Finding the “Zombies” in My Bank Account: My First Subscription Audit 🧟‍♀️

Let’s be real: the beginning of the year usually comes with a bit of a financial hangover.

After the holiday blur of gifts, travel, and those "this will make my life easier" impulse buys, I finally sat down to open my bank statement. I was nervous. As a software engineer, my life is built on tools and apps. I’m a sucker for a "Start Free Trial" button, and somewhere along the way, I became a passive payer.

I wasn't being reckless; I was just busy. So, instead of beating myself up, I decided to get curious. I went on a hunt for the "Zombies."

What Exactly Are "Zombie" Costs?

Zombie costs are those recurring payments for things you:

• Forgot to cancel after a 7-day trial.
• Signed up for during a "future-me" productivity spurt.
• Don't even use anymore but keep paying for because "it's only $10."

For me, the culprits were a Monarch Money account I wasn't checking, a couple of dating apps I thought I'd deleted, and a CapCut subscription from a one-off video project.

The "10-Year Leak"

The math is what really stung. A "small" $15/month subscription is **$1,800 over a decade**. When I compared that to my actual earnings using this Take-Home Pay Calculator, it didn't feel like a small charge anymore. It felt like a leak in my boat.

My 3-Step "Zombie Hunt"

If you want to clear the deck, checking your primary bank app isn't enough. You have to look in the shadows.

1. The Inbox Deep-Dive

Search your email for keywords like "trial," "receipt," "invoice," or "subscription." I found three trials that were about to convert to paid plans just by doing this.

Pro Tip: Use a tool like Unroll.me to see a list of every newsletter and service hitting your inbox.

2. The Smartphone Audit

Many charges hide under generic names like "Apple" or "Google."

• On iPhone: Go to Settings > [Your Name] > Subscriptions.
• On Android: Open the Play Store > Profile Icon > Payments & Subscriptions. I found a meditation app here that I hadn't opened since 2024.

3. The "Ghost" Card Check

Check those credit cards you rarely use. Because they aren't part of your daily "mental math," they are the perfect hiding spot for annual fees.

Should You Keep It or Kill It?

To make it easy, I used a simple "Value Framework" to decide what stayed:

Want a template to track your audit? I created a Subscription Audit Spreadsheet you can copy, or download the Excel version to use offline.

Once you've cleared the dead weight, try plugging your new numbers into a 50/30/20 Budget Calculator to see how much faster you can hit your actual goals.

Why Is Canceling So Hard?

If you feel frustrated, it's not you—it's Dark Patterns. Many companies intentionally hide the cancel button or force you into a live chat just to stop a $5 charge. Don't let the friction win.

Tools to Help You Clean Up

• Subscription Audit Spreadsheet: Track your subscriptions, costs, and decisions using the "Gut Check" framework. Download the Excel version if you prefer.
• SteadySpend Monthly Budget Calculator: To see the big picture of your spending.
• Monarch Money: To sync all your accounts and spot recurring charges in one place.
• Rocket Money: A great external alternative specifically for identifying and canceling subscriptions.

The Bottom Line

This isn't about being perfect or living a "no-fun" life. It’s about technical debt for your wallet. Just like cleaning up unused code, cleaning up your subscriptions makes the whole system run smoother.

Even if you only find one $10 zombie today, that’s$120 back in your pocket this year. 🥂