List of Irregular Expenses

Feel like something is always blowing your budget? Irregular expenses are likely to blame. You may have a handle on the ones that come up monthly, but the ones that pop up every now and then weren't in your budget. Take a look at this long list of irregular expenses, and make sure you've included everything in your budget that you should:

Your insurance expenses may be billed monthly or you may elect to pay them just annually or quarterly.

• Homeowner’s/renter’s insurance premium: This might have been rolled into your mortgage payment, but once you have paid it off or refinanced, it might need to be paid separately.
• Auto insurance premiums
• Life insurance premiums
• Disability insurance premiums
• Health insurance premiums (if you buy your own policy)
• Dental insurance premiums
• Vision insurance premiums (if you buy your own policy)

If you don't pay as you go, these can turn into large expenses you will have to fund once a year or quarterly.

• Estimated tax payments
• Property tax: This might be paid out of escrow by your mortgage company, but if the tax went up you will have to make up the difference.
• Income tax payment (if not enough was withheld)
• Retirement contributions: if you wait to make that tax-deferred contribution annually
• Charitable contributions

You need to take care of your dwelling, and these expenses can come up by surprise.

• Home maintenance
• Home repairs
• New appliances, repair or replacement
• Furniture replacement and additions
• Bedding, kitchenware, linens
• Lawn care
• Garden expenses
• Tree care and removal
• Heating oil/propane fill ups
• Homeowners’ association dues

There are many expenses associated with a car, truck or motorcycle beyond gas and insurance.

• Vehicle maintenance
• Vehicle repairs
• Tires
• Vehicle registrations
• Vehicle inspections

• Pay-as-you go cell phone minutes
• Replacing your cell phone to update it or when lost or stolen

• Tuition bills
• Class dues
• School and office supplies
• School pictures and yearbooks
• Field trips

Even if you have a good insurance plan, you can rack up unexpected expenses.

• Yearly check-ups (medical and vision)
• Glasses/contacts
• Medical bills
• Dental cleanings
• Dental work
• Insurance deductibles (enough to cover your largest deductible)

Your best friend can also cost you irregular expenses.

• Pet check-ups, vaccinations, prescriptions
• Pet grooming
• Pet licensing
• Pet boarding
• Veterinary health insurance
• Emergency veterinary care

What you wear and how you look can cost you money.

• Hair care, nail care
• Clothing and shoes
• Jewelry
• Cosmetics

• Vacations/Travel, including transportation, lodging, food, admission fees
• Magazine subscriptions
• Newspaper subscriptions
• TV/movie streaming subscriptions (ex: Amazon Prime)
• Season tickets/Season passes
• Fine dining events
• One-time tickets (to concerts, plays, conferences, theme parks, festivals, etc.)
• Home electronics, computers, mobile devices
• Hobby supplies
• Sports activity supplies, clothing, shoes, equipment, fees
• Membership fees (for clubs, gym, work-related organizations, warehouse clubs, co-ops, etc.)

If you are not sure how to go about adding these irregular expenses to your monthly budget, here's help:

• How to Budget for Irregular Expenses