Huge increase in utility bill
Posted By: Lucy on 2009-03-01
In Reply to:
What would you do? I just opened my gas bill yesterday and found that my gas bill is 6 x last month's. I live in an apartment and the only gas appliance I have is the water heater. There have not been other people visiting me (I live alone) and I use cold water for clothes washing 99% of the time. I do use my dishwasher about 3 times a week...trying to eat at home! I would have to take 10 long showers a day for this kind of increase. In other words, I do not believe my consumption has increased so much or the rate has recently increased this much!
Many years ago I had a similar thing happen, instead of gas it was an electric bill increase, and it turned out to be a faulty air conditioner. I paid 3 outrageous power bills before that problem was solved and I didn't try to recoup what I paid from the apartment complex. This time I'm not going to do that, as I'm now older and meaner : ) If it turns out to be some sort of leak, can I take the apartments to small claims court? Any similar experiences? TIA...
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The utility co. probably sent it to you by accident. Call them & tell them
l
Is that a new way to increase production?
I remember a few months back about someone posting if they wear a bra or not while typing.
Haven't heard about that technique before! LOL
It is possible to increase your income
Pay off the house! Congratulations!:-)
Is it possible to increase you income temporarily to put towards the cc debt? Can your dh work side jobs or a second job?
After you pay off the house, I would start pay off the cc from the smallest balance first.
200
2K
4K
10K
I would not withdraw from retirement but stop paying it right now. After you pay off the house, put all your money into paying off the cc debt.
For the 4K and 10K I would write them a letter and try to get a lower APR.
Along with the federal tax increase, my
state tax went up 30 cents per pack, so that is a total of 90 cents per pack or $9 a carton more.
Along with the federal tax increase, my
state tax went up 30 cents per pack, so that is a total of 90 cents per pack or $9 a carton more.
No SS Increase! Not just politics sm
This is for everyone who has a parent/grandparent/aunt/uncle/etc. who has worked their USA hands and/or kiesta off all their lives. We paid off the big loans and we punish those older citizens who gave it their all, put their kids through college on their own dime and/or moreso to build this country! Booh, hiss!!!! I thought we made a good choice, but now I am rethinking me thoughts! This is personal, not politics!! Thmbs down, where do we write, anyone know or care to know???
New cause for blood pressure increase sm
Typed in a report today: His blood pressure is 160/100, however, he attributes this to his wife's driving.
Typical male remark, LOL. 
Increase your insurance deductibles
Build up an emergency fund and increase your auto and homeowner insurance premiums to $1,000. You’ll save hundreds per year in premium.
It was national news about Indiana's tax increase!
I read that they were increased between 30-60%! And the state's spending increased by about 30%. So, they spend more, and the average Joe gets screwed.
I'm not saying it won't happen here, but we're on 3/4 acre, and our taxes (property and house) was about $280. for the year. I thank God for that!
Increase your line count by chewing gum!
I have tried this off and on for a few months and every time I chew gum all day my line counts go up. For some reason they say spearmint is the best. I find that it increases my focus and keeps me alert and helps me type faster!!
Current studies are looking into three areas of potential benefits, the company says:
• Stress management: What's behind the common practice of chewing gum to relieve tension? Wrigley cites research showing that it stimulates certain areas of the brain, but wants to go further. "Consumers tell us they use it for that, and yet we don't understand how that comes about," Kumar said.
• Weight management: As a 5- to 10-calorie substitute for a high-calorie snack, gum could obviously reduce caloric intake. But does it help suppress appetite? "It's not that chewing gum has any particular magic, but it can be a useful behavior modification pill," said Gilbert Leveille, executive director of the Wrigley Science Institute, which held its inaugural meeting in Chicago in December.
• Cognition and focus: Is gum-chewing a way to increase focus, concentration and alertness? Wrigley points to studies that show that it increases blood flow to the brain but would like to see it linked definitively to higher concentration levels.
