https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Mon, 27 Apr 2026 14:24:09 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/budget-plan-for-utilities#post-2319110 Wed, 14 Oct 2015 09:42:08 +0000 Truth Bombs 2319110@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We don't but our electric bill is high in the summer from the A/C usage and our Gas bill is high in the winter from our heat usage so honestly it events out pretty much anyway. My husband grew up without central air and now that we have it he abuses the power so we rarely have days where he isn't using the heat or the A/C. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/budget-plan-for-utilities#post-2319094 Wed, 14 Oct 2015 09:36:50 +0000 snowjewelz 2319094@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Bao: I know, I was like man, is a few cents of interest worth it?! lol. At the same time I'm afraid of utility companies ripping us off... </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/budget-plan-for-utilities#post-2319086 Wed, 14 Oct 2015 09:34:57 +0000 Bao 2319086@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@snowjewelz: I read that last night! I'm not very disciplined though...and when we barely have much to begin with its even harder! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/budget-plan-for-utilities#post-2319035 Wed, 14 Oct 2015 09:11:10 +0000 snowjewelz 2319035@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I wanted to do this too, but I read on a blog, why not just put that same amount of money in a separate account, so that at least it's earning interest for you and not your utility provider! That way whatever you saved during low months, you can take out to cover the high months. I'm def thinking of doing this, tho it's kinda annoying to set up another account somewhere... (the blogger used ING). </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/budget-plan-for-utilities#post-2318788 Wed, 14 Oct 2015 07:34:25 +0000 littlebug 2318788@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I keep trying to convince my husband to sign us up for this, but he won't. I did it when I lived on my own and it was so nice to have a steady, predictable bill. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/budget-plan-for-utilities#post-2318772 Wed, 14 Oct 2015 07:27:26 +0000 ShootingStar 2318772@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We did until we got solar panels. Have you looked into them? Everything our panels produce is half the cost of our regular provider. </p> <p>We do still used the balanced bill for gas though. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/budget-plan-for-utilities#post-2318760 Wed, 14 Oct 2015 07:16:55 +0000 Winterbee15 2318760@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We do it. We pay a lot more in the summer months but it makes up for the hefty winter bills. I SAH so it's easier for us to budget knowing we won't have to shell out $500 during the colder months, especially because of Christmas. Our house is all electric though we do have a small separate propane tank for our fireplace. We try to be conscious about electric usage but I think our old crappy dryer sucks a bunch of energy :shocked: </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/budget-plan-for-utilities#post-2318704 Wed, 14 Oct 2015 04:58:56 +0000 BandDmommy 2318704@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Bao: I never did this because I like having the low bill months. To cut energy costs you can get an energy study done. It's amazing the things they find in the study. Just call your utility provider. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/budget-plan-for-utilities#post-2318686 Wed, 14 Oct 2015 00:19:37 +0000 808love 2318686@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>When we got a solar water heater it cut our electricity by a third. We open the curtains and allow as much natural light as possible. We don't have a big light in our living room so we do most light requiring things in the dining room. Thus the light is on in only one room instead of two. And we go to sleep early, like Amish. ;) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/budget-plan-for-utilities#post-2318646 Tue, 13 Oct 2015 22:54:41 +0000 yoursilverlining 2318646@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@MrsSRS: we used to do this too. I paid $200/month for gas every month and it took us through winter without any insane bills.</p> <p>We have propane heat now and prebuy for the season, which saves some (but is still insane overall.) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/budget-plan-for-utilities#post-2318632 Tue, 13 Oct 2015 22:43:58 +0000 homestylecreations 2318632@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I once heard from our electricity provider that they take the average amount per neighborhood and price it accordingly. Sounds crazy, but I live in california and previously I lived at a home that cost $300 low season and $400 high season. I even asked my neighbors and they confirmed they had high bills as well. (mind you, I unplugged everything and never used AC! )<br /> We moved to a neighboring city 5 miles away from our previous home and pay no more than $100 low season and $200 high season. Square footage and use is the same if not more now cause it was so hot this summer. So sometimes it's not about how much you can unplug to save. You might just have to call them and see if you qualify for special programs or rebates where you live. