A Perfect Storm of Irregular Expenses

Is it just me, or does it seem like everything you never have to buy runs out at the same time?

Well, in that case, I guess technically you don't never need to buy them.

And yes, that sentence is grammatically correct.

You know what I mean - the expendable things that you only have to buy once in a while and rarely run out of. Like sugar, shampoo, and vacuum bags. 

In the past month, I have run out of the following things:

• Contact solution
• Toothpaste
• Moisturizer
• Face wash
• Bath soap
• Deodorant
• Toilet paper
• Shaving cream
• Clorox 2
• Comet
• Dryer sheets

It happens, right?
Here's a second look with a breakdown of (very) rough estimates for time and cost:

• Contact solution
• usually have to buy every 1-2 months (2 pack)
• $4
• Toothpaste
• 2-3 months
• $4
• Moisturizer 
• 3-4 months
• $15
• Face wash
• 3-4 months
• $15
• Bath soap
• 4-6 months (8 bars)
• $6
• Deodorant
• 4-8 months (2 pack)
• $5
• Toilet paper
• 5-7 months (Costco)
• $18
• Shaving cream
• 6-12 months
• $3
• Clorox 2
• 6-8 months (Costco)
• $ 20
• Comet
• 2-3 years
• $2
• Dryer sheets
• 5 years
• $8

Total Estimated Cost:  $100

Odds of running out of all these things at once: I have no idea.

One hundred dollars isn't so terrible, considering how long I had been picking at that box of dryer sheets.*

These added expenses for the month are what I would call "expected annoyances" - I know I am going to run out of these things sooner or later, and am reminded of that fact every time I use one of them.

I can anticipate the impending financial and emotional cost and adjust accordingly.

But, in addition to these expenses, I also had the following things roll over:

• Computer security update
• Renter's insurance
• Passport renewal

These are much larger expenses, and although they are theoretically on the back burner, they're not things I'm reminded of on a daily basis. They're sneaky!

Time and cost:

• Computer security update
• 1 year
• $76.64
• Renter's insurance
• 1 year
•  $278
• Passport renewal
• 10 years
• $110 + $5 for photos

Total Cost:  $469.64

Woah! That's more than an "annoyance," and quite a bit more than $100!

So my total irregular expenses in the past month or so have been more than $500!!

Luckily, I am a saver. I have a cushion built in for expenses like these. But I really should have been able to anticipate these costs rather than letting them take me by surprise.

Which is why I am really looking forward to quarterly taxes on June 15th!

Do you seem to run out of everything at once? Any tips for keeping track of large, "hidden" expenses?

*On a side note, they don't even sell the pack I had before anymore - I had to buy a larger box. Luckily they still had the same scent, although I can't tell if it actually smells the same.