If you don't want to integrate your banking it sounds like you want to use a spreadsheet
this post was submitted on 12 Oct 2023
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Privacy
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I guess you're right, yeah. I was hoping someone had figured out a different solution, perhaps integrating directly with the individual subscription providers. But I guess that's way too broad of a scope, integrating with countless individual services.
At least a cross-platform, cloud backed "spreadsheet" would be nice to have though.
If they're always on the same day of the month, why not a calendar or a spreadsheet? I have a personal calendar with my paydays and bills listed on it (power is due on X, renter's insurance on Y, I get paid on B, Patreon on Z, and so forth).
If not, why not just a local-only spreadsheet? Recurring payment tracking is as good a use as any.
I wish they were all on the same day of the month...
Dates aren't a big concern though. What I was hoping for is something that would update automatically to some extent if (say) some amounts change, or a payment is missed. But I guess indeed that's basically impossible without access to my payment data.
Given that I have to update it manually though, I would at least like it to be synced remotely. So that I can, say, check it from my laptop on a webpage or desktop app without redoing all the manual data input.
How about privacy.com?
It lets you create a virtual credit card for every subscription and the point is that you can cancel those with a single click, but it's also said to be a good way of keeping track of the subscriptions.
Oh yes privacy.com, may as well sign up to google docs, they only need to collect..
Your name email address phone number birth date government-issued identification number payment card and bank information Device Data hardware model operating system Location Cookies Beacons.. among others.
For my use case yes, that would defeat the purpose, but for what it's trying to do it kinda makes sense... At least, they have to do it to comply with payment regulations. And you're still only exposing your identity to one service with a decent reputation, rather than plenty of possibly shadier ones. It seems like a fair tradeoff if what you're looking for is privacy from services you want to pay for.
Yeah I was being a bit facetious I admit and I agree what you said is 100%. No data is safe these days and I guess I was trying to outline the fact that signing up to privacy.com is no different than signing up to a new banking institution. It's who and what you trust in the end and for what it's worth, privacy.com has a great concept and it would be a great option to use if trying to avoid personalcredit card scams and fraudulent activity.
Oh yeah, you're right on that. If I'm looking for privacy from the subscription manager signing up with a service like this is a terrible choice, because it is fully a financial institution.
I'm not American, it seems to be available in the US only...