Sam-E found at wally world, CVS, etc. take 1 for 2-3 weeks, no improvement increase to 2 q.d. work
;
Good advice. In this economy, lay low. Sounds like a PT job may be in order to increase income. (
dd
Nothing too huge, but sm
DD is struggling with college and taking classes that are out of her area of emphasis AND ones she didn't have enough high school prerequisites to do well. She tells me she has a solid C in one and should have a C in chem. She was afraid she was going to end up on academic and financial aid suspension, but it doesn't look likely now. She is changing her major AT LAST to journalism!
I have a wonderful job, money in the bank and food in the house. This might seem smallish, but many don't have this. I remember when I could not have all 3 at once.
My house is nearly clean. I have been fixing it up, reorganizing and moving stuff for what seems like forever (okay, only 20 months) and I am finally able to actually clean it as in clean and tidy. It is feeling really good.
The dog got a bath last night. She is cute, fluffy, sweet and smells like jasmine. She is more loveable than ever right now too.
Years ago I liked her but her ego has gotten huge ....sm
and her mouth just runs off with whatever she wants to say to try to get a popular vote. I'm glad he's standing up to her and her untruthful rantings and ravings.
I would have a huge garden - nm
nm
Hercules because he will get huge!
nm
There is a huge difference between ...sm
spanking and beating. My dad used to get out his belt when I was bad. And I mean, I deserved it. Those lessons stuck in my brain, and I did not EVER break that rule again, not out of fear, but respect and I always thought twice about breaking any other rules. Even after I was past the age of spankings. I do not spank my kids with a belt, I cannot bring myself to do that, but I do not fault my dad for doing it to me when I deserved it. I also am a very nonviolent person. I will spank my kids when all the time outs and talking to don't work and nothing else seems to make the lesson stick in their head. They do not have bruises, they are not scared of me, they are happy kids. I think if a lot of other kids would have gotten the spankings they deserved when they were growing up to learn those lessons, they would not have been out shooting people or beating others up and have the issues they do now. And no, I did not grow up in the 50s. I am only 30 years old.
That would be a HUGE no for us - please see inside
Please don't get me wrong, churches are fine for those who believe in that sort of thing. We've been that route. We are very spiritual people but we are in no way religious. We don't believe in the creator the same way and we don't believe in the bible. Certain parts of it (for historical purposes) are fine but too much has been put into it by men that well, that's just for a different post. I just don't believe most of it is true and just another form of brainwashing for most. We don't believe in heaven or h*ll (as in physical places you go to after you die). It just doesn't exist. Heaven and h*ll is a state of mind one is in. Good and evil is in each one of us and what we do with our lives and how we treat others and live determines if we are a good person or not. Once we die we will not either go to a place in the sky floating on clouds kneeling reciting scriptures over and over and over, and neither will we go to a place down below where they claim people will be ripped to shreds being tortured over and over in pain for all eternity. Just isn't so.
If we follow any "religion" our beliefs are in the lines of Paganism (even though being a pagan is not a religion, it is a way of life). This idea (again in my opinion, so please don't anyone take this personal), but the idea that there is a "God" out there "controlling" everything is just absurd to me. There is no God out there determining what happens to our lives on a day to day basis and dishing out to us only what we can handle. We determine what happens in our lives by ourselves.
Believe me, I've been through the "religious" route. Spent birth til 12th grade going to episcopalean and methodist services and sunday school, 12th grade took classes and switched to catholic church for about two years. In my 20's I went to catholic and protestant services. After I moved away from home. I had a jewish friend and he took me to his synagogue for about 6 or 7 months. I moved again and had a friend who took me to her mormon services for about a year. Moved again and attended Baptist services for a couple months and then switched to some religion where it was just way way way creepy where everyone raised their hands in the air, closed their eyes and were chanting out things while people in the back were what I've read called "barking", and others standing around speaking mumbo jumbo that they claimed was speaking in tongues. I think they called their services charismatic. I lasted about 5 or 6 services with them and felt too creeped out and there was just something I can only describe as "evil" about it. So, I would say I've had a pretty well-rounded experience with different religions, and they are all far from what I believe in my heart. The path that I take with my creator is a personal one that I do not share with others. As for God...there is no "Him" to trust therefore no "His hands" to put my life in. There is a creator out there but the creator is not the "Him" that everyone talks about. After being out of all the different services I feel more connected with the creater than I ever did sitting in any of those buildings listening to what I can only describe as brainwashing (especially when they would post scriptures/passages from the bible, but change it a little to benefit what they were discussing). AGAIN, I have to repeat over and over and over to anyone who reads this, these are only my feelings and thoughts. I believe that everyone is entitled to believe what they want and if it works for you and you enjoy your life because of your worshipping and services then that's great for you. Just is not for me.
