What is something that is assumed to be easy but is actually extremely high maintenance?

Having pets. You should be able to dedicate and plan your life around them. People will get a cat, dog, rabbit, hamster etc.. thinking that all they will have to do is feed them, go for a walk maybe…

You will need to clean up after them, provide a good living space (which rodents don’t usually get… poor hamsters), plan your holidays around them, you can’t just go away for a weekend..