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.
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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.”
In the study, car repairs were found to be the most common surprise expense, followed by dental work and vet bills.
Accidentally signing up to a subscription – and then forgetting to cancel it, along with replacing a cracked mobile phone screen were also common mishaps among unprepared Brits.
The effect of these unforeseen charges goes beyond the impact on our wallets, with 45 per cent of respondents feeling anxious at the thought of a major unexpected expense.
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Annoyance, frustration and stress are other common feelings experienced by those making an unwelcome outgoing.
In the study, conducted by OnePoll, just 12 per cent of those surveyed had not been hit by an unexpected payment in the last year.
The breakdown of white goods was a major source of unexpected repairs, and 67 per cent believe the difficulty of finding a trusted tradesperson to fix their broken washing machine or boiler is yet another challenge.
More than half surveyed (55 per cent) think the hunt for a qualified tradesperson when things go awry is the most stressful element of the situation, taking on average four hours to identify.
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.”
Unexpected costs have a long-lasting effect on the financial health of adults, with 56 per cent admitting they find it difficult to save due to surprise outgoings.
When the shadow of an unforeseen payment darkens their doorway, 52 per cent dip into their savings to cover the expense, while 30 per cent stick it on their credit card to worry about later.
An unfortunate 49 per cent have been left struggling to afford the bare necessities like bills, groceries and medical care after a surprise expenditure drained their funds.
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 car
2. Dental work
3. Vet bill
4. Accidentally signing up to a subscription and forgetting to cancel before it renewed
5. Boiler breaking
6. Replacing a broken mobile phone screen/tablet
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. Fixing 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. A leaky toilet
18. Needing to buy a suit/outfit for a special occasion
19. House leaking
20. Fixing a computer/tablet
