MaPS research finds one in three UK adults have paid for an unused subscription

The Money and Pensions Service (MaPS) published research on 2 November 2026 finding that around one in three (31%) UK adults have paid for a subscription or service they no longer use¹. The same survey found almost half (48%) of people have hidden or downplayed their spending from a partner or family member¹.

The figures were released during Talk Money Week, MaPS's annual UK-wide campaign, which runs from 2 to 6 November 2026 under the theme "It All Counts"¹. The research was conducted by YouGov between 24 and 29 September 2026, among a sample of 2,134 UK adults aged 18 and over, with boosts in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland¹. Results were weighted to be representative of the UK adult population on age, gender, region, ethnicity and social grade¹.

Among those who have hidden or downplayed spending, the survey found gifts and presents came top (40%), followed by clothes and fashion items (37%) and general online shopping (31%)¹.

Zoe Burns-Shore, Executive Director for Customer Delivery at MaPS, said:

The release also included a case study. Carolyn Pearson, 61, who is self-employed and lives in Leeds, said she used MoneyHelper's budget tracker, which she said showed her she was in the red each month¹. She also said she renegotiated her energy tariff and would probably save about £500 a year¹.

Why it matters for households

The 31% figure covers adults across the UK who have paid for a subscription or service they no longer use, so the cost is borne by households in every nation, not a single group¹. The 48% figure concerns spending concealed from a partner or family member, which the survey breaks down by category of purchase rather than by amount spent¹. The research does not report how much money is involved in unused subscriptions, how many subscriptions are affected per person, or which types of subscription are most commonly left running; none of this has been reported¹.

MaPS describes itself as an arms-length body sponsored by the Department for Work and Pensions and funded by levies on both the financial services industry and pension schemes¹. Its free guidance service, MoneyHelper, can be contacted on 0800 011 3797, with a Welsh-language service on 0800 756 1012¹. General consumer rights information is covered in our consumer protection pages.

What happens next

Talk Money Week runs until 6 November 2026¹. MaPS has set out five steps it is promoting during the campaign, including reviewing energy bills, checking benefit entitlement, budgeting, talking about money and taking one manageable action¹. No further research publication dates have been reported¹.