20 Things That Can Ruin Your Budget

Forget some of these from your budget and you’re pretty much done for.

Today, we're diving into 20 things that might be missing from your budget. Trust me, forgetting these can really screw with your financial goals—I've learned this the hard way! 

Okay, let's get real. You sit down, make a perfect budget spreadsheet, and you're feeling good—until life says, 'Haha, cute spreadsheet!' and suddenly you've blown your budget. Sound familiar? 

Today we’re going to fix that once and for all. 

20 Sneaky Things You're Probably Missing From Your Budget: 

1. Subscriptions & Memberships: 
   Netflix, Hulu, Spotify, Amazon Prime—these add up quick! Be brutally honest about how many subscriptions you're actually using.
2. Annual Expenses: 
   Things like car registration, property taxes, or annual fees—they seem far away, but they'll sneak up on you. I just paid $531 for my parking pass for the train station. 
3. Home Maintenance & Repairs: 
   Listen, homes have feelings, apparently, and they act up at the worst times.
4. Medical Expenses & Prescriptions: 
   Those co-pays, prescriptions, and random visits for aches and sniffles aren't cheap. I have my flexible spending that has been a life saver. Remember the US is the only country where people go bankrupt over medical debt.
5. Pet Expenses: 
   Your fur baby is adorable, but they're also little furry money pits.
6. Self-care & Grooming: 
   Haircuts, skincare, and pedicures. I do budget my pedis. I don’t do manicures. I’ve discovered press on nails. 
7. Gifts & Special Occasions: 
   Birthdays and special happen every single year—yet we somehow forget. This year I’ve got my nephew's college graduation. 
8. Clothing & Shoes: 
   Clothes wear out, shoes break down. You’ll need new ones—plan ahead!
9. Back-to-School Expenses: 
   If you have kids, you know those supply lists are no joke. As my son’s gotten older, supplies have gotten cheaper. 
10. Excessive Eating Out & Coffee Runs: 
    I’m looking at you, spontaneous latte habit.
11. Holiday Spending: 
    December 25th comes the same time every year. The food cost alone.  
12. Replacement of Household Items: 
    Microwaves die, toasters catch fire (don't ask). Keep a little buffer.
13. Entertainment & Activities: 
    Concerts, movies, or that pottery class you swear you’ll take.
14. Emergencies: 
    Emergencies. They never RSVP, yet they always show up.
15. Work Expenses: 
    That office potluck or gift exchange you didn't budget for? Now you do! 
16. Parking & Tolls: 
    Little things add up—especially when you’re paying just to sit in traffic.
17. Travel & Vacations: 
    Even staycations cost money—don’t underestimate them.
18. Personal Spending & Fun Money: 
    Give yourself an allowance. Life's too short to be joyless.
19. Bank Fees & Late Fees: 
    Let's avoid giving banks extra money. Budget for it, or better yet—eliminate it. FYI bank fees have been raised. 
20. Education & Courses: Investing in yourself is crucial—budget for lifelong learning.  

Bottom line: budgets fail because we don’t budget realistically. Life has so many hidden costs, and acknowledging them upfront keeps you in control.