From streaming to gym memberships, monthly subscriptions are adding up for the average consumer.

Answer: $219 per month. They think they spend $86.

Questions:

• Which subscription services do you think are essential, and which are luxuries?
• How should someone decide which subscription services to keep and which to cancel?
• What is the opportunity cost - what do people potentially give up by spending on subscriptions?

Here are the ready-to-go slides for this Question of the Day you can use in your classroom.

Behind the numbers (ReSubs): 

"The global subscription economy reached $536 billion in 2025 and is projected to hit $859 billion in 2026, according to Fortune Business Insights. The average American spends $219/month on subscriptions across 8.2 active services, but estimates only $86 — a 2.5x perception gap. Gen Z leads spending at $377/month, followed by Millennials at $276/month. Streaming video and food delivery dominate spending categories, with the average household paying for 4.5 streaming platforms at a combined $69/month. Here is what the latest data shows."

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One way to avoid losing track of your subscriptions is to review your credit card statement. Here's the NGPF Activity - FINE PRINT: Credit Card Statement to teach your students how to interpret this statement.

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About the Author

Dave Martin

Dave joins NGPF with 15 years of teaching experience in math and computer science. After joining the New York City Teaching Fellows program and earning a Master's degree in Education from Pace University, his teaching career has taken him to New York, New Jersey and a summer in the north of Ghana. Dave firmly believes that financial literacy is vital to creating well-rounded students that are prepared for a complex and highly competitive world. During what free time two young daughters will allow, Dave enjoys video games, Dungeons & Dragons, cooking, gardening, and taking naps.