I don’t subscribe to many magazines anymore. Occasionally, I’ll use loyalty rewards from places like My Coke Rewards to pick up a free magazine subscription, but most of the time, I tend to read them at my library (or download them through my library’s subscription to Zinio for free) or browse my mom’s magazines when I’m visiting at her house.

But there are a few magazines we subscribe to that aren’t readily available through cheapskate means.  So I try to get a great deal on them when I see one.  Those great deals often come with automatically-renewing subscriptions that renew at full price. (Boo.)

So here’s my trick:  First of all, I always cancel automatically renewing magazine subscriptions by contacting customer service before I am billed.  I write a reminder on my calendar so I don’t forget.

And secondly, I am willing to allow my magazine subscriptions to lapse.  I ignore all of those “renew now so you can continue to receive your magazine” notices in my mailbox and let the magazine subscription expire.  After it has expired, they either offer me a really great subscription rate to get me back, or I can find a new introductory rate and sign up again.

You have to be willing to accept that there will be a gap in service (anywhere from 4 to 8 weeks), but when you are able to save 50% or more on your magazine subscription with just a little bit of patience, it’s worth it.

Check out our other cheap tricks to help you save time and money and be sure to share your own cheap trick with us.  You just might see it end up in a future Cheap Trick post!

Note:  This post contains affiliate links that help support this site at no additional cost to you. Please read our full disclosure policy for more info.