The unexpected items you may have missed in your family budget

It’s not always easy to manage your spending when you have kids. Here are some of the additional costs that may crop up. 

Remember when you were a kid and you asked for a lolly at the supermarket only to be told “Money doesn’t grow on trees, you know?” Only when you become a parent do you truly understand the meaning behind that phrase. 

Your life and spending habits change when kids come along so it’s important you adjust your budget to reflect the additional outgoings you have. 

Of course, there will always be some unexpected expenses that crop up from time to time that you hadn’t planned for in your budget. Here are a few you should watch out for. 

Injuries and emergencies come at a price

One minute they’re hitting a ball around and laughing with their friends, the next they’re rolling around on the ground in pain. Accidents happen and the more sporty and active your kids are the chances are they will be exposed to injuries on and off the field, and you can sometimes be faced with an unexpected and hefty medical bill. 

While Medicare will cover the cost of care for most injuries, you will need to pay up for certain things like physiotherapy, in the event of a serious muscular injury, and dental. 

A chipped or lost tooth in an older child will likely need immediate attention. There are, of course, a whole host of other dental issues that could crop up off the sports field, including toothache, tooth erosion and infection. These are added costs to consider on top of their regular dental appointments. 

School trips and extra curricular activities add up

It’s not just uniforms and books you need to think about for school-going kids. School excursions, while exciting for kids, can come at a significant cost, particularly if you have more than one child. Each trip will vary in costs so it’s difficult to financially plan for these. Thankfully they only come around once or twice a year.

On a day-to-day basis, you should consider the cost of extra curricular activities. These can be beneficial for kids’ social skills, and allow them to explore a particular passion. Beyond paying for these activities, there may be extra costs for clothing and footwear for particular activities. 

Expect the unexpected when budgeting

Kids birthday parties are another cost that often gets forgotten in the family budget. After all, no one likes to show up at a party empty handed. And when you’re not buying presents for other children, there’s a good chance you’ll have to replace some toys, gadgets, clothes or shoes that have mysteriously disappeared from your own house. 

You’ve been warned! Expect the unexpected when drafting your family budget. The good news is, humm can help. 

To get started with humm, click here.