Your 20-Minute Playbook for Total Financial Control

So, you've hopefully signed up to our Trial and have seen how an alert works. Now for the most powerful step: building your own financial command centre, aka the dashboard.

We know what you might be thinking, that this is the "homework" part, the chore of hunting down every single bill and renewal.

But we want you to see it differently. This isn't a chore. It is a powerful, one-time investment in your future peace of mind.

This 20-minute session is the single most important step you can take to go from financial anxiety to total control. By the end of it, you will have created your financial command centre, a single source of truth that will work for you silently in the background, forever.

Ready? Let's do this.

Step 1: The Setup (2 Minutes)

Every important task needs the right setup.

1. Grab a drink. Coffee, tea, water, your choice.
2. Put on some music or a podcast. Get comfortable.
3. Open two tabs in your browser: Your SubHound dashboard and your primary email inbox.

Have your phone handy with your mobile banking app open.

You are now prepared. The hunt is on.

Step 2: Start with the Easy Wins (5 Minutes)

We're going to work in passes, from easiest to hardest. As you find a recurring payment, add it to your SubHound dashboard. You only need three things for now: the Name, the Next Renewal Date, and the Price.

Start with what you know off the top of your head. Don't even look anywhere else. Just add them.

• Netflix
• Spotify
• Your mobile phone provider (O2, EE, etc.)
• Your broadband provider (Sky, Virgin, etc.)

Momentum Check: You should have 3-5 items on your dashboard already. Feels good, right?

Step 3: Hunt Through Your Email (5 Minutes)

Now, go to your email inbox. Use the search bar. This is your secret weapon. Search for these keywords, they will uncover dozens of payments you've forgotten:

"subscription confirmation"

"your invoice is ready"

"renews on"

"welcome to"

"order summary"

"direct debit"

Momentum Check: This is where you'll find the SaaS trials (Notion, Adobe) and forgotten annual software. Add everything you find.

Step 4: Sweep Your App Stores (3 Minutes)

This is a critical step. Many of your subscriptions are hiding in plain sight on your phone.

• On iPhone: Go to Settings > [Your Name] > Subscriptions.
• On Android: Go to the Google Play Store > Profile Icon > Payments & subscriptions > Subscriptions.

You will find a definitive list of every app you are paying for. Add them to your SubHound dashboard.

Step 5: Scan Your Bank Statement (3 Minutes)

Open your mobile banking app and scroll through the last 30-60 days of transactions. Look for familiar names you might have missed. Pay special attention to:

• Amazon: Was that a one-off purchase or the start of a Prime trial?
• Any other recurring payment that didn't send you an email.

Momentum Check: You are now building a truly comprehensive picture of your finances.

Step 6: Add the Real-World Renewals (2 Minutes)

Finally, think beyond the digital. What are the big, non-software renewals you absolutely cannot miss?

• Car Insurance
• Home / Contents Insurance
• Domain Name Renewals (e.g., GoDaddy, Namecheap)
• MOT / Road Tax
• Rent / Mortgage Payment
• Council Tax

Step 7: The Payoff (Your New Command Centre)

Congratulations. You have successfully hunted down your recurring payments. The hard part is over. Take a look at your SubHound dashboard.

It's no longer an empty app; it's a reflection of your financial life. You can see your estimated monthly and yearly spend at a glance. You have a single, calm, clear list of every date that matters.

You have done the hard work once. From this moment on, you don't have to hold all of this in your head anymore.

So, what's next?

1. Arm Your Guardian: Go down your list and set a Mindful Alert for any high-stakes renewal you absolutely cannot miss. This is your primary line of defence.
2. Flag Your Watchlist: Use the Flag on any free trials or tricky renewals you want to keep a special eye on.
3. Build the Habit: From now on, the process is simple. When you sign up for a new service, take 10 seconds to add it to your SubHound dashboard. When you cancel something, a single click will Archive it away.

Congratulations. You've officially traded financial anxiety for calm, effortless control.