By Can I Afford It · How we calculate this
Everyday services are small, recurring and easy to stack up without noticing. Individually most of them fit comfortably; it is the total across several that is worth checking.
Up-front costs here run from about $200 (makeup artist) to $50,000 (annuity). Recurring costs run from about $15 a month (gutter cleaning) to $6,000 a month (butler).
Typical national prices, not quotes. Financed payments are principal and interest at each item's usual down payment, rate and term, before tax, fees and insurance. 16 of these have a full calculator; any of them can be checked against your income.
| Item | Typical cost | Per month | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Accountant | $500 | One-time | Calculator |
| Annuity | $50,000 | One-time | Check it |
| Babysitter | $400/mo | $400/mo | Calculator |
| Butler | $6,000/mo | $6,000/mo | Check it |
| Charitable donation | $1,000 | One-time | Check it |
| Coworking space membership | $300/mo | $300/mo | Check it |
| Credit repair service | $100/mo | $100/mo | Check it |
| CSA farm box subscription | $150/mo | $150/mo | Check it |
| Debt settlement | $300/mo | $300/mo | Check it |
| Dental insurance | $40/mo | $40/mo | Calculator |
| Disability insurance | $60/mo | $60/mo | Check it |
| Dog trainer | $500 | One-time | Check it |
| Dog walker | $300/mo | $300/mo | Calculator |
| Event planner | $2,500 | One-time | Check it |
| Expungement | $2,500 | One-time | Check it |
| food delivery app subscription | $130/mo | $130/mo | Check it |
| Grocery delivery service | $400/mo | $400/mo | Check it |
| Gutter cleaning | $15/mo | $15/mo | Calculator |
| Hairstylist | $150/mo | $150/mo | Check it |
| Handyman | $400 | One-time | Check it |
| Home warranty | $55/mo | $55/mo | Calculator |
| House cleaning service | $240/mo | $240/mo | Calculator |
| Housekeeper | $400/mo | $400/mo | Check it |
| Identity theft protection | $20/mo | $20/mo | Check it |
| Inheritance advance | $5,000 | One-time | Calculator |
| Junk removal service | $350 | One-time | Check it |
| Laundry service | $150/mo | $150/mo | Check it |
| Lawn care | $150/mo | $150/mo | Calculator |
| Life coach | $400/mo | $400/mo | Check it |
| Life insurance | $40/mo | $40/mo | Calculator |
| Makeup artist | $200 | One-time | Check it |
| Matchmaking service | $5,000 | One-time | Check it |
| Meal kit service | $300/mo | $300/mo | Check it |
| Meal prep service | $400/mo | $400/mo | Check it |
| Personal assistant | $3,000/mo | $3,000/mo | Check it |
| Personal chef | $1,500/mo | $1,500/mo | Calculator |
| Personal stylist | $300/mo | $300/mo | Check it |
| Pest control | $50/mo | $50/mo | Calculator |
| Pest control service | $50/mo | $50/mo | Check it |
| Pet insurance | $45/mo | $45/mo | Calculator |
| Pet sitter | $200/mo | $200/mo | Calculator |
| Photographer | $500 | One-time | Check it |
| Pool cleaning service | $150/mo | $150/mo | Check it |
| Private driver | $3,000/mo | $3,000/mo | Check it |
| Private lessons | $200/mo | $200/mo | Check it |
| Professional organizer | $600 | One-time | Check it |
| Rent-to-own agreement | $150/mo | $150/mo | Check it |
| Renters insurance | $17/mo | $17/mo | Calculator |
| Snow removal | $100/mo | $100/mo | Check it |
| Software subscription | $50/mo | $50/mo | Check it |
| Storage unit | $150/mo | $150/mo | Calculator |
| Streaming services | $50/mo | $50/mo | Check it |
| Timeshare exit company | $4,000 | One-time | Check it |
| Timeshare maintenance fees | $250/mo | $250/mo | Check it |
| Tithing | $400/mo | $400/mo | Check it |
| Title loan | $4,000 | One-time | Check it |
| Umbrella insurance policy | $25/mo | $25/mo | Check it |
| Union dues | $50/mo | $50/mo | Check it |
| Videographer | $1,500 | One-time | Check it |
| Wage garnishment | $400/mo | $400/mo | Check it |
| Window cleaning service | $250 | One-time | Check it |
| Wine club | $90/mo | $90/mo | Check it |