Two more irregular bills to add to our sinking funds.
Today we had our wood stove inspected and cleaned. Having this done is a yearly expense and is also something we cannot do ourselves. We have a vaulted ceiling not only in our living room but also on our second-floor level. These ceilings make for a very steep and high roof and not one that I want either one of us to climb. I’m not sure why (and I’m not complaining!) but this year the bill came in at $195 which was $30 less than what we paid last year. While I didn’t like writing the check, chimney safety is paramount, especially given that the wood stove is our primary heat source during our long Winters. The cost involved is also worth it opposed to potentially breaking who knows what if we were to fall off the roof.
Another recent forgotten expense was our AAA membership. While we could add towing to our auto insurance, AAA offers us so much more that it makes it worth the cost. And yes, we do use the extras that come with the membership and have also used it for towing. Somehow, we will be paying this bill next month.
What am I doing with all these extra bills? Well, other than paying them, I am also keeping track of them. Every irregular expense gets highlighted in my budget binder. Doing so will give me a much clearer picture of how much life really does cost us. Additionally, it will help with calculating how much we should set aside for our sinking funds.
2017 has very much been a year of learning when it comes to better handling our finances! When it comes to budgeting, I’ve heard it can take 3-6 months to get it all down. At this point, I tend to disagree slightly. My hunch is that most of us have irregular expenses that pop up at various times throughout the entire year. As I’ve discovered, all these “oh, I forgot about that one” can cause real havoc with the budget. So far, thankfully, we have been blessed to be able to cover what has come our way. Give me a full year and hopefully, at that point, I’ll b able to say that I have finally figured it all out!
In the meantime, I’ll keep you posted!
what perks do u use from AAA
We’ve used it for store discounts and car rental discounts. My husband also stays in a lot of hotels (paid for by his company) and he often gets nicer rooms by using this card. Being locked out of a vehicle is another. The card also gives us more towing miles than our auto insurance would allow. Living so remote, there aren’t a lot of repair shops around us.
I never forget those irregular bills. I just don’t have enough money coming in ever.
Practical Parsimony recently posted…2000th Post and another Ball Jar Hack
I think we must just have too many. Sigh.
We have been living in this house for 9 years, and only yesterday did it occur to me that we have a yearly AC/heating bill for equipment maintenance. NINE years, go figure. So now our AC/heating system has its own little line item on our budget.:-)
WOW! On the bright side, at least you now have a line item to cover it. Better late than never!