---
title: 39 Things You Forgot to Budget For in Your New Home
description: Grab a chair and a pen. It’s time to make a list of the items you forgot to budget for.
image: https://blog.ruoff.com/hubfs/39-Things-You-Forgot-to-Budget-For-in-Your-New-Home.jpg
---
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# 39 Things You Forgot to Budget For in Your New Home
By [Ashley Wirgau](https://blog.ruoff.com/author/ashley-wirgau) on September, 9 2019
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###### Ashley Wirgau
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You’re all moved in and ready to start life in your new home, but before you kick your feet up and claim victory, take a quick look around. You might be missing a few things.
Do not be alarmed. It happens to every new homeowner because, well, you don’t know what you don’t know. Once you’ve unpacked everything and the dust has settled, you realize that you don’t actually have anything to clean up all that dust…so grab a chair and a pen. It’s time to make a list of the items you forgot to budget for.
### It’s the Inside that Counts
The items that pop up initially tend to center on the interior of the home. Once you start living in your brand new space, you quickly discover everyday home maintenance items that you simply don’t have – like a *duster with an extendable arm*. Then, after a few weeks of using your new bathroom, you undoubtedly find need for a *plunger* and a *drain snake*…and when you go to pry the stopper from the drain, you realize you don’t have a *tool chest* or any of the *tools that belong inside of it*.
This will be your first run to the hardware store. While you’re there, you might as well grab some *trash cans*, a decent *vacuum*, a *mop*, and extra *light bulbs*. For those with basements or [any other potential water issues](https://www.cnet.com/how-to/five-signs-you-need-a-dehumidifier/), a *dehumidifier* is a necessity, as well. When the nice cashier asks if you are interested in their store credit card, just say “yes” because this is only the beginning.
### Now, Let’s Take This Outside
The inside is coming along nicely now, so you head outside to start tackling the years of yard work ahead. It’s time to get that pen out again. Depending on the size of your outdoor space, you’ll want to add items like a *rake*, *ladder*, *lawn mower*, *garden hoses* and *nozzles*. For those with more acreage, landscaping and/or trees, you might also require *hedge trimmers*, a *chainsaw*, a *weed whip* or *wheel barrow* - maybe even a *power washer*. Don’t forget to pick up some small *gas cans*, as well, and a *permanent marker* to label them for each of your new garden toys. Those in northern climates need just a bit more as a *snow blower*, *snow shovel* and *safety salt pellets* will all come in handy come November.
### And We’re Going to Need a Safety Plan
Inside. Check.
Outside. Check.
Back inside now to assess any significant safety concerns. The biggest items in this area will be *smoke detectors* and *carbon monoxide alarms*, along with corresponding *batteries* because no one wants to fall asleep to the chirp of a dying smoke alarm. You’ll also want to make sure you have [the appropriate amount of fire extinguishers](https://www.doityourself.com/stry/how-many-fire-extinguishers-does-my-home-need) for your specific property.
Need another layer of protection? A *home security system* might be a consideration. There are so many choices nowadays including monitored and local options - and for the millennials-at-heart who think regular thermostats are so 1999, snag a [Google Nest](https://store.google.com/category/connected_home?gclid=EAIaIQobChMIqNjjj_eS5AIVhRh9Ch34GArkEAAYASAAEgLgb_D_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds) as they can now incorporate home security into the overall system.
### But It’s Really All About the Looks, Isn’t It?
You’ve covered both home and lawn maintenance as well as safety and security, so all that’s left is what really counts – the overall aesthetic. With your old furniture situated throughout the new space, you find that the quirky antique *desk* *lamp* you thought looked just perfect in your last place doesn’t really fit in the new house. You’ll find that the *light fixtures* and *ceiling fans* you were so sure you could live with are slowly driving you insane. The paisley *shower curtain* in the downstairs bathroom really clashes with the tile floor, and the *shower rod* falls down each time you pull the mismatched curtain back. And that *shower head*? It takes 27 minutes to rinse the shampoo from your hair, and nobody has time for that! Not to mention the *rugs*, *end tables*, *window treatments* and all manner of *wall décor* that you have yet to purchase to make your home finally feel just right, to make it feel like you.
But it will all feel like you *eventually*, so don’t fret! You will get there. Every new homeowner does (after a couple years of hiccups, missing necessities, and countless trips to that hardware store – aren’t you so glad you signed up for their credit card?). It really just takes some time – and some money, money that you didn’t quite budget for because you don’t know what you don’t know, but now you know.
### And Here's Your Recap
1. Duster with an extendable arm
2. Plunger
3. Drain pipe
4. Toolbox
5. Basic tools to fill the toolbox
6. Trash cans
7. Vacuum
8. Mop
9. Light bulbs
10. Dehumidifier
11. Rake
12. Ladder
13. Lawn mower
14. Garden hoses and nozzles
15. Hedge trimmers
16. Chainsaw
17. Weed whip
18. Wheelbarrow
19. Power washer
20. Gas cans
21. Permanent marker
22. Snow blower
23. Snow shovel
24. Safety salt pellets
25. Smoke detectors
26. Carbon monoxide alarm
27. Batteries
28. Fire extinguishers
29. Home security system
30. Desk lamp
31. Light fixtures
32. Ceiling fan
33. Shower curtains
34. Shower rods
35. Shower heads
36. Rugs
37. End tables
38. Window treatments
39. Wall decor
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