Another often overlooked trick that i have found is called subscription creep. Subscription creep occurs when you are signed up for a free trial or a very inexpensive subscription plan and then later in time, the company has added on features, fees, with no agreement from you or even with your knowledge. A customer will unknowingly be automatically renewed or be charged a surprise fee with little to no disclosure as to why the charges were applied. Many people forget to cancel their subscription service or do not read the fine print of the contract they entered into and before long they are paying much more than they originally intended. You have to be aware of convenience fees also. The reason they are so sneaky is that there will typically be a small fee added to your total cost after you finish shopping like during check out. At first you think you have gotten an amazing deal on something, so you end up having to pay additional fees for things such as the option of paying by credit card, for a particular delivery type. When these types of fees add up, they really can start to add up. I would suggest always keeping track of your accounts and payment cycles. Check your bills regularly and do not assume anything about what you are being charged. Staying informed will help you avoid costly mistakes in the long term.
Hi, I'm Gary Gray, Co-Founder of Coupon Chief, where we provide coupons, promo codes, and deals for thousands of people and retailers, and educate on the importance of proper handling of personal finances. I have an engineering and analytical background, and now apply those skills to helping people save money on everyday purchases. I was previously featured in media outlets such as GoBankingRates, Yahoo, The Penny Hoarder, and others. I'd love to chat more about how to avoid those sneaky charges and help you save money in the long run. You can reach out directly via email: garygray@couponchief.com Looking forward to hearing from you. Best, G. Gray