Whether it’s car repairs, excess luggage fees when travelling, or vet bills, a third of Brits have found themselves facing an unanticipated bill they simply couldn’t afford to pay, according to our recent survey. If you’ve ever been caught out by a surprise expense, you’re not alone – and we’ve taken a closer look at how people across the UK are handling these financial curveballs.
We asked over 1,000 people about their savings and how they budget for sudden costs*. The results show that while some may not be in a position to save regularly, others might simply not be factoring unexpected costs into their financial planning. In fact, nearly one in five (19.3%) said they aren’t currently saving anything for emergencies.
It’s perhaps no surprise then that 34.5% have fallen behind on bill payments due to unforeseen costs. 7% said they’d need a loan to pay for an unexpected cost of £500, while 9.3% said they’d need to rely on monthly repayments for the same sum.
What are some recent unplanned expenses Brits run into?
From MOT bills or household emergencies to poorly pets or travel hiccups, life is full of surprises. Here are some of the most common surprise costs that our respondents encountered in the past year:
37.6%
Car costs
had to cover sudden vehicle expenses (tyres, engines, and MOT failures), with those between 35 and 44 being the most affected (50.6%)
9.8%
Bereavement
Funeral costs impact younger demographics more than older ones, with 9.8% of 18-24 year olds and 10% of 25-34 year olds seeing this unanticipated cost. This drops rapidly among older generations.
29%
Home damages
of Brits had to deal with abrupt home repair costs in the past year, with 25-34 year olds being the standout demographic at 40.7%
17.2%
Vet bills
of Brits faced unplanned vet bill costs. Those numbers were highest in the 35-44 bracket at 24.8%, followed by Gen-Z (20.8%)
8.7%
Travel fees
of Brits got caught out by charges like excess baggage/travel fees in the past 12 months, with the largest demographic being 25-34 year olds (20.4%)
Try our unexpected costs calculator
Try our calculator. Just answer a few quick questions, and it’ll add up your unexpected expenses over the past year and show you how much interest you could have earned if you’d put the equivalent amount into a savings account in advance, ready for when you need it.
Unexpected costs calculator
Are different generations budgeting differently for unexpected expenses?
While everyone’s financial situation is unique our research did uncover some generational trends.
41.5% of Gen-Z (18-24) are saving under £50 a month for rainy days, with 21.6% of younger Millennials (25-34) in the same boat. Even the more ‘frugal’ respondents from the millennial generation aren’t saving large amounts of cash–only 8% of that age group said they’re able to save £500 or more each month for unexpected costs.
At the same time, a whopping 56.8% of 25-34-year-olds experienced surprise costs they couldn’t afford to pay straight away and could be why over half of the 18-34 year olds surveyed have fallen behind on bill payments due to unforeseen expenses.
It also explains why 38.7% of 18-24 year olds and 26.4% of 25-34 year olds say they would need to borrow from a friend or family member to pay a £500 unexpected cost.
Perhaps most interestingly, 26.8% of those aged 65+ said they weren’t saving for unexpected costs – a higher percentage than younger groups where we found 16.6% of 18-24 year olds and 9.9% of 25-34 year olds saying the same.
Men vs women: How do saving habits compare?
Savings is not just a generational game. We crunched the numbers, and it turns out there are some significant gaps between male and female savers. Of course, there are many reasons beyond tired stereotypes that help explain the gap. Starting with the gender pay gap, which is still around in 2025, along with pink tax (women paying more for essentials), all the way through to career breaks, part-time work and caregiving responsibilities, which disproportionately affect women.
24.4%
of women said they save nothing for emergencies each month, compared to 14.1% of men
11.8%
of men are putting away £500 or more each month, compared to 6.8% of women. Suggesting that among those who do save, men appear to be putting away greater quantities
73.4%
of women haven’t been charged any extras for luggage, roaming, or airport fees, compared to 59.9% of men.
How are people funding these emergency costs?
When it comes to paying an impromptu bill of £500 within 24 hours, 46% of respondents rely on their current accounts, while another 41.4% would turn to a credit card, making them the two main options.
Looking to alternatives, we see some reduced percentages:
- Borrowed from a loved one: 17.9%
- Used their Cash ISA: 15.8%
- Dipped into their Easy Access ISA: 11.2%
- Split with monthly payments (with interest): 9.3%
- Took out a loan: 7%
- Used other means: 7%
Be prepared for life's emergencies
Life has always had its unforeseen curveballs. Whether that’s an extra few inches on a suitcase you’re getting charged for, a leaking roof, or a surprise dental bill. And while you can never know what bumps you’ll run into on the road, building up even a small buffer can help stop those sudden expenses disrupting your finances.
Our new Easy Access savings account could be just the thing to protect you from these headaches. Designed with flexibility for those rainy days and ‘just in case’ moments, it’s the quintessential emergency fund – complete with a variable interest rate and the freedom to make withdrawals whenever you need.
Our research data
*Data for this article was compiled following a questionnaire featuring 1,010 respondents.
The survey included responses from 494 men, 515 women, and one non-binary person.
Ages were broken down as follows:
- 18-24: 111 respondents
- 25-34: 172 respondents
- 35-44: 162 respondents
- 45-54: 182 respondents
- 55-64: 151 respondents
- 65+: 232 respondents
This article is correct at time of publishing and for general information purposes only. We recommend you speak to a professional financial adviser for advice. You can find a financial adviser and further personal finance information at https://www.unbiased.co.uk/