📖 Overview
This calculator surfaces silent recurring spend that can actually be reclaimed now.
It adjusts for real usage and cancellation friction so your cut plan is practical not theoretical.
🧪 Example Scenarios
Use these default and higher-pressure example inputs to explore how sensitive this calculator is before using your real numbers.
| Input | Base Case | Higher Pressure Case |
|---|---|---|
| Number Of Subscriptions | 12 | 13.8 |
| Average Monthly Cost Per Subscription ($) | 18 | 21.6 |
| Monthly Usage Rate (%) | 62 | 74.4 |
| Monthly Savings Target ($) | 80 | 72 |
| Cancellation Friction (%) | 25 | 30 |
⚙️ How It Works
Estimates monthly subscription leakage and actionable recoverable waste after usage and cancellation friction adjustments.
The Formula
Actionable Waste = (Subscriptions × Avg Cost × (1 − Usage Rate)) × (1 − Friction)
| Subscriptions | Count of active paid recurring plans |
| Avg Cost | Average monthly cost per plan |
| Usage Rate | Percent of spend delivering real value each month |
| Savings Target | Desired monthly savings reduction goal |
| Friction | Percent of waste blocked by contracts/group dependencies |
💡Most subscription waste is not fully recoverable immediately due contracts, shared plans, and operational dependencies. Actionable waste is a more realistic cut ceiling.
Quick Reference
| Total Spend | Usage | Friction | Actionable Waste |
|---|---|---|---|
| $120/mo | 70% | 20% | $28.8/mo |
| $220/mo | 60% | 25% | $66.0/mo |
| $350/mo | 55% | 30% | $110.3/mo |
When To Use This
- Use this tool when you need a fast decision during active planning or execution.
- Use this before committing money, time, or tradeoffs that are hard to reverse.
- Use this to compare options using the same assumptions across scenarios.
Edge Cases To Watch
- Results can be misleading if key inputs are missing, stale, or unrealistic.
- Very small or very large values may amplify rounding effects and interpretation risk.
- If assumptions change mid-decision, recalculate before acting.
Practical Tips
💡 Sort subscriptions by value-per-dollar before canceling.
💡 Target high-cost low-usage plans first for fastest impact.
💡 Re-run monthly until waste trend stabilizes downward.
Frequently Asked Questions
❓ Why not cancel everything unused immediately?
Some plans are contract-locked or operationally entangled; staged cuts are often necessary.
❓ How should family/shared plans be treated?
Model them in friction unless you can realistically split or replace them soon.