Common Emergencies and Unexpected Expenses

1. A broken-down car

You’re two weeks from payday, and your car breaks down on the way home from work. Not only is this inconvenient, but the expense of a broken-down vehicle can cause significant financial strain.

2. Boiler repairs

Whatever the weather, every house needs a functioning boiler.
If your boiler packs in, it’s important to get it fixed or replaced as soon as possible.

3. Urgent home repairs

From sorting a broken roof to fixing a pesky leak, urgent home repairs are essential – but often not cheap. This could leave you feeling stuck between a rock and a hard place; do you bite the bullet and pay for the work to be done, or wait as long as possible while you save up? Generally, if something is urgent and affecting your living environment, it’s best to get it sorted sooner rather than later. It’s good to be aware that things like leaks could hurt your water bill, and a roof that’s letting in the elements could lead to all kinds of damage, including mould.

4. Important home improvements

Urgent home improvements could include updating security precautions to your property or installing energy-efficient methods that could save you money on bills in the long run.

5. An unexpected bill

Paying the bills can be expensive at the best of times, but an unexpected payment can be stressful.

6. A medical or dental emergency

Although we’re lucky enough to have the NHS, a medical emergency could happen at any time. This could be a dental appointment, such as a root canal, or to replace a broken pair of glasses.

7. Veterinary expenses

For many of us, our pets are very much part of the family, and in the event of an illness or injury, we wouldn’t hesitate to give them the care they need. Whether it’s medication or a surgical procedure, this often comes at a significant cost.

8. Wedding costs

It’s no secret: weddings are not cheap. In fact, as of 2025, the average wedding spend in the UK is a whopping £25,625. Even scaling your expenditure right back and hosting a smaller, more intimate ceremony could still eat into your savings.
You can explore our wedding money-saving tips and find out more about searching for a wedding loan with CashLady here.

9. Funeral costs

Arranging a funeral can be a distressing time, and this is before you’ve even factored in the potential prices involved. In the UK, the average cost of a basic burial is £4,285.
If a loved one passed away without a pre-paid funeral plan in place, it might be up to the next of kin to cover costs while the deceased’s estate and assets are sorted.

10. Debt consolidation

If you’re considering consolidating your existing borrowing, you should do thorough research and consider getting advice from a debt charity beforehand.
You must be sure that the interest you’ll pay on a debt consolidation loan is less than the interest you’re currently paying across all of your current borrowing.
Free, impartial money and debt advice can be accessed at StepChange, MoneyHelper, Citizens Advice, and National Debtline.

Looking for a short-term personal loan? CashLady could help

Unexpected and unplanned expenses can be frightening and unsettling, but CashLady could help you find a solution.
We’re a credit broker, working with a large panel of over 30 direct lenders. With CashLady, you could search for a short-term loan between £100 and £10,000, and depending on the amount of money you borrow, you could repay your loan over a term from 3 to 60 months.

For your peace of mind

I need a loan; can I search for one with CashLady?

You can use CashLady’s credit broking service to search for a loan if you:

Any credit score considered.

*Please be aware that a bad credit loan could come with a higher rate of interest, and this will affect the overall cost of borrowing and your monthly repayments.