14 Expenses You Can't Afford to Overlook When Making a Budget

Living on a budget is a smart way to accomplish financial goals, but it can be hard to get the budgeting process right.

While most people know you have to include big bills along with savings in your budget, it's inevitable that some irregular expenses will be forgotten. Unfortunately, if you don't allocate money to these oddball costs, they can blow your budget and even force you to reach for the credit cards.

To help make sure this doesn't happen to you, here are 14 costs most people will incur over the year that they often forget to plan for when budgeting.

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Chances are good you have some insurance policies you only pay once or twice a year, such as your car insurance, life insurance, and homeowners insurance.

These premiums can add up to hundreds or even thousands of dollars. You don't want to be caught off guard when the bill comes due, so figure out what you'll owe for insurance over the course of the year, divide that amount by 12, and include that amount in each month's budget.

That way, when your insurance bill comes, you'll have the money ready and waiting to pay it.

Many people get tax refunds, but not everyone does. If you owe quarterly estimated taxes on self-employment income or you usually have to pay the IRS in April, make sure you budget for this during the year.

After all, you don't want to scramble to come up with the cash to pay the tax man when the bill comes due.

ALSO READ: How I Make Money Paying Taxes With a Credit Card

The holiday season comes with a host of extra expenses, and you could easily end up seriously struggling to cover your costs if you haven't planned for them all year.

But December isn't the only month of the year when you may have outsize costs for merriment. A host of other special events happen periodically in most people's lives, from weddings to office parties.

Be sure you have a budget for these special celebrations so you can enjoy the time with loved ones and not worry about how to pay the bill.

Birthdays, weddings, and baby showers are just a few of the life events that typically require you to send a gift.

You can't always predict exactly when you'll need money to buy presents, but you can plan ahead for the birthdays of the important people in your life.

You can also budget a small amount each month to put into a "present" fund that you can tap into when you need to.

Depending where you live, you'll likely need to register your car -- and get it inspected -- once every year or two.

This can cost a few hundred dollars, and it's often not something that you think about until the deadline is looming.

Make sure you find out what the fees are for your inspection and registration and save a little bit each month for them as part of your budgeting process.

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But with so many cards out there, you need to choose wisely. This top-rated card offers the ability to pay 0% interest on purchases until late 2021, has some of the most generous cash back rewards we’ve ever seen (up to 5%!), and somehow still sports a $0 annual fee.

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Many people have an E-ZPass, or their state's version of it. These passes allow you to charge tolls so you don't have to stop and pay them while you're on the road.

In most cases, when your balance gets low on your E-ZPass, your credit card will be automatically charged to re-up your toll fund. If this hits your budget unexpectedly, it could throw off your numbers for the month.

It can be hard to estimate the maximum amount you'll spend on tolls each year, but if you pay them regularly as part of a commute, then you can get a pretty good idea. You can also budget a little extra in case you unexpectedly drive more than planned.

Your car and your home will both likely need regular maintenance. And in many cases, this can come at a big cost. Oil changes in your vehicle and changing your HVAC filters alone can add up to a few hundred dollars per year.

You don't want to defer maintenance because you don't have the money, as doing so could damage your home or car.

Make sure you have a line item in your budget so you can build up a maintenance fund and won't be stuck deciding between borrowing or forgoing upkeep.

Seeing the doctor regularly is essential to stay healthy -- and to catch and treat medical issues early before they turn into big problems.

In many cases, your insurance will cover a free annual exam (even if you haven't met your deductible). But your doctor may want to run some extra tests or perform other services that aren't fully covered.

You don't want to forgo medical care because of financial concerns, so budget money each month to build up a savings account to pay for healthcare services.

If you're eligible, using a health savings account is ideal because these accounts come with generous tax breaks.

If you invite animals into your life, you'll need to cover the cost of their care. This can sometimes get expensive, with annual vet visits, food, grooming, and toys.

To make sure your furry family member stays happy and healthy, don't forget to include a "pet fund" in your budget.

ALSO READ: 4 Surprising Expenses My Emergency Fund Has Covered

Staying well groomed means having regular haircuts -- but many people don't think about the cost of a salon or barber visit until their hair starts getting too long.

While you don't necessarily have to spend a fortune on a haircut, the price of this essential service can add up over time. It's helpful to include haircuts in your budget so you don't find yourself going over for the month due to the unexpected expense.

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As long as you pay them off each month, credit cards are a no-brainer for savvy Americans. They protect against fraud far better than debit cards, help raise your credit score, and can put hundreds (or thousands!) of dollars in rewards back in your pocket each year.

But with so many cards out there, you need to choose wisely. This top-rated card offers the ability to pay 0% interest on purchases until late 2021, has some of the most generous cash back rewards we’ve ever seen (up to 5%!), and somehow still sports a $0 annual fee.

That’s why our expert – who has reviewed hundreds of cards – signed up for this one personally. Click here to get free access to our expert’s top pick.

If you're in any groups or organizations, you may have to pay dues to belong. Oftentimes, these dues are collected annually or at specific points during the year -- but not every month.

If you don't plan ahead for them, you could end up scrambling to come up with the money to cover them when the bill comes due.

If you live in a cold climate, chances are good you're going to have to pay for snow removal when an inevitable winter storm happens.

Plowing services can be costly, and you don't want to find yourself without the cash to pay for them and get stuck scrambling to shovel your driveway to get to work on time.

The start of the school year comes with a whole host of essential purchases, some of which can be hard on your wallet.

The list of supplies kids need seems to grow every year, so make sure you're preparing throughout the year to cover these costs when September rolls around.

Keeping your technology forever may sound like a good idea, but unfortunately items become outdated and may no longer work to perform the services you need. Tech tools can also break after a while.

Chances are good you need a phone and computer today, not to mention other tech tools such as a device that allows you to watch streaming services. It's best not to have to finance these items, so create a dedicated line item in your budget to save up for them over time.

Making a detailed budget that includes these irregular expenses can be the ticket to actually following your spending plan.

By ensuring you don't leave these items off your budget, you can hopefully reduce the chances of being faced with surprise expenses that you just can't cover.

Our credit card expert uses this card, and it could earn you $1,148 (seriously)
As long as you pay them off each month, credit cards are a no-brainer for savvy Americans. They protect against fraud far better than debit cards, help raise your credit score, and can put hundreds (or thousands!) of dollars in rewards back in your pocket each year.

But with so many cards out there, you need to choose wisely. This top-rated card offers the ability to pay 0% interest on purchases until late 2021, has some of the most generous cash back rewards we’ve ever seen (up to 5%!), and somehow still sports a $0 annual fee.

That’s why our expert – who has reviewed hundreds of cards – signed up for this one personally. Click here to get free access to our expert’s top pick.