How to Juggle Household Bills
When the pressure of household finances becomes a burden, and there is more month than money left to go around, it's time for some serious creative financing and maybe even a temporary part-time job to cover a few of the past due bills. Being persistently tardy in paying bills hurts your credit rating as well as your self-esteem. A few changes here and there will soon have you back on track with your household bills--minus the nagging recorded messages.
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Instructions
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Decide which bills are the most pressing and prioritize them in order of necessity such as electricity, heating fuel, auto and home insurance, food and rent--not necessarily in that order. Tailor your list on what you decide are “priority” bills.
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Check the past due dates on each bill and write them down. If you get paid weekly, pay whatever bill is on the cusp of being past due that week, and cross it off your list. Pay off more than one pressing bill per week if you can manage it without going hungry.
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Apply for the Low Income Heating Energy Assistance Program. See the Resources section for a link. This program is available nationwide to low income families who meet the requirements of the program. Tip: A "disconnect" electricity bill helps speed matters when you fill out your paperwork. Help is at hand for heating fuel, propane gas or firewood depending on how you heat your home. This grant is free and you don't have to repay anything.
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Open a free checking account just to pay your bills with the free ATM card, and sometimes banks have free Bill-Pay. Alternatively, purchase a refillable Visa card at any large store such as Wal-Mart, and put bill money on it each time you are paid. Make sure you don’t use the card for any other reason other than the bills.
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Endeavor to pay bills online if possible, as human customer service representatives usually charge you $5 extra for the privilege of paying your bill to them. If you have multiple weekly bills to pay this way, the tally soon adds up and you find you could actually pay a bill with the extra charges that you have spent. Save money where possible.
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Go without entertainment for two weeks. Money you would have spent on movies--rental or movie theater--may be put towards a pressing bill. Refrain from eating out. Remember that it is usually it's less expensive to eat in and make it from scratch. Pinch pennies on everything until the bills are caught up and you are in the black once again..
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