 *(Example)* | Video streaming service A | Entertainment | Both | 15.49 | Monthly | 2026-11-03 | Card A ending 1199 | Account settings online |
| SUB-002 *(Example)* | Video streaming service B | Entertainment | Sam | 11.99 | Monthly | 2026-11-14 | Card A ending 1199 | Account settings online |
| SUB-003 *(Example)* | Music streaming, family plan | Entertainment | Both | 19.99 | Monthly | 2026-11-01 | App store | App store subscriptions |
| SUB-004 *(Example)* | Cloud storage 2 TB | Software | Both | 99.99 | Yearly | 2027-03-09 | Card A ending 1199 | Account settings online |
| SUB-005 *(Example)* | Gym membership | Fitness | Jordan | 49.00 | Monthly | 2026-11-01 | Bank direct debit | In person or letter, 30 days notice |
| SUB-006 *(Example)* | Fitness app | Fitness | Sam | 79.99 | Yearly | 2027-01-20 | App store | App store subscriptions |
| SUB-007 *(Example)* | News site digital access | News | Jordan | 17.00 | Monthly | 2026-11-11 | Debit card ending 7302 | Online, after chat with agent |
| SUB-008 *(Example)* | Meal kit delivery | Food | Both | 62.00 | Weekly | Every Monday | Debit card ending 7302 | Account settings, skip or cancel |
| SUB-009 *(Example)* | Language learning app | Education | Sam | 59.99 | Yearly | 2027-02-02 | App store | App store subscriptions |
| SUB-010 *(Example)* | Password manager, family | Software | Both | 47.88 | Yearly | 2027-05-30 | Card A ending 1199 | Account settings online |
| SUB-011 *(Example)* | Online shopping membership | Membership | Both | 139.00 | Yearly | 2027-06-18 | Card A ending 1199 | Account settings online |
| SUB-012 *(Example)* | Photo editing software | Software | Sam | 22.99 | Monthly | 2026-11-21 | Debit card ending 7302 | Account settings, check early-cancel fee |
| SUB-013 *(Example)* | Mobile game pass (trial converted) | Entertainment | Jordan | 9.99 | Monthly | 2026-11-06 | App store | App store subscriptions |
| SUB-014 *(Example)* | Phone insurance add-on | Insurance add-on | Sam | 12.00 | Monthly | 2026-11-15 | Phone bill | Call phone provider |

## 5. Yearly cost

<!-- Guidance: Convert every subscription to a yearly figure so that weekly, monthly and yearly plans can be compared. The pitfall is looking only at monthly prices and missing large yearly renewals and weekly charges. -->

$$
\text{Annualised cost} = \text{Price per cycle} \times \text{Cycles per year}
\qquad
\text{Monthly equivalent} = \frac{\text{Annualised cost}}{12}
$$

Cycles per year: weekly 52, monthly 12, quarterly 4, yearly 1. If a
charge is in a foreign currency and your card adds a fee, multiply by
(1 + fee rate) as well.

| ID | Price | Cycles per year | Annualised cost | Monthly equivalent | Share of total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SUB-[NNN] | [amount] | [n] | [amount] | [amount] | [%] |
| SUB-001 *(Example)* | 15.49 | 12 | 185.88 | 15.49 | 3.3% |
| SUB-002 *(Example)* | 11.99 | 12 | 143.88 | 11.99 | 2.6% |
| SUB-003 *(Example)* | 19.99 | 12 | 239.88 | 19.99 | 4.3% |
| SUB-004 *(Example)* | 99.99 | 1 | 99.99 | 8.33 | 1.8% |
| SUB-005 *(Example)* | 49.00 | 12 | 588.00 | 49.00 | 10.6% |
| SUB-006 *(Example)* | 79.99 | 1 | 79.99 | 6.67 | 1.4% |
| SUB-007 *(Example)* | 17.00 | 12 | 204.00 | 17.00 | 3.7% |
| SUB-008 *(Example)* | 62.00 | 52 | 3,224.00 | 268.67 | 58.1% |
| SUB-009 *(Example)* | 59.99 | 1 | 59.99 | 5.00 | 1.1% |
| SUB-010 *(Example)* | 47.88 | 1 | 47.88 | 3.99 | 0.9% |
| SUB-011 *(Example)* | 139.00 | 1 | 139.00 | 11.58 | 2.5% |
| SUB-012 *(Example)* | 22.99 | 12 | 275.88 | 22.99 | 5.0% |
| SUB-013 *(Example)* | 9.99 | 12 | 119.88 | 9.99 | 2.2% |
| SUB-014 *(Example)* | 12.00 | 12 | 144.00 | 12.00 | 2.6% |
| **Total** *(Example)* | | | **5,552.25** | **462.69** | 100% |

