Budgeting for Digital Subscriptions When You Live Alone: A Guide

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Alice

Updated on

September 24, 2026

Budgeting for Digital Subscriptions When You Live Alone: A Guide

How much should you budget for digital subscriptions if you live alone?

Here is an estimated monthly budget for someone who wants to subscribe to a paid service in each of the major digital categories.

Category|Approximate monthly budget|Example of use
Movies and TV Shows | €5–15 | A major streaming service
Music | €6–12 | Ad-free and offline music
Productivity | €0–15 | Editing, office work, or creative work
Video Games | €2–€15 | Online games or game catalog
Cloud|€0–10|Photos, documents, and backups
Security | €2–8 | VPN, antivirus, or account protection
Education|0 to 15 €|Languages, courses, or educational platforms
Well-being | €0–15 | Exercise, meditation, or sleep
Press|€5–€15|A digital newspaper or magazine
AI|€0–25|AI assistant or creative tools

For your first apartment, a budget of €40 to €70 per month is a reasonable amount if you choose a few useful services and skip the ones you use only occasionally.

What subscription plans should you choose if you live alone?

The pitfall, when you start paying your own bills, is to look at each subscription separately. But it’s the total that counts.

Here are a few examples of services you can find in the various categories.

Category|Example|What is it used for?
Movies and TV Shows | Prime Video | Watch Movies and TV Shows On Demand
Music|Deezer|Listen to music without ads
Productivity | CapCut Pro | Edit and Create Videos
Video Games | Nintendo Switch Online | Play Online and Access Nintendo Benefits
Cloud | Google One | Store photos, files, and backups
Security|Proton|Securing Your Connection and Using a VPN
Education|Duolingo|Learn a Language
Well-being | Strava | Track Your Fitness Activities
Press | Le Figaro | Access the digital edition
AI|Gemini 2|Using Google's AI Features

Most of these services also offer a free plan, either for individual use or for multiple users. So before you pay, always check to see if you really need the premium version.

The budget varies mainly depending on your profile

A student who primarily uses a music platform, a streaming service, and cloud storage won't have the same budget as a content creator who also uses CapCut Pro, an AI tool, and several professional services.

Profile | Major Subscriptions | Indicative Digital Budget
Essential|Streaming + Music + Cloud|€20–35/month
Balanced | Streaming + music + cloud + games or news + one additional service | €40–70/month
Features|Various categories, AI, sports, news, and creative tools|€70–120/month
Intensive | Numerous premium services and professional tools | €120 and up per month

These amounts are budget estimates, not a pricing schedule for the platforms. They are primarily intended to help you determine how much of your housing budget can be allocated to subscriptions.

Subscription-sharing solution: Spliiit

Subscriptions available at Spliiit

Spliiit It works on a simple principle: a " Owner " shares the available seats in their subscription with fellow subscribers, and everyone chips in to cover the cost.

The marketplace currently offers more than 300 services that can be shared. The list changes based on available offers and the terms set by the various service providers.

Among the services currently available on the marketplace are:

Category|Service offered on Spliiit|Sharing available|Point to check
Movies and TV Shows | Prime Video | Yes | Plan and Sharing Terms
Music|Deezer|Yes|Compatible plan
Productivity|CapCut|Yes|Proposed Plan
Video Games|Nintendo Switch Online|Yes|Family Plan
Cloud|Google One|Yes|Plan and storage capacity
Security|Proton|Yes|Compatible plan
Education|Duolingo|Yes|Family Plan
Wellness|Strava|Yes|Offer available on the marketplace
Press|Le Figaro|Yes|Proposed plan
AI|Gemini 2|Yes, depending on the country|Available offers are subject to change

⚠️ Just because a service is listed on the marketplace doesn't mean that all of its plans can be shared. You should always review the offer and its terms before signing up for a subscription.

How does sharing work?

How it works depends on the service.

Invitation link: The web Owner t then asks for the co-subscriber's email address to invite them to join the subscription.
Sharing login credentials: The Owner website provides the login information specified for the service.

Spliiit It therefore clearly distinguishes between the roles of the “ Owner ” and the “co-subscriber.” The “ Owner ” offers available seats, while the “co-subscriber” joins an existing offer and shares in the costs.

How much can you save with Spliiit ?

It is better to think in terms of a budget rather than promised savings.

Let's take a simple example: you use ten subscription categories, but only six of them offer a shareable plan that meets your needs.

Your budget may then change as follows:

Situation|Estimated Monthly Budget|Rationale
No sharing|€40–70|Individual subscriptions
With sharing|€10–20|Subscription-sharing solution

The result therefore depends more on your selection than on the number of subscriptions. Sharing five services you don't need doesn't make your budget any more effective.

The main benefit of Spliiit is that it allows you to search for an available spot when a service you want to use offers a plan that supports carpooling.

Mistakes to Avoid When Moving Out on Your Own

Moving into your first home is often a chance to completely reevaluate your spending. There are a few habits you can adopt to prevent subscription services from becoming a hidden expense.

Signing up for multiple platforms at the same time: Start with the services you actually use
Forget about annual subscriptions: break down their cost into monthly payments to figure out your actual budget
Paying for a premium plan out of habit: Check regularly to see which features you actually use
Mixing multiple accounts and devices: A multi-user plan does not automatically mean that all uses are permitted
Ignore the service rules: Share only a plan that complies with the applicable terms and conditions
Never take stock: checking once every three or six months is enough to identify unused subscriptions

FAQ on Budgeting for Digital Subscriptions When Living Alone

How much should you budget each month for digital subscriptions?

For a first home, a budget of 40 to 70 € per month can be a good starting point for several common services. You should then adjust it based on your usage and your overall budget.

Which subscriptions are most useful when you live alone?

There is no one-size-fits-all list. Streaming, music, cloud services, security, and certain productivity tools can meet common needs. News, sports, education, and AI services depend more on your habits.

Can you share a subscription if you live alone?

Yes, when a plan and the terms of service allow for multiple users or seats and the offer is available for sharing. Spliiit allows users to join available subscriptions on its marketplace as a co-subscriber.

How can I tell if a subscription is available on Spliiit ?

Search for the service directly in the marketplace. Available offers may change, particularly when platforms modify their plans or revenue-sharing rules.

Is it better to cancel a subscription or share it?

The two options are designed for different situations. If you hardly ever use it, deleting it usually makes more sense. If you use it regularly and a compatible plan is available at Spliiit, upgrading to a higher tier may help reduce the portion of your budget allocated to this service.