Online refi calculator.

A good streaming audit is less about asking "Do I like this service?" and more about "Am I actually using it enough to justify the cost?" Here's a practical way to do it over 20–30 minutes.

1. Make a simple list

Create a table with:

• Service name
• Monthly cost (or annual cost ÷ 12)
• Renewal date
• Who uses it
• Primary reason you subscribed

For example:

Service	Monthly Cost	Who Uses It	Main Reason
Netflix	$16	Whole household	Original shows
Spotify	$12	Me	Daily music
Disney+	$10	Kids	Family movies

2. Check your actual usage

Look back over the last month or two and estimate:

• Days you used it
• Hours watched/listened
• Whether you actively chose it or just left it running

If a service was opened only once or twice, that's a sign it may not be earning its place.

3. Calculate a rough "cost per use"

For example:

• $15/month used 15 days = $1 per day used
• $20/month watched twice = $10 per viewing session

This isn't a perfect metric, but it highlights subscriptions that are expensive relative to how often you enjoy them.

4. Ask these questions

For each subscription:

• Would I notice if it disappeared tomorrow?
• Could I replace it with something I already have?
• Am I keeping it "just in case"?
• Is there one show or event I'm waiting for?

Many people discover they're paying months between seasons of the one show they actually wanted.

5. Rotate instead of stacking

Instead of keeping six video services year-round:

• Subscribe to one or two.
• Watch what you want.
• Cancel.
• Switch to another next month.

Since most services don't require long-term contracts, rotating can significantly reduce annual costs while still letting you watch the content you care about.

6. Look for bundled subscriptions

Check whether any services are already included through:

• Your mobile phone plan
• Internet provider
• Credit card benefits
• Retail memberships
• Family plans

You may be paying twice for the same service.

7. Set a cancellation threshold

A simple rule works well, such as:

• Keep if used weekly.
• Review if used monthly.
• Cancel if unused for 60–90 days.

You can always resubscribe later.

8. Repeat every few months

Set a calendar reminder every 3–6 months to review subscriptions. Streaming habits change, especially after finishing a favorite series or during sports seasons.

A useful mindset is to treat streaming services like a library rather than permanent utilities. Unlike electricity or internet access, most can be canceled and restarted in minutes, so there's little downside to paying only when you're actively using them.

The short answer is: it depends on why you're using it. An 84-month (7-year) auto loan has become much more common than it was a decade ago because vehicle prices and interest rates have risen. That said, it's often more expensive overall and carries more financial risk.

Here are the trade-offs:

An 84-month loan can make sense if:

• The payment comfortably fits your budget.
• You plan to keep the vehicle for many years (ideally longer than the loan).
• You get a competitive interest rate.
• You're buying a reliable vehicle with a long expected lifespan.
• You have a meaningful down payment to reduce the amount financed.

It can become a financial trap if:

• You're stretching to afford a vehicle that's beyond your budget.
• You have little or no down payment.
• The interest rate is high.
• You expect to trade in every 3–5 years. Long loans often leave borrowers owing more than the car is worth (negative equity), making the next purchase more expensive.
• You're focusing only on the monthly payment instead of the total cost.

For example:

• $40,000 loan
  • 60 months at 6%: about $773/month, total interest around $6,400.
  • 84 months at 6%: about $584/month, total interest around $9,000.

The longer loan saves nearly $190 per month, but costs roughly $2,600 more in interest.

A useful way to think about it is this:

• If you need 84 months just to afford the payment, it's often a sign the vehicle may be too expensive.
• If you could afford a shorter loan but choose 84 months for flexibility—and you consistently make extra principal payments or invest the cash flow difference—that can be a reasonable strategy.

Many financial advisors suggest aiming for:

• A loan term of 60 months or less, if practical.
• A monthly car payment that doesn't strain your budget.
• Keeping the car long after it's paid off so you have years with no car payment.

So, 84-month loans are normal in today's market—they're no longer unusual—but "common" doesn't automatically mean "financially optimal." The right choice depends on your income, interest rate, down payment, and how long you plan to own the vehicle.

If you're considering a specific purchase, tell me:

• the vehicle price,
• your down payment,
• the interest rate, and
• your approximate monthly income,

and I can help compare whether 60, 72, or 84 months is likely to be the better financial choice.