*Example reading:* the Ellisons guessed they paid "about USD 150 a
month" for subscriptions. The real figure is USD 462.69 a month, and
one item, the weekly meal kit, is 58% of it. Shares are rounded to one
decimal place, so they may not add to exactly 100%.

The meal kit replaces part of the weekly food shop, so the Ellisons'
Budget (`personal/budget`) counts it under Groceries. The
"Subscriptions" line in the Budget therefore shows only the other
items: 5,552.25 - 3,224.00 = USD 2,328.25 a year, or USD 194.02 a
month (194 in the Budget). Decide once where each mixed item belongs
and keep it there, or the same charge ends up in two budget lines.

## 6. Usage and value

<!-- Guidance: Be honest about use. Check the app's own history where it has one rather than guessing. A service you "might use" is one you are not using. -->

$$
\text{Cost per use} = \frac{\text{Annualised cost}}{\text{Uses per year}}
$$

Score each subscription from 1 to 5 on two questions, then add the
scores (2 to 10):

- **Use**: 5 = several times a week, 4 = weekly, 3 = monthly, 2 = a few
  times a year, 1 = not in the last 3 months.
- **Would we miss it**: 5 = would sign up again today at this price,
  3 = would sign up at a lower price, 1 = would not notice it was gone.

| ID | Last used | Uses per year | Cost per use | Use score | Miss score | Total | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SUB-[NNN] | YYYY-MM-DD | [n] | [amount] | [1 to 5] | [1 to 5] | [2 to 10] | [Notes] |
| SUB-001 *(Example)* | 2026-10-24 | 150 | 1.24 | 5 | 4 | 9 | Main streaming service |
| SUB-002 *(Example)* | 2026-07-30 | 10 | 14.39 | 2 | 2 | 4 | Signed up for one series |
| SUB-005 *(Example)* | 2026-10-23 | 100 | 5.88 | 5 | 5 | 10 | Jordan goes twice a week |
| SUB-008 *(Example)* | 2026-10-20 | 52 deliveries | 62.00 | 4 | 3 | 7 | Often one meal wasted |
| SUB-009 *(Example)* | 2026-04-12 | 15 | 4.00 | 1 | 2 | 3 | Stopped after spring |
| SUB-012 *(Example)* | 2026-10-02 | 20 | 13.79 | 3 | 4 | 7 | Uses only the photo tools |
| SUB-013 *(Example)* | 2026-08-15 | 6 | 19.98 | 1 | 1 | 2 | Trial turned into a paid plan unnoticed |
| SUB-014 *(Example)* | Never claimed | 0 | n/a | 1 | 2 | 3 | Card already includes phone cover |

Check of one example: SUB-002 costs 143.88 a year for 10 uses, so
143.88 / 10 = USD 14.39 per use, more than renting the series once.