275 isn't that huge either - Now 475, I could see needing sm
a non-human MRI machine but 275? There are football players who fit that description.
They did a huge article on him
in Homelife magazine. It is amazing the faith and courage he has after all he has been through!
I am a huge Scrubs fan .. did you know . . .
if you go to Hulu.com, you can watch all the episodes of Scrubs and many, many other shows? For free!! That's how I get caught up on a lot of my shows, like Brothers and Sisters!!
That would be a huge NO - see message
I heard about that story. I think it's horrible. She is his mom and if she wants to try holistic help instead of the killer chemo drugs she has every right as a parent to do that. Who in the world does the government think they are sticking their nose in where it doesn't belong. Since when is it the govt's position to tell a parent how they should be able to treat their own child. I'm a firm believer in natural medicines. I try anything before taking an aspirin. I also type oncology reports, and also my mom, grandmother, cousin, and sister-in-law all had cancer and they went the chemo route. They all got sick as anything, suffered horribly, and ended up dying. Very rarely will you hear of someone being cured with chemo. Chemo is a killer drug and the only thing it does is make the pharmaceutical companies richer while the patients suffer horrible horrible pain and death. (remember that everything I say is all just my opinion). I think what this is doing is that the people who want to go the natural route if they suspect they have cancer they probably will not go to the doctor to get a diagnosis because then their name will be turned in and they will be forced to undergo this killer treatment. It just urks me to no end that the govt is ordering the mother to have her child treated with chemo. They need to keep their noses where it don't belong. I hope the mother is able to get the holistic help she is seeking and I think anyone who turns them in is a piece of dirt (in my humble opinion). Sorry, think I went off there, I just get so frustrated with govt sticking their noses in where it doesn't belong, and the pharmaceutical companies having such control over this.
It's actually something like a second job to get the bill that low.
I spend a lot of time studying sales and clipping coupons (doubled and sometimes tripled in our area). And I use bonus cards and shop at places like Aldi's for staple items. I never go into a grocery store without a plan, and I never buy on impulse. A lot of money can get away from you when you just browse up and down the aisles. Also, the $321 does not include cleaning products, pet food, or any paper products. That's strictly our people food. We only eat meat 3 or 4 times a week. I also cook nearly everything from scratch. That's just part of my Italian family's food tradition. I will pay $12 for a chunk of really good cheese, though! LOL It's a balancing act. I can make a really nice platter of gnocchi with just some flour, water, egg and a baking potato. For a "sauce" I just use olive oil, salt and pepper, GOOD cheese, maybe a little bit of chopped ham or dried sausage as a flavoring. Add some sauteed spinach or escarole, a little salad from whatever veggies looked good at the market. Add some beans to the salad to boost the protein, and we're eating very fine! I also haven't bought canned soup in .... probably ever. I save up chicken carcasses or buy the backs to make stock. I also make veggie stock and buy beef soup bones and make my own beef broth. The home-made stocks make all the difference when cooking from scratch.
I keep the grocery bills low by planning my shopping expeditions and cooking from scratch. It depends on how far you want to go with it. I love to cook. It's a creative outlet for me, so I find it relaxing. Someone else may not, in which case, buying convenience foods would lower their stress level and would be worth the extra expense.
I bet she won't get a bill from the
Bet the hospital writes this off.
