Many subscriptions, memberships and services renew automatically, and it's easy to lose track of when each one is due. Before the new year begins, set aside an hour to look through your bank and card statements for anything recurring.

For each charge, ask whether you used it recently and whether you'd sign up again today at the current price. Streaming services, apps, gym memberships, software and cloud storage are common places for unused charges to hide. Turning off auto-renew now gives you time to decide rather than being charged by default.

This is also a good time to call providers for services you plan to keep, such as internet, phone and insurance. Ask whether there are better plans or promotions for current customers. Even a few small reductions can make next year's budget easier to manage, and starting the year with a clean list of recurring bills makes them easier to track.