As we approach a new season, Monzo has released a comprehensive study of UK subscription habits, revealing a significant rise in “subscription creep.” With the number of people using these services growing by 24% over the last year (reaching 1.54 million Monzo users), many households are finding it increasingly difficult to track where their money is going.
According to a survey of 2,000 UK adults, the average person now spends £38.18 per month on subscriptions a national total of £1.74 billion.
The cost of forgetfulness
One of the most striking findings is the “visibility gap.” Around one in five people (20%) admit they do not actually know how many subscriptions they are currently signed up for. This lack of oversight often leads to “ghost” charges for services that are no longer used or valued.
- Regional peak: “Forgetful subscribers” are most common in Yorkshire and the Humber (23%), followed by the West Midlands and Greater London (22%).
- The free trial trap: 38% of people (equivalent to 21 million UK adults) have been hit by an unexpected charge after forgetting to cancel a free trial.
- Generational divide: Gen Z (18–24) is the most susceptible, with 60% reporting they have been caught out by unexpected costs, compared to just 19% of Baby Boomers.
Shifting priorities: from binging to building
While 90% of subscription spending still goes toward streaming and entertainment with Netflix remaining the “must-have” for 33% of users the data shows a shift in where people are willing to spend more.
Monzo users are increasingly viewing subscriptions as investments rather than indulgences, with the highest per-user spending appearing in functional categories:
- Learning & productivity: £55 per user
- AI tools: £45 per user
- Fitness & groceries: categorized as “protected spending,” meaning users keep them longer and view them as essential
The March “refresh”
Interestingly, subscription spending peaks in March. This suggests that many users are already performing a “spring clean” replacing old entertainment packages with new productivity tools or fitness memberships.
Approximately 8.4 million UK adults plan to cancel at least one subscription in the next three months.
Monzo’s 5-step subscription audit
To help users regain control of their monthly spending, Monzo recommends a simple “Keep, Upgrade, or Cancel” framework:
- Spot them in seconds: Use your banking app’s “Trends” or “Scheduled Payments” feature to view all recurring charges
- The one-month rule: If you have not used a service in the last 30 days, consider cancelling it
- Optimize the “loves”: For frequently used services, check if annual plans or bundles reduce costs
- Use dedicated “pots”: Set aside money for essential subscriptions to avoid accidental overspending
- Review before the “spring peak”: Cancel unused free trials before the March billing cycle
