This month, I received an extremely high electric bill.  It’s higher than it’s ever been before. and needless to say, I was a little sticker shocked.  On social media, a lot of people in my area were vehemently complaining about how high their bills were.  I considered part of the exorbitant bill was due to our extremely high temperatures and humidity.  Our air conditioning and dehumidifier were both running non-stop.  I also considered that our utility company recently implemented a 17% rate increase. (BOO!)

Fortunately, I’m on a budget plan with the utility so I paid the same as what I had budgeted for the month.  I also know that in the winter months, I use less “fuel” than in the summer.  My hope is that the bill evens out before next May when I have my “Month of Reckoning” with the utility.

Is it a good idea to go on a budget plan?  Mine lasts twelve months with a review after six months to see if an adjustment is needed. So far, I’ve never needed one.

There is some debate on whether a budget plan is a good idea or not.  Some say that it’s a bad idea because you are giving them money they haven’t earned yet.  Others say if you’re on a budget, there are no surprises.  I’m of the opinion that I would HATE a surprise for any given month so I prefer the budget option.  Also, it makes my monthly budgeting easier.

So what is the moral of this story?

When creating your budget, consider using a utility’s budget option.  That way, you won’t have any surprise months with an expensive bombshell bill.