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Stream/Area:
-
Subject:
-
Paper ID:
IJSREM67858
Volume:
10 |
10 |
Oct 2026
Pages:
1-17
Publication Frequency:
Monthly (12 issues per year)
License:International Journal of Scientific Research in Engineering and Management follows the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 (CC BY 4.0) License, allowing free use and distribution with proper attribution.
Department of Bachelor of Business Administration
K.L University
Department of Bachelor of Business Administration
K.L University
Streaming plans, cloud storage, food-delivery memberships and shopping clubs have turned small recurring payments into an ordinary part of household spending. This study asks a simple question: is that spending actually linked to how much people manage to save? Primary data were gathered from 111 respondents through a structured online questionnaire between 25 September and 9 October 2026. Most respondents were students or salaried employees. The responses were examined using descriptive statistics, Cronbach’s alpha, Spearman correlation, multiple regression, Mann-Whitney U, Kruskal-Wallis and Chi-square tests. The picture that emerged is more nuanced than the common belief that subscriptions drain savings. More than half of the respondents perceived a high impact of subscription spending on their savings (composite mean = 3.48 out of 5), yet neither the amount spent nor the number of subscriptions was associated with lower savings. The raw correlation between spending and savings was slightly positive and not significant (ρ = .18), and it disappeared once income was taken into account. Income was by far the strongest correlate of savings (ρ = .57). Respondents who felt a stronger impact reported better financial management (ρ = .54), whereas habits such as keeping unused plans, renewing automatically and signing up on promotional offers were linked with weaker financial management (β = −.35). Students felt the burden of subscriptions more strongly than salaried employees even though their spending was similar, and 49.5 per cent of all respondents were not at all or only slightly aware of their total monthly subscription bill. The study concludes that the real issue is less the size of subscription bills than the awareness, budgeting and renewal habits that surround them.
KEYWORDS
This study set out to find out whether subscription spending reduces personal savings. In a sample of 111 respondents, the answer is that the connection is far weaker than people assume. More than half the respondents believe that subscriptions eat into their savings, but neither the amount spent nor the number of subscriptions held is linked to lower savings once income is considered. Income, and the stage of life that comes with it, is what separates savers from non-savers. What does stand out is the role of habits. Respondents who keep unused plans, renew automatically and sign up on impulse tend to manage their money less actively, and many do not know what their subscriptions cost in total. Students feel the weight of subscriptions more than salaried employees, even though they spend about the same. For the consumer, the practical lesson is to keep subscriptions visible and under review. For educators and providers, the opportunity lies in building awareness and making renewal decisions simpler. Subscriptions may not be the main threat to savings, but unmanaged ones are an easy and avoidable leak.
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Publication Date
10/12/2026
Peer Review Type
Double-Blind Peer Review
Review Rounds: 2
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