Frustrated - Unexpected Expenses

strickland8052 · June 2014

I'm so frustrated and need to vent. I've been paying for graduate school out of pocket for the past three years, and thus not being able to save very much. I finally graduated last month and am 100% done with that expense. I was so excited to start saving all the money that I had been spending on school, and I was planning to drop my first $500 into savings this month. Then... I started having all these crazy stomach issues (for a month now), so now I'm expecting a bunch of medical bills in my future. And... we've had three burglaries within a block of our house in the past week, so now we feel we really need to add some security items (security film on windows, more sturdy doors, etc, etc.) to our house. I'm just starting to feel like we are never going to get ahead, because every month there is a $200 - $400 unexpected expense that pops up. It isn't like we want to buy new furniture or a vacation... these are all needs. Does anyone else feel like this?

formerlyGDaisy09 · June 2014

This is so frustrating, you'll get there, maybe just not as quick as you hope. we have savings accounts for various "unexpected" events (we have one for house, car, and pets/medical). whenever we seem to have "extra" money around, in addition to what we try to save every month, I divide it 4 ways (25% to each savings account and 25% for H and I to do something fun). it'll take a while,usually $15-20 at a time, but just recently when we've had unexpected things come up (an emergency trip to the vet after puppy got bitten by a poodle at the dog park, and new breaks for my car) we've had all the funds to cover those expenses stashed away. it took 2 years, and in the past those events have meant not as much goes into savings as we want, but it felt really good to be able to handle those things without worrying about money too much.

Congratulations on paying cash for your degree! don't let this month get you down! you'll get there.

Mom987 · June 2014

Totally understand. I think bad things come in threes, and it sounds like the case here. One month we replaced the pipes in our home because it was the 3rd leak in 3 years (polybutylene pipes from 1988, which are known to be brittle). It'll get better!!

vlagrl29 · June 2014

oh, yes we have had our moments like this. Pretty much the entire time I was pregnant and the first year of DD's life I felt like we were so poor!

DH has a pinched nerve now, so we are having some unexpected chiro and doc bills. Although it's not thousands of dollars it's still money that could go somewhere else. Don't worry it will pass and even if it's not $500 you put in savings, put just a little bit in so you feel better about the situation.

jessica490 · June 2014

Yes, we've had moments like these and I get super flustered and want the days to rush by so we can get our next paycheck to pay for the next thing to get it out of the way. But the thing that keeps me calm is to focus on one bill/expense at a time and just stay organized and on top of it. Make sure you work your budget around these things that pop up.

Congrats on school!

hoffse · June 2014

It's frustrating, but focus on the silver lining:

1) You paid for school in cash. That's AMAZING. Very very very few people do that anymore.

2) These expenses, while frustrating, popped up after your payments for school were over. So at least you can continue to cashflow those expenses, rather than having to charge them.

Pretty soon you'll be able to save that money!

smbenevides1989 · June 2014

I'm sorry these things came up. At least it happened after you finished school (which congrats for both graduating and paying it off in cash!)

I thought we would be done by now with paying off CC debt, but it feels like something happens and we need to take more money from our checking to cover those issues. Now I'm just hoping that we will pay off the debt by the end of the year. Things will clear and you will be able to save that money!

CuriousKiddosMama · June 2014

Sorry! I understand how frustrating it can be. Hold on, you will get past this and start 'getting ahead'.

Honestly just think of the timing- in one respect, it's great! You are done with paying for your college so you have the extra money, it's just a little defeating that you can't save that money that you had expected to this month.

Wulfgar · June 2014

That is why we have two different savings accounts, one for emergencies, repairs, semi-annual and annual bills that come due. We also have a checking/ savings account for vacations, gifts, child costs, etc.

Life happens and it helps when you know that there is money in the bank to cover life.

Sisugal · June 2014

I would suggest adding a line item for miscellaneous unexpected happenings to your budget.

Xstatic3333 · June 2014

I've got a great new one for this conversation. Most of you know we're in the home buying process-well, today H's car had some sort of radiator issue that will be $350 to fix. I was super glad for our "short term savings" fund so we could pay cash right away out of an account the underwriters don't need to see!

I also agree with PPs; congrats on paying cash for grad school! I hate when I can't put extra into savings each month too, but you're doing great and I'm sure you'll be able to add more savings soon. Stay the course!

Frustrated - Unexpected Expenses

Re: Frustrated - Unexpected Expenses

Choose Another Board

Search Boards