## 7. Overlaps and bundles

<!-- Guidance: Look for two services doing the same job, a cheaper bundle that covers several, or benefits you already get free through a card, phone plan, employer or library. -->

| ID | Overlap or bundle found | Subscriptions affected | Possible action | Yearly saving |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| OVL-[NNN] | [Description] | [SUB-NNN, SUB-NNN] | [Keep one / Switch to bundle / Use free benefit] | [amount] |
| OVL-001 *(Example)* | Two video streaming services | SUB-001, SUB-002 | Keep A; rotate B in for one month when a series is released | 143.88 if B cancelled |
| OVL-002 *(Example)* | Phone insurance add-on while the credit card already covers phone damage | SUB-014, card benefit | Read card benefit terms, then cancel add-on | 144.00 |
| OVL-003 *(Example)* | Shopping membership includes a video service | SUB-011, SUB-001 | Compare catalogues before next renewal of SUB-011 | Under review |
| OVL-004 *(Example)* | Public library offers free language courses | SUB-009 | Use library course | 59.99 |

Before cancelling for a free benefit, confirm the benefit covers what
you need (for example, the excess on card phone cover) and record
where the terms are kept.

## 8. Decisions

<!-- Guidance: Decide for every row: keep, downgrade, pause, rotate or cancel. A total score of 4 or less is a strong cancel signal; anything you keep should have a reason. -->

| ID | Decision | New price or cycle | Yearly saving | Reason | Decided by |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SUB-[NNN] | [Keep / Downgrade / Pause / Rotate / Cancel] | [amount, cycle] | [amount] | [Reason] | [Name] |
| SUB-001 *(Example)* | Keep | 15.49 monthly | 0.00 | Score 9, low cost per use | Both |
| SUB-002 *(Example)* | Cancel (rotate later) | n/a | 143.88 | Score 4, overlaps SUB-001 | Sam |
| SUB-008 *(Example)* | Downgrade to every other week | 62.00 every 2 weeks (26 a year) | 1,612.00 | Biggest cost, food often wasted | Both |
| SUB-009 *(Example)* | Cancel auto-renewal (already paid to 2027-02-02) | n/a | 59.99 | Score 3, free library course | Sam |
| SUB-012 *(Example)* | Downgrade to photo-only plan | 11.99 monthly | 132.00 | Uses only photo tools | Sam |
| SUB-013 *(Example)* | Cancel | n/a | 119.88 | Score 2 | Jordan |
| SUB-014 *(Example)* | Cancel | n/a | 144.00 | Duplicate cover | Sam |
| Others *(Example)* | Keep | Unchanged | 0.00 | Score 7 or more, used weekly | Both |

Savings check *(Example)*: 143.88 + 1,612.00 + 59.99 + 132.00 + 119.88
+ 144.00 = USD 2,211.75 a year, or USD 184.31 a month. New yearly total
5,552.25 - 2,211.75 = USD 3,340.50, or USD 278.38 a month. The target
of USD 150 a month is met. The downgrade saving for SUB-008 is
62.00 x (52 - 26) = 1,612.00; for SUB-012 it is (22.99 - 11.99) x 12 =
132.00. Split by Budget line: the meal kit falls from 268.67 to
134.33 a month (Groceries line, saving 134.33), and the other
subscriptions fall from 2,328.25 - 599.75 = 1,728.50 a year, or 144.04
a month (Subscriptions line, saving 49.98). Together: 134.33 + 49.98 =
184.31 a month.

## 9. Cancellation and change log

<!-- Guidance: Keep proof of every cancellation: a confirmation email, a screenshot or a reference number. The pitfall is assuming a cancellation worked and finding the charge again next month. -->

