Only one of those things had to happen and my budget would be shattered. I could get back on track because I became very adept at making some extra money to cover those bills. If I had money left over from a tax refund or a work bonus, I would put it into savings to help cover emergencies.
What helped me to keep perspective at that time was my priorities. I had four priorities when making my budget for every paycheck.
Sometimes you go through life like you own it. You have your priorities right, your life in order, and everything going well.
Then, wham! You get hit with a medical emergency. You lose your spouse. You get divorced or separated. You have to suddenly move. You are faced with bills you did not realize you owed and now are in collections.
In the twenty-plus years of paying utility bills and growing up in a house that was very conscious of its water and electricity use, I have learned some tips and tricks to reduce those costs. Some of these tips will not cost you a thing and will provide immediate results. Some results will not be immediately seen. For some of these tips, you will need to pay to save. You will need to purchase items that will pay for themselves over time.
Something interesting happened to me yesterday. I got my utility bill for last month. The fun thing is that it went down! Please let me back up and explain a few things. My whole house is electric. My bill will never be under $200 unless I put in solar panels or don’t live there for a month. For the last four years, I had been on budget billing, which had been working out for me. Until October. The utility company…