A recent poll has found that Brits are planning to be more ruthless with their discretionary spending in 2026 – with unwanted subscriptions one of the top things they plan to bin, alongside takeaways and nights out.
Saving and investment platform Moneybox polled over 2,000 adults, looking at changes to their spending as well as their feelings about their finances for the year ahead. Their findings show that average monthly bills increased by 14%, from £319.09 to £355.99, while rent/mortgage rose by a whopping 24%, from £531.97 to £657.58, between 2024 and 2025. With wage growth trailing this at around 4.6%, according to data from the Office of National Statistics, it’s clear that the pressure on household finances is showing no signs of easing.
The challenge for subscription retailers
This shift comes at a challenging moment for retail subscription services, which have already seen a 3.5% year‑on‑year decline, according to Recurly’s latest State of Subscriptions report. As consumers look for quick wins to trim their monthly outgoings, retail memberships and subscription boxes risk becoming easy targets. To stay ahead, Recurly’s report suggests that retailers will need to prioritise flexibility, including options to pause rather than cancel, downgrade plans, or tailor delivery frequency. Services that demonstrate clear value, convenience and personalisation will be best positioned to retain customers in what is shaping up to be a far more cautious consumer climate.
Commenting on the survey, Brian Byrnes, director of personal finance at Moneybox, said: “Regularly reviewing your spending is one of the simplest and most powerful ways to build better financial habits. Even modest mindset shifts like committing to spending 30 minutes a week on your personal finances can make a meaningful difference to your financial situation over time.”
With household budgets under sustained pressure, consumers are clearly preparing to make tougher spending choices in 2026 — and subscription services across sectors, including retail, will need to evolve rapidly if they want to remain in the “keep” rather than “cut” category.
Subscribe!
Our editor carefully curates two InternetRetailing newsletters a week filled with up-to-date news, analysis and research. In addition to this, there is a dedicated newsletter focusing on the subscription economy every second Wednesday – click here to subscribe for free. And why not follow us on LinkedIn to receive the latest updates on our research and analysis?
