You’re enjoying a quiet weekend when your child hands you a school trip form, payment due Monday. Or your car won’t start, and fixing it wipes out your grocery budget.

These moments are frustrating, but they’re also common. From medical bills to pet emergencies, unexpected expenses are part of family life. The key is to build a budget that can handle real-life surprises.

At bunq, we help you budget smarter and stay in control. With the right tools, you can stay calm and flexible—no matter what comes your way.

What Counts as an Unexpected Family Expense?

Unexpected expenses are costs that aren’t part of your usual monthly budget. You can’t always plan for them, but you can prepare.

Here are some examples:

• Medical costs such as dental emergencies or prescriptions

• Car or home repairs like flat tires or broken appliances

• Vet bills when your pet needs urgent care

• Child-related costs including field trips, tutoring, or after-school programs

• Emergency travel for family visits or important events

In 2023, 63% of families faced at least one unplanned expense. A strong budget can help you stay ready.

Why Most Budgets Struggle with Surprises

Most people budget for rent, food, and monthly bills. But unexpected costs rarely fit into that structure.

Here’s why:

• There’s no flexibility when every cent is already spent

• Urgency leads to stress spending or last-minute borrowing

• Without a buffer, one expense can throw everything off

That’s where a smarter approach comes in.

How to Build a Flexible Family Budget with bunq

You don’t need to predict every cost. You just need to plan for the unexpected. With bunq, you can build a flexible budget that works with your lifestyle and keeps your family covered.

1. Create an Emergency Fund

Open a Savings Account just for unplanned expenses. Even €20–€50 a week adds up quickly.

Turn on AutoSave to round up your daily payments and save the difference automatically. You’ll grow your emergency fund without even noticing.

2. Set Up a Safety Net

Create a dedicated Bank Account for surprise costs. Allocate €100–€200 a month if possible. If you don’t use it, roll it into your savings or use it for something fun.

3. Use Easy Budgeting Tools

With Easy Budgeting and AutoSelect, your payments automatically come from the right account. That means groceries are paid from your groceries account, bills from your bills account, and so on. No manual sorting needed.

4. Track Your Spending

Use Insights to see where your money goes each month. It’s easier to adjust your habits when you can see the full picture.

5. Check In Monthly

Spend 15 minutes each month reviewing your budget. What worked? What didn’t? What unexpected costs came up? It’s a great way to stay on top of things as a family.

6. Automate Your Budget

Schedule regular payments and AutoSave transfers to build consistency. You can even automate weekly contributions to your emergency fund for extra peace of mind.

7. Open a Child Account

Managing school-related costs? Create a Child Account for each of your children. It keeps their expenses separate and teaches them good money habits early.

8. Plan for International Expenses

Need to save for travel or family abroad? With Multi-Currency Savings Accounts, you can save in USD or GBP and earn up to 3.01% interest. It’s a smart way to prepare for future costs.

Budgeting for Families, Made Simple

Life won’t always go as planned, but your budget can still work. With bunq, you can build a setup that adapts, saves automatically, and helps you stay in control—without the stress.

Start by setting up your emergency fund, exploring Easy Budgeting, and giving your family the confidence to handle whatever comes next.

Start budgeting smarter with bunq today, because peace of mind is priceless.