| ID | Subscription | Action | Date done | Method | Confirmation reference | Final charge date | Charge stopped (checked on statement) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CXL-[NNN] | SUB-[NNN] | [Cancel / Downgrade / Pause] | YYYY-MM-DD | [Online / App store / Phone / Letter] | [Reference or "screenshot saved"] | YYYY-MM-DD | [Yes, checked YYYY-MM-DD / No] |
| CXL-001 *(Example)* | SUB-002 | Cancel | 2026-10-26 | Online settings | Confirmation email saved | 2026-10-14 | Yes, checked 2026-11-15 |
| CXL-002 *(Example)* | SUB-008 | Downgrade | 2026-10-26 | Account settings | Plan page screenshot | n/a | Yes, checked 2026-11-10 |
| CXL-003 *(Example)* | SUB-009 | Turn off auto-renewal | 2026-10-26 | App store | Store receipt | Paid to 2027-02-02 | Check on 2027-02-03 |
| CXL-004 *(Example)* | SUB-012 | Downgrade | 2026-10-27 | Account settings | Ticket 58213 (fictional) | n/a | Yes, checked 2026-11-22 |
| CXL-005 *(Example)* | SUB-013 | Cancel | 2026-10-26 | App store | Store receipt | 2026-10-06 | Yes, checked 2026-11-07 |
| CXL-006 *(Example)* | SUB-014 | Cancel | 2026-10-28 | Phone call | Reference given by agent, name and time noted | 2026-10-15 | Yes, checked 2026-11-16 |

If a cancellation is refused, made hard or ignored:

1. Write down the date, the channel and what you were told.
2. Cancel again in writing (email or the service's message form) and
   keep a copy.
3. If charges continue, contact your card issuer or bank and ask about
   disputing the charge or stopping future payments to that merchant.
4. Report the problem to the consumer protection authority listed in
   section 14 if the service still does not stop.

## 10. Free trials and renewal calendar

<!-- Guidance: Every trial and every yearly renewal gets a calendar reminder a few days before the charge. Decide when you sign up, not when the charge arrives. -->

| ID | Service | Type | Ends or renews on | Price after | Reminder set for | Decision before date |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| TRL-[NNN] | [Service] | [Free trial / Intro price / Yearly renewal] | YYYY-MM-DD | [amount] | YYYY-MM-DD | [Keep / Cancel] |
| TRL-001 *(Example)* | SUB-004 cloud storage | Yearly renewal | 2027-03-09 | 99.99 | 2027-03-01 | Keep, check family plan price |
| TRL-002 *(Example)* | SUB-011 shopping membership | Yearly renewal | 2027-06-18 | 139.00 | 2027-06-08 | Review OVL-003 first |
| TRL-003 *(Example)* | Video service B (rotation) | Re-subscribe for one month | 2027-02-01 | 11.99 | 2027-02-25 | Cancel after one month |

Rules the household agrees to follow *(Example)*:

- Sign up for a free trial only after setting a reminder two days
  before it ends.
- Use one card for all subscriptions so that one statement shows them
  all.
- Prefer monthly plans for anything new until it has been used for 3
  months; switch to yearly only for services scored 9 or 10.

## 11. Price changes

<!-- Guidance: Track the price you agreed and every increase. An increase is a natural point to re-decide. -->

| ID | Subscription | Old price | New price | Effective date | Notice received on | Yearly impact | Decision |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PRC-[NNN] | SUB-[NNN] | [amount] | [amount] | YYYY-MM-DD | YYYY-MM-DD | [amount] | [Accept / Downgrade / Cancel] |
| PRC-001 *(Example)* | SUB-001 | 13.99 | 15.49 | 2026-06-03 | 2026-05-02 | +18.00 | Accept, still score 9 |

Yearly impact check: (15.49 - 13.99) x 12 = USD 18.00.

## 12. Payment and account hygiene

<!-- Guidance: Reduce the chance of forgotten or fraudulent charges. These steps also make the next audit faster. -->

| ID | Step | Done |
|---|---|---|
| HYG-001 | Move all subscriptions to one card or account | [ ] |
| HYG-002 | Turn on card notifications for every charge | [ ] |
| HYG-003 | Use a virtual or merchant-locked card number where your bank offers it | [ ] |
| HYG-004 | Close accounts (not only subscriptions) for services you cancelled, and delete stored card details | [ ] |
| HYG-005 | Use a password manager; never reuse passwords across subscription accounts | [ ] |
| HYG-006 | Record subscriptions in the Emergency Document File (`personal/emergency-document-file`) so that a family member can cancel them if needed | [ ] |
| HYG-007 | Check that cancelled services did not keep charging after a card was replaced (some card networks pass new card numbers to merchants automatically) | [ ] |

