**This may have been discussed before - if so sorry it's posted again, but I missed it. **

Do you think budget plans through utility companies are beneficial?? Is it better to just suck it up and pay your higher amount due on occasion...or pay a set budget amt and then reconcile at a later date?

The budget plan will REALLY help us out right now, but I am wondering if I am just delaying the inevitable that will "kill" us at a later date. I will watch it so that we don't get too far behind (since this is our first year on it), but still struggle slightly with the decision.

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I did the budget plan in the old house. We never had a 'come clean' month. If the bill flucuated more than 10% either way, they adjusted the bill on a quarterly basis. In this new house, I am sending in a set amount until I can figure out what our averages are. They guy that lived here before wasn't here much at all & there was only 1 of him in this big ole house so I can't imagine his billings would come close to ours.

Sorry, I wasn't much help!

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"A friend is someone who sees through you and still enjoys the view." -Wilma Askinas

I'm in the opposite position. I rely on the fluctuations in my utilities bills. For instance, during the winter our gas bill (which is used ONLY for the furnace) climbs to over $100 a month. However, our electricity bill falls somewhat compared to our summer usage. In the summer we're using our well pump more to run the water sprinklers plus, of course, we're running the air conditioner. By comparison, turning on the oven and running the furnace fan is really cheap in the winter.

Then again, I get that great break in both utilities (gas and electric) during the spring and autumn. That money tends to go toward other household expenses such as pre-emergent weed treatments and bug spray (whole exterminator treatment.)

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"I've been rich and I've been poor but independently wealthy is where it is at."

I am with Cookie, After huge winter heating bills I look forward to the summer where some months we just pay the service charge.
We don't have AC and refuse to spend the money to have a green lawn so it gives us a break from the high utility bills of the winter

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Kimberly Proud Mommy to Bethany Rose April 2006

I do budget amounts and wouldn't think of changing it. When they do their yearly adjustments, it's not a shocking amount. It's usually pretty minor either way. I think with the extreme conditions of Minnesota, you would be able to find a good balance.

In my opinion, I don't like the budgeting plans for the utilities at all. I really think somehow, they screw the people over, I just can't figure out how.. I also think when they estimate the usage, somehow screw people too..

My gas bill would average around $75, at the highest in winter, around $200-250.00. It used to be here, the budget year started in May, ended in April, so I paid the same amount ($75) until April, and then paid whatever the difference was. Of course, it was always $100-200 more. Then they changed it to where they would 'project' the increase throughout the budget year and would increase the monthly amount by $50-$75. I got off the budget plan and just paid the monthly amount each month and also, read my meter each month, ironically, it never went above $200.00.

The last couple years, since I have a new furnace, my gas bill has never been above $100.00 in any month. I keep close tabs on reading the meter and also I pay a set amount each month even during the summer so I can have a reserve in the winter months when I need it.

This is kinda where we sit. Having just moved in last Oct, we are trying to find where we will "sit" as we work through the year. In the last house we had it refined just right so it never re-adjusted except maybe a few $$.

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Our budget payments the first year in this house were based on the elderly lady who lived here before us so we overpaid. the following year it was adjusted to what we paid the first year so the payment is cheaper. I do keep an eye on costs, if I feel we had a mild month I will throw some extra money towards the payment.

We were not on budget for the first year we lived here and we had a really cold winter and our gas bill was 400.00 for one month at the time we were not in the best boat for money. I LIKE being on budget because I know what the amount will be every month I hate surprises. Some years we have gotten a credit other years had to pay an extra $75.00 for gas. Electric tends to give us a credit when I am on top of things by hanging laundry and not running the air all the time.

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I am on the electric budget plan right now as well- after paying almost $300 in Jan and almost $400 in Feb- I had to do it! BTW- Feb was a miscalculation. One nice thing is that the electric company comes here every month so I know that it is an actual and not estimated. Yes it kind of stinks in the summer paying the bills I pay- but I perfer paying my $180 a month instead of $250+ in the winter time. I know the actual what is owed is slowly coming down (I am also hanging dry, turning off any unneccesary applicances and so on). So far they have not adjusted my bill- but if I don't notice too much of a difference by Sept- I will pay extra towards my bill so I don't have a huge difference to pay off.

My DH was upset that I signed us up for that- he also does not think it is logical- I we can't agree on it at all- but hey I pay the bills and in the winter/spring that is when our money is tighter (DH's job is very weather dependant!) and having electric is a nice thing to have!