Top 20 most frequent unexpected costs – car repairs and dentistry

The average Brit will have spent a whopping £32,017.99 on unexpected costs, goods and services in their lifetime, which is an extra burden most of us can’t afford at the moment.

A study of 2,000 adults found they are forced to spend £509.03 each year for things they hadn’t planned for, including car repairs and faults in the home.

Meanwhile, adults pay £9,716.16 for emergency dentist appointments, £9,295.99 for unexpected visits to the vets and £7,887.03 for boiler servicing or repairs over a lifetime.

This has left 51 per cent  wishing they had insurance in place to cover these frustrating moments.

A spokesperson for British Gas HomeCare, which commissioned the research, said: “Life is full of surprises, and not all of them good.

“With the rising cost of living, it’s more important than ever to plan your finances ahead.

“Even minor annual emergencies can stack up over a lifetime without the safety net of an insurance policy to soften the blow.”

The most surprising surprise expense in the study was car repairs, followed closely by dental work and vet bills.

Unprepared Brits are prone to signing up for a subscription by accident and forgetting to cancel it. They also have to replace a cracked screen on their mobile phones.

These unforeseen charges have an impact beyond our wallets. 45 percent of respondents feel anxious about the thought of an expensive surprise expense.

People who make an unwelcome outgoing are also likely to feel anger, frustration, and stress.

OnePoll’s survey found that only 12 per cent of respondents had not been paid unexpectedly in the past year.

The breakdown of white goods was a major source unexpected repairs and 67% believe that it is difficult to find a trusted tradesperson who can fix their broken boiler or washing machine.

More than half of respondents (55%) believe that finding a qualified tradesperson to help when things go wrong can be the most stressful aspect of the situation. This takes on average four hour.

A spokesperson for British Gas HomeCare, added: “When things suddenly demand a hefty and unplanned cost, stress levels can skyrocket.

“And the pressure is magnified when the item that has broken down is something as essential – like your refrigerator or boiler, especially around Christmas time when most of us will have family staying over.

“Boiler servicing and repairs alone cost the average person £7,887.03 in their lifetime, so it pays to make sure you have the relevant insurance in place.

“That way, if the unexpected does happen, you don’t have to waste time and money searching for a tradesperson to fix the issue, and can have peace of mind that the problem will be looked into by a trusted engineer quickly.”

Adults’ financial health can be affected by unexpected costs. 56% admit that they have difficulty saving due to unexpected outgoings.

52 percent dip into their savings to cover an unexpected payment, while 30% stick it on their credit cards to deal with later.

After a surprise expense, 49 percent of the population were left unable to pay for basic necessities such as bills, groceries, and medical care.

Another 32 per cent believe they would struggle to pay a £500 expense if it were to land on their welcome mat today.

Top 20 most common unexpected costs

1. Repairs on a vehicle
2. Dental work
3. Vet bill
4. Signing up for a subscription accidentally and forgetting to cancel it before it is renewed
5. Boiler breaking
6. Replacing a broken tablet/phone screen
7. Washing machine breaking
8. Emergency anniversary/birthday/Valentine’s gift after forgetting
9. Personal health bill – paying for private healthcare
10. Parking fine
11. A leaky roof
12. How to fix an oven
13. A school trip for kids you hadn’t budgeted for
14. Replacing a television
15. School equipment for kids you didn’t realise they needed
16. Broken fridge
17. Leaky toilet
18. You need to purchase a suit/outfit to attend a special occasion
19. Leakage in the house
20. Repairing a computer/tablet