## 13. Where the savings go

<!-- Guidance: Move the money the same week you cancel. Savings that stay in the current account are usually spent. -->

| ID | Destination | Monthly amount | Start date | Automated? |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| RED-[NNN] | [Emergency fund / Debt payoff / Goal savings / Retirement] | [amount] | YYYY-MM-DD | [Yes / No] |
| RED-001 *(Example)* | Emergency fund account (GOAL-001), on top of the planned 300 | 184.31 | 2026-11-01 | Yes, transfer on payday |

Progress over the year:

| Quarter | Recurring spend at audit | Recurring spend now | Saving to date | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| YYYY-QN | [amount per month] | [amount per month] | [amount] | [Note] |
| 2026-Q4 *(Example)* | 462.69 | 278.38 | 368.62 (2 months) | All six actions confirmed |

*Example note:* the Financial Plan schedules 300 a month into the
emergency fund until 2027-03 and 1,000 a month after that, reaching
36,000 in 2028-08. The extra 184.31 a month is not in that schedule,
so it brings the target date forward. The Ellisons record the new date
at their next quarterly review rather than changing the plan now.

## 14. Your rights

<!-- Guidance: Rules on auto-renewal, cancellation and trials differ by country and change often. Names and references only, as of 2026-10; check the current law and the regulator's guidance before relying on any of it. -->

Names and references only, as of 2026-10. Examples, not exhaustive,
not legal advice. Check local law.

| Jurisdiction | Rule (name and reference) | What it is about, in short | Status as of 2026-10 |
|---|---|---|---|
| United States (federal) | Restore Online Shoppers' Confidence Act, 15 U.S.C. 8403 | Online offers with a negative option: clear disclosure of terms, express informed consent before charging, and simple ways to stop recurring charges | In force |
| United States (federal) | FTC Negative Option Rule amendments ("click-to-cancel"), 2024 | Broader cancellation and disclosure rules | Vacated by the US Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit on 2025-07-08 before enforcement; check the FTC for any new rulemaking |
| United States (states) | State automatic renewal laws, for example California Business and Professions Code sections 17600 and following (amended by AB 2863 from 2025-07-01) | Consent, renewal notices and online cancellation | In force; other states have their own laws |
| European Union | Consumer Rights Directive 2011/83/EU, Article 9 (14-day withdrawal right for distance and off-premises contracts); Article 16(m) (exception for digital content once supply has started with your express consent and acknowledgement); Article 14(3) and Article 16(a) for services started at your request (you pay for what was provided before you withdrew, and the right ends once the service is fully performed) | Cooling-off period for online sign-ups | In force as transposed nationally |
| European Union | Directive (EU) 2023/2673, which adds Article 11a to Directive 2011/83/EU: a clearly labelled online withdrawal function ("withdraw from contract here" or similar) for contracts concluded through a website or app | Lets you exercise the 14-day withdrawal right with a button on the same interface you used to sign up | Applies from 2026-06-19 as transposed nationally; check the Official Journal text and your country's transposing law |
| United Kingdom | Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Act 2024, Part 4, Chapter 2 (subscription contracts, from section 253) | Pre-contract information, reminders, cooling-off and easy exit for subscriptions | Not yet in force; the government has indicated commencement in 2027 (check gov.uk for the commencement date) |
| [Your country] | [Law name and reference] | [Summary] | [Status] |

Complaints routes: your card issuer or bank (charge disputes), then the
national consumer protection authority or ombudsman for your country.

