the annual things no one ever thinks about

**ladykemma2** · 07-31-2008, 09:43 AM

that should be included in your monthly budget.

dave ramsey calls it a sinking fund, mary hunt calls it a freedom account, i believe these these budgetary items need to be planned in advance.

When i add up all the annual stuff, it comes to $ 536 biweekly. Yikes, that's money that would have been a "surprise" or coming from the emergency fund or put on the credit card.

in the old days i would have thought, yay, i have paid all the monthly bills, let's go shopping! and then the dishwasher breaks. in june, the comuter virus software and such all "update' to the tune of 54 bucks a pop.

here is my list of annual things i budget for:
escrow (taxes/insurance)
trash
home maintenance 3-5% of the value of the home
home owners association
flood insurance
oil change
car maintenance
car insurance
ez tag (toll road)
computer upkeep and updates
computer replacement
dr schenk
new car fund
optometrist
school startup
vet bills
xmas
dentist cleaning
car registration
car inspection
a/c heat maintenance annual

**Greebo** · 07-31-2008, 09:48 AM

Excellent point - thanks for splitting it out into its own topic!

**Russ** · 07-31-2008, 09:53 AM

Computer updates, such as windows updates should be free unless of course you are actually upgrading your computer.
I don't buy ANY anti virus software and never have any trouble. I use AVG free edition and Superantivirus. I also use Spybot Search and Destroy alse free.

As for annual bills, I like your list for the most part.
I have propane as one of my annual bills.
Oil changes is car maintenance.

**Ceashels** · 07-31-2008, 10:04 AM

great and timely post, thanks! My Mom wants to retire and she can't afford it just yet. I need to keep reminding her that she needs to pay off the mortgage FIRST! But she and I were just looking at her list of monthly and annual expenses and this will help.

**C@rol** · 07-31-2008, 10:14 AM

You're right. We do forget to add these yearly expenses into our budgets. Thanks for the reminder.

**Mom23boys** · 07-31-2008, 10:29 AM

That's a great list of things most of us forget about in our budgets. Thanks for the reminder!

**danni** · 07-31-2008, 10:33 AM

we have just started a slush fund for our annual stuff, but hadn't added in dental cleanings,optometrist or vet bills. Thanks for the reminder, I'm going to go and update it noW.

**ConnieD** · 08-01-2008, 10:04 AM

Another yearly expense that is easily forgotten, but can add up is School supplies. That time of year again!

**Wendy99** · 08-01-2008, 10:44 AM

I just did our budget and one I missed was "car registration" thank you!! I was the same as you in the past .. use to think woo hoo extra money ... our yearly expenses work out to $478 a month .. so far (have to add in the car registration/lisence fee yet)! That's how we got messed up this year for the kids birthday and summer vacation ... our annual (some of these aren't annual, but aren't paid monthly so I included them) are ...
- kids swim lessons
- kids soccer
- kids gymnastics (only let them do one session / yr of this)
- pet supplies (food, litter etc)
- vet
- vacation
- gifts (includes Christmas)
- medical
- dental
- van maintenance (but not repairs yet)
- clothes
- school expenses (pictures, hot lunches, trips etc)
- internet (we pay yearly)
- water heater rental (it's 3-4 x / yr)

**Greebo** · 08-01-2008, 11:02 AM

You rent a water heater?

**MomToTwoBoys** · 08-01-2008, 12:49 PM

The annual things in our house that I should budget for, but I don't:

birthdays
Christmas
school shopping
holidays

I actually put money into savings each month and pay for the kids' bus fees and school fees out of savings. I have enough in savings right now to cover that. I should actually budget in for Thanksgiving and get two turkeys this year. I have no idea where I'm going to put them, though.

We have 360 dollars earmarked in savings for DS #2's dental work now, and that 360 dollars will continue to be there for the future if he ever needs more work done.

**inneedofhope** · 08-01-2008, 01:06 PM

The little yearly things that come up for me that I don't budget for are:
local per capita tax= $5
local occupation tax= $140
car registration= $36
this year I have a driver's liscence fee= $36
Child support service charge= $25 (new to PA this year)
Inspection= $60+ if repairs needed
Soccer= $35
Little League=$35
Scout camp= $65
YMCA camp= $100
Bowling club= $168
Camping trip=$100 give or take
lawn mower gas= $20 (only buy a gallon at a time and it lasts quite long)
vet= $100 (guessing on this one, 2 cats, one dog annual shots etc.)
Ds bday=$150
Christmas= $300
dog license= $6

I'm sure there's more I haven't thought of. In the summer I pay higher childcare, and in the winter I pay for oil, so they even out.

I really need to do some serious budget work by month or something to account for things like this.

**chevy_chick95** · 08-01-2008, 01:38 PM

great reminder! thanks!!

**Wendy99** · 08-01-2008, 03:28 PM

Originally Posted by Greebo

You rent a water heater?

Yes we do. It's pretty common, although in time I'd like to just have it replaced & purchase the new one outright. We've rented it for 10 years now (was in the house when we moved in) at about $20 a month $2,400.00 so far ... wow .. think we are going to have to soon invest in purchasing our own - insane!!! Maybe next spring if we can afford it.

**Greebo** · 08-01-2008, 03:49 PM

Originally Posted by Wendy99

Yes we do. It's pretty common, although in time I'd like to just have it replaced & purchase the new one outright. We've rented it for 10 years now (was in the house when we moved in) at about $20 a month $2,400.00 so far ... wow .. think we are going to have to soon invest in purchasing our own - insane!!! Maybe next spring if we can afford it.

Yeah - um - I just bought a 40 gal for $400 at Home Depot last month, and I thought *I* got ripped. You could have bought 6!