Loading request...
Users want a feature that allows them to track and manage their utility payments directly within the budgeting app, as many struggle with high utility bills and need a better way to monitor their expenses.
I hope it's o.k. to post this. I didn't say anything about it in the rules. I know that even we frugal people have trouble paying our utility bills sometimes, so I wanted to let everyone know that there is help out there, and how it works. Before someone accuses me of sponging off the government, I'm 74 and worked for 40 years before becoming disabled with lupus and now with glaucoma. I actually worked part time online before AI took all of my work. I'm not ashamed to ask for help when I need it. I pay 78% of my SS benefit to rent every month, which doesn't even leave me enough to pay for my necessities. Despite cutting back as much as possible on my utilities without freezing or dying of heat stroke, I still have a hard time now paying my utilities. I do 95% of my cooking in small appliances, never use my stove's oven, sponge bathe 5 days a week and only shower twice a week, cut off all lights when not in use, keep my thermostat at 68 in the winter and 80 in the summer (78 at night), run fans, and save every drop of water when I'm running it to get it hot. I finally broke down and applied for LIHEAP -- an energy safety net program that helps people pay for electric bills. I got word today, and I'm so relieved. I was paying my utility bill out of the OTC money from my Advantage Plan, and they cut it by $78 a month this year, from $217 to $139. I could barely pay my utilities out of that, and was having to pay cash for my internet, which left me pretty much broke. LIHEAP only pays for the electric part of your bill, but I figured out that is about 75% of my total bill, especially in the summer when the a/c just won't turn off! I've had electric & water up to $160 for a 500 sf apartment. Water is usually negligible, about $30 total a month, but electric is very high here. They give you a lump sum voucher, paid directly to your utility co., which for me, I figure will pay for the electric for at least 4 months. Then I have a certain amount for when there are emergencies that make me unable to pay my bill one month. That is only good until October. You can only apply once a year. The main site is [www.liheap.org](http://www.liheap.org), and it has a list of the states and how to apply through your local agency. If you are on SNAP, and over 60, you are automatically approved, but how much you get depends on how much your income is, where you live (which determines your provider and their rates) and how much money they have in their coffers. I wish I had applied before, but when I was getting more OTC money, I could pay my utilities and internet out of that and have some left over, so I didn't want to take money others needed more. Now I definitely need it, because I have to use a lot of OTC eye drops since my two eye surgeries, and they cost anywhere from $10 to $30 a bottle. I also have to use special lozenges and mouthwash for my dry mouth, which runs about $20 a month. I also have to pay a minimal amount for my prescriptions now, instead of getting them for free, so this will help a lot with that. There is help out there, you just have to know where to look. I'm always looking for new programs and charities that can help, but I won't take what I don't need. Like I have a neighbor who has full SNAP benefits, but she also goes to about five food banks and giveaways a week. She doesn't need that food, she just wants to be able to spend her SNAP on expensive stuff like seafood and steak. I could never do that. I know what it's like to go to a food bank and have them give you next to nothing because they are almost out of food. I'd feel so bad if I was taking that food away from those people. I hope this can stay up and it helps someone.