A Garbage Can Costs How Much?! And 5 Other Surprising Costs of Homeownership Essentials…

When people think about the hidden costs of owning a home, they usually picture things like unexpected repairs or higher-than-expected utility bills.

And there’s some truth to that. In fact, a recent report found that many homeowners say the costs of owning a home ended up being higher than expected overall.

But before anyone starts envisioning surprise financial disasters around every corner, this article isn’t about expensive roof repairs or an electric bill that shot through the roof after running the air conditioning on full blast during a weeklong heatwave.

This is about much smaller costs that just seem shockingly expensive simply because nobody prepares you for the price tag.

We’re talking about standing in the aisle of a home improvement store and wondering whether you accidentally grabbed the premium luxury version of… a garbage can.

If you’ve owned a home for a while, you’ve probably experienced a few of these already. If you’re planning to buy your first home, consider this less of a warning and more of a friendly preview.

Refrigerator Water Filters

The first time you buy a refrigerator with a built-in water and ice dispenser, you think: This is great, it’ll be so much better than tap water…

Then six months later a little reminder light pops on telling you it’s time to replace the filter.

No big deal.

Until you look it up and realize many manufacturer filters can cost $40–$60 each. And some need to be replaced twice a year!

At first you assume there must be a mistake.

It’s tiny. It weighs practically nothing. Yet somehow this little plastic cylinder costs enough that you suddenly find yourself wondering whether the tap water was really all that bad after all.

Garden Hoses

How much could a hose possibly cost?

Turns out, a decent hose can easily run $40–$70.

Of course, that’s if you just need a hose. But you’re probably also going to need a new nozzle. Maybe a sprinkler. A hose reel could be nice instead of coiling it into a tangled pile on the ground.

You walked into the store figuring you’d buy a hose for around $15-$25 (if you splurged on the high end one!), but end up wondering how you not only got a hose… you got hosed for $150.

Trash Cans

Outdoor garbage cans are the type of thing you often need a couple of. One for trash, one for recycling, and maybe an extra just in case you have more trash than normal before pick-up day.

But then you discover the nice rugged ones can cost upwards of $70–$100 each…

There’s something a little painful about spending that kind of money on an item that seems destined to eventually lose a fight with sanitation equipment. Then again, maybe that’s why it’s worth spending that much on a heavy-duty one.

Light Bulbs

You never really know when a lightbulb is going to go out, so it’s nice to have a variety of them on hand just in case.

If you’re just heading to the store to buy a couple of general purpose bulbs, that’s not going to break the bank. But if you want to stock up on a multi-pack of the various types of bulbs you need on hand, you could easily find yourself spending between $50-$100.

You won’t regret it when you need one in a pinch, but that doesn’t stop you from feeling the pinch at the register.

Batteries

Much like light bulbs, batteries are another one of those things that seem simple… until you realize you need a small inventory of them. AA. AAA. 9-volt. Coin batteries…

You never know when you’ll need them, or which one you’ll need. Smoke detectors notoriously chirp at 2:00 in the morning. The garage keypad dies when you’re running late. The TV remote suddenly stops working the minute you finally sit down to relax.

It’s not like you need a home equity loan to stock up on them, but it’s still surprising the first time you realize how much a “value pack” of them is going to cost.

Window Blinds

Window blinds have a way of blindsiding you the first time you shop for them.

While spending $30–$60 on blinds for one window might not sound terrible, but when you start multiplying that by the number of windows you have in the house it can add up quickly.

And we’re not even talking about custom blinds. If you want specialty blinds, or have specialty windows or unique measurements to take into consideration, those can get much pricier.

A Few Ways to Keep Costs down… or at Least in Perspective

Fortunately, most of these aren’t huge expenses. They’re just a bit shocking the first time you realize how much they cost.

And there are ways to soften the blow.

For recurring purchases like refrigerator filters, subscriptions or generic replacement options can sometimes save money. Local swap groups and neighborhood apps can be great places to find lightly used garden tools and equipment. Friends and family often have extra tools collecting dust in garages and sheds.

And perhaps spending a little more upfront can actually save money later. Buying the cheapest hose, garbage cans, or blinds available can occasionally turn into buying them twice. So spending a bit more might save you in the long run.

The reality is that owning a home comes with a lot of little purchases nobody talks much about. Sometimes they’re annoying. Often they’re surprising. But they’re usually manageable.