When My Debit Card Got Hacked, I Accidentally Saved Hundreds
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It started with a fraud alert.
My bank flagged a suspicious charge, froze my account, and sent a new debit card overnight. In the moment, it felt like a hassle. I had to reset my payment methods, wait for the replacement card, and deal with a string of "payment declined" notifications.
But within a few days, those declines started revealing something useful: All the subscriptions I'd forgotten about.
The unexpected audit
One by one, apps and services tried to charge the old card and failed. Each alert forced me to make a decision: Do I actually want to keep paying for this?
It turned out I'd been auto-renewing everything from an old photo-storage plan to an equestrian streaming service I've never heard of. By the time I finished reviewing them all, I'd canceled more than a dozen recurring charges. My checking account balance thanked me, and it's more cash that I can automatically transfer to my high-yield savings account every month.
The best high-yield savings accounts are still earning APYs around 4.00%. Check out this list of our favorites to find an account that will reward you for the money you save.
Why this happens so easily
Most of us treat subscriptions like background noise. They quietly run month after month until something interrupts them. And because debit cards are directly linked to your bank account, the money disappears instantly.
That's what made this fraud incident weirdly helpful. It forced me to hit pause, literally. I had to decide which payments were worth restarting and which ones weren't. That quick review saved me a few hundred dollars a year.
What I'm doing differently now
I've switched most recurring payments to a credit card instead. It keeps my checking account safer and gives me stronger fraud protection, plus I earn rewards on money I'm spending anyway.
If you go that route, decide if you want to prioritize cash back or travel rewards. Each category has its own benefits, but it can be hard to find the best card for your spending and lifestyle. Check out some of the best cash back cards and the top travel cards on the market to start your research.
The small hassle that paid off
Getting my debit card hacked was annoying. But it also gave me a clean slate -- one that showed how easy it is for "set it and forget it" spending to pile up.
Sometimes a little disruption is the best financial reset you can get.
Our Research Expert
Jake FitzGerald is a full-time Editorial Strategist and Personal Finance Writer at Motley Fool Money, leading content production and distribution while also writing about credit cards, bank accounts, and other financial products. He has more than a decade of experience editing and shaping financial content to give readers clear, trustworthy money advice. His work focuses on delivering practical insights that empower people to make smarter financial decisions. Off the clock, he’s a fan of college football tailgates and still loyal to his favorite putter -- despite what his short game suggests.