how often should freelancers do a subscription audit

Quarterly is the right cadence for most freelancers — that's four times a year, timed to the start of each quarter. This catches annual renewals before they hit, surfaces tools you picked up for a single project and never cancelled, and keeps your overhead from quietly growing. A quarterly audit takes about 20 minutes once you have a master list started. Do an extra check any time you finish a major project or sign a new client, since those moments are when subscription habits change the most.
Where this fits
This answer is from our guide Freelancer Subscription Audit Checklist: Stop Paying for Tools You Forgot You Had in the Freelancer spending series. For a working tool, try the free budget calculator.
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