10 Forgotten Budget Expenses

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Do you find yourself frustrated at the end of the month because of your finances, despite following a budget? If you’ve been adhering to your budget every month but aren’t getting the results you expected, chances are you left something out. There are several forgotten budget expenses that could be the reason why you can’t get out of the red.

So you’ve created a household budget and you’ve remained faithful down to the very penny every month. Even with all your sacrifice and hard work, you still can’t get ahead financially. Something doesn’t add up, and you’ve already questioned and ruled out any suspected family members. What else could be the culprit? Read over this list of forgotten budget expenses you may have overlooked when creating your budget.

Irregular bills

Remember that even if you pay for something only once a year it still needs to be accounted for somewhere in your budget. Determine how much you will spend each year, divide it by 12 and set aside money each month to cover your costs for the entire year. For me, this category includes automobile insurance and car taxes/registration fees. What bills do you pay for annually or biannually? Make sure they’re in included in your current budget!

Subscriptions/memberships

What subscriptions and/or memberships have you forgotten to include in your monthly budget? Did you forget to include Netflix, the gym, your favorite magazines or Amazon Prime? Make a list and check it twice!

Clothing/shoes

Many people forget to include money for clothing and shoes in their budgets because it’s not something they anticipate buying every month. Just like irregular bills, you should include money each month for a clothing fund so you’ll have it there when you need it.

Gifts

This is likely the top forgotten budget item. I’m not talking just Christmas gifts, but birthdays, anniversaries, graduations, etc. Put aside money to cover those costs when the occasions arise.

Medical Bills

None of us want to get sick, but you’ll need a doctor at least once a year for a checkup. Make sure you’ve included a medical fund in your budget for when the sniffles take over and you’re forced to visit a doctor at other times, too. You should also include money to cover medication costs, including over-the-counter medicines you normally use.

Cosmetics

Sorry ladies, but we know the cost of cosmetics can really add up over time. If you don’t keep track and budget your spending when it comes to cosmetics, you can easily go well over budget every month. Been there, done that.

Pets

Don’t forget to include pet costs in your monthly budget. That includes money for any yearly vet visits, monthly medications, food, and yes…even treats! If you’re a bird-lover like me, don’t forget the cost of birdseed, feeders, etc.

Vehicle Maintenance

Did you forget about routine vehicle maintenance like oil changes and tire rotations? How about the costs you don’t always prepare for like new tires, spark plugs, brake pads, etc.? Some of these repairs can be costly so it’s best to be prepared with a vehicle maintenance fund.

Home maintenance

What home services to you have to pay for each year…pest control, HVAC service, lawn care? You should include these services along with the cost of maintenance you do for your home on your own. Don’t forget supplies like air filters, fuel for the lawn mower, 

Vacation

Include fun money in your budget! Everyone needs to get away every once and a while, so having a vacation fund makes sure you have the money to do so when the time comes.

Did you leave any of these expenses out of your budget? Now’s the perfect time to go back and add these forgotten budget expenses so you can be successful with next month’s budget.  What expenses would you add to this list?

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