## 15. Review schedule

<!-- Guidance: A one-off audit decays. Put the next reviews in the calendar now. -->

| ID | When | What | Owner |
|---|---|---|---|
| REV-001 | Every quarter | Scan statements for new recurring charges; update sections 4 and 5 | [@owner] |
| REV-002 | 7 days before each yearly renewal | Re-decide using section 6 scores | [@owner] |
| REV-003 | After any price increase notice | Section 11 | [@owner] |
| REV-004 | Every 12 months | Full audit with 12 months of statements | [@owner] |
| REV-001 *(Example)* | 2027-01-25 | Quarterly scan | Sam Ellison |

### 15.1 Making the audit stick

A first audit usually finds the largest savings; the work after it
keeps them. Three habits do most of the work. First, keep all
subscriptions on one card or account, so that one statement shows
every recurring charge. Second, set a calendar reminder for every free
trial and every yearly renewal at the moment you sign up, not later.
Third, agree a simple household rule for new subscriptions, for
example that any new service starts on a monthly plan and is reviewed
after three months before anyone switches it to a yearly plan.

**Review points at each quarterly scan.** Look for new charges that
were not in the inventory; for charges that continued after a
cancellation (compare section 9 with the latest statement); for price
increases that arrived without a decision (section 11); and for
services whose use score has dropped since the last review. Add any
new item to sections 4 and 5 before deciding about it, so the totals
stay true.

**Common errors to avoid.** Cancelling inside an app but not with the
merchant when the merchant bills you directly, or the other way round;
deleting an account before downloading data you want to keep;
switching to a yearly plan for a discount and then not using the
service; and letting the savings stay in the current account, where
they are usually spent. Move the money the same week the cancellation
is confirmed, as in section 13.

**Shared households.** Each adult should check their own cards,
app-store accounts and email, because a subscription is often visible
only to the person who signed up. Children's app-store accounts and
any services paid for relatives belong in the audit too. Agree the
decisions together and record who decided in section 8, so that no
one is surprised when a service stops.

**When a service makes leaving hard.** Write down each attempt, use
the cancellation route the law or the contract gives you (online where
you signed up online, where that right exists), and if charges
continue, ask your card issuer about stopping payments to that
merchant. The rules in section 14 differ by country and change often,
so check the current position before relying on them.

## 16. References

<!-- Guidance: Keep the official sources and the date you checked them. -->

- Restore Online Shoppers' Confidence Act, 15 U.S.C. 8403 (negative
  option marketing on the Internet), US Code via govinfo.gov, checked
  2026-10-25.
- Directive 2011/83/EU of 25 October 2011 on consumer rights, Articles
  9, 14(3), 16(a) and 16(m), EUR-Lex, checked 2026-10-25.
- Directive (EU) 2023/2673 of 22 November 2023 (financial services
  contracts concluded at a distance), which inserts Article 11a
  (withdrawal function) into Directive 2011/83/EU; application date
  2026-06-19 (check the Official Journal text on EUR-Lex).
- Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Act 2024, Part 4, Chapter
  2, legislation.gov.uk (provisions shown as prospective), and the
  UK government's response to the consultation on implementing the
  subscription contracts regime (2026-04-02), gov.uk, checked
  2026-10-25.
- Related templates: Budget (`personal/budget`), Financial Goals
  (`personal/financial-goals`), Emergency Fund Plan
  (`personal/emergency-fund-plan`), Debt Payoff Plan
  (`personal/debt-payoff-plan`), Insurance Review
  (`personal/insurance-review`), Emergency Document File
  (`personal/emergency-document-file`).

## Standard and licence note

Based on public consumer law on recurring charges: the US Restore
Online Shoppers' Confidence Act (15 U.S.C. 8403, a US federal work in
the public domain), Directive 2011/83/EU (source: EUR-Lex,
https://eur-lex.europa.eu, reuse with acknowledgement) and the UK
Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Act 2024 (legislation.gov.uk,
cited by part and chapter only). Laws are cited by section and article
and summarised in original words; their status is as of 2026-10. The
cost formulas are simple arithmetic, and the household, services and
figures are fictional. This template is original text written for this
collection and is not financial or legal advice. Check the current
official version of each law before use. Template licence: MIT.