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/budget-plan-for-utilities#post-2318459 Tue, 13 Oct 2015 20:17:40 +0000 MrsSRS 2318459@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Bao: Ha! Yes. That too. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/budget-plan-for-utilities#post-2318446 Tue, 13 Oct 2015 20:11:53 +0000 Bao 2318446@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@MrsSRS: every month is tricky for us, I'm always trying to find ways to help </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/budget-plan-for-utilities#post-2318437 Tue, 13 Oct 2015 20:08:56 +0000 MrsSRS 2318437@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Bao: DH says some other guys at work were talking about it. His industry is basically 9 months on, three months off so it gets a little tricky to stay balanced financially. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/budget-plan-for-utilities#post-2318425 Tue, 13 Oct 2015 20:03:12 +0000 Bao 2318425@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@MrsSRS: I didn't know you could do that! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/budget-plan-for-utilities#post-2318415 Tue, 13 Oct 2015 19:57:46 +0000 MrsSRS 2318415@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We don't because our heat is gas but our AC is electric so it evens out as seasons shift. We've been thinking about overpaying utilities during summer so we go into DH's lean season with a credit. Anyone else do that? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/budget-plan-for-utilities#post-2318369 Tue, 13 Oct 2015 19:26:12 +0000 Bao 2318369@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@mrsjyw: I do unplug most things like coffee maker, toaster, chargers. We keep the heat low and AC high when we use it. Sigh. Being an adult stinks lol </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/budget-plan-for-utilities#post-2318368 Tue, 13 Oct 2015 19:23:52 +0000 mrsjyw 2318368@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Bao: ours were some major cuts like an extra freezer and the months we had our hot tub turned on. But we also out most of our lights on timers that we adjust seasonally and we also bought a new thermostat that's programmable better with time settings etc. we also try to be conscious of leaving electronics unplugged! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/budget-plan-for-utilities#post-2318365 Tue, 13 Oct 2015 19:21:22 +0000 cheert16 2318365@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I do for propane (which is for cooking and hot water) I pay $100 a month and it covers the $300/$400 bills we get 4X a year!<br /> I need to get on it for electric because i got a huge bill from the summer (A/C use) and it killed me because it wasn't in the budget! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/budget-plan-for-utilities#post-2318354 Tue, 13 Oct 2015 19:16:48 +0000 Bao 2318354@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@mrsjyw: any ideas on things I could check to lower usage? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/budget-plan-for-utilities#post-2318351 Tue, 13 Oct 2015 19:15:38 +0000 sera_87 2318351@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>i totally do. I like knowing how much my bill is going to be and paying it every month rather than every 60 days. I'm just not that disciplined enough to set aside the money, unfortunately.</p> <p>And yes its higher in the summer (we don't use AC either), but it sucks worse to get a $400+ bill in March. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/budget-plan-for-utilities#post-2318346 Tue, 13 Oct 2015 19:14:42 +0000 mrsjyw 2318346@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Yep! We waited one full year after we moved in so that the budget billing was based on our specific usage instead of the previous owners. It's so convenient to have the same bill every month! They annualize every year in May and I've ended up with credits the last couple years and our budget bill has gone down! We've been more conscious of our usage etc since going on it! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/budget-plan-for-utilities#post-2318342 Tue, 13 Oct 2015 19:12:03 +0000 Bao 2318342@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Does anyone do budget billing for any of their utility bills? We just got our electric bill for this month and it was pretty high. I looked back at the graph for the year and it's been up this entire year, with September and October doubling. I wasn't really prepared for my bill to double this month, so that really stinks. I am curious if the budget billing would be a good idea or not though. We don't use AC a lot in the summer so it is the lowest those few months, which is nice, but during the colder/darker months it really skyrockets. We have done things like switch out lightbulbs, new windows and a new furnace. They did install one of those Smart Meters last year though, I wonder if that has anything to do with it? </p> <p>Anyone have any other ideas for reducing energy usage? Do you use budget billing, if so why? If not, why? </p>