Gas Bill
I also live in a small apartment (not a complex, up and down situation) of 2 bedrooms, living room-dinning room, kitchen, bath. My gas bill usually runs about $175-200 a month in the winter. My last gas bill for February was over $600. I found out that my contract with the gas company I was using ran out, and they did not tell me. I called another gas company who gave me a deal at half the price. That is still way too high. I am moving back to Oklahoma this next weekend. I now live in Ohio. House payment alone will save me $300 a month, and my gas payment will probably be about $100-150 a month. I can get a huge house for $300 a month, where as I pay $550 now for a tiny apartment. With all the cuts in pay at MQ, I just cannot afford living here any longer.
I use the bill pay also but
when at the bank today where you have to enter your account number do not think enough space to enter what you need for another banking acct. Oh, well will only be transferring money say every 3 or 4 months and the 3.00 extra charge will not be that bad, especially since if you wire transfer in bank I think they charge around 20 or so.
I have a plumbago and it's huge. I love it. sm
I had one when I lived in Minnesota and it came back every year despite the long, cold winters. Down here it has gotten a touch of a freeze but it's still flourishing. They bring butterflies and hummingbirds (unlike my hummingbird feeder).
My father's 4th wedding was HUGE
They had a big Victorian wedding. They had a huge rehersal dinner, wedding and reception. She was married once before and had a small wedding. She wanted a big wedding. Maybe your father and this lady want to have a party with their friends and family?
What zoo still has iron cages. Most have huge
x
Explain the huge difference please. (sm)
Is it between alcohol and pot, crack and mushrooms, crank and LSD? Please, explain to me the huge difference. To me, all drugs are drugs, but maybe some are more preferential to you.
Yes, I made a huge change.
I work outside at a garden center now. The money isn't great, but it's hourly and fair, I'd say. No more being prevented from working because of equipment failure or low work. I love getting out of the house and working with people. I make a difference where I work. Surgical tech is something I looked into, but I don't think I'd like early hours or being locked in one position holding retractors for hours. I might fall asleep standing up. Interestingly, I read about a trend of having OR rooms warmer, which the surgeons HATE, but it seems to be better for the patients. When I was a secretary in the OR, I froze, but I wasn't standing under hot OR lights. Another consideration is whether you are affected by smells. It can be stinky work. The nurses complained particularly about all the cauterization smells during breast surgery, more so than intestinal/rectal surgery, oddly enough.
yes! order an appetizer - they are huge, enough for 2 (or more). NM
1
Me again, tell you what I did about paying a bill for a dog
like I said above, huge animal lover. I have 3 furkids but a friend of mine whose son is a druggie, was not seeing about his dog. The dog needed an operation for a growth on his foot. I paid over $1000.00 for that and now I buy my newly adopted doggie its medicine each month. I never give my friend money because want the money to go for the doggie, not drugs for her kid but you can believe I am seeing the doggie is comfy!
How we cut our power bill...sm
The bill arrived yesterday and it was $40 less than it usually is when compared to any summer month last year. Here's how we did this:
- I enforced people turning off lights when they leave rooms.
- We switched the light bulbs in the living room and bedroom to the energy saving energystar rated bulbs.
- When the washing machine died we replaced it with an energy saving one.
I was suprised that the power bill went down this month... especially with it begin summer and having the A/C running.
To help the kids remember to turn off the lights when they leave a room and to not leave water running that is not being used I gave them the incentive that if the utility bills came in what our usual budget is then they can have the excess money for extra activities this summer. That has sure gotten their attention!
Maybe someone else paid the bill for you.
no msg
Hospital bill
As long as you pay something every month, there is nothing they can do to you.
I would not take my money out of the CD's or move it. Just keep paying something every month.
Quicken Bill Pay
I use that site. It's worth the $9.95 a month to me for all the bills I write.
I have 2 gifts that fit this bill.
Back in the 80s my mother made 2 quilts, one side silky and the other side imitation fur. You talk about warm! Have used those since. The best gift ever was not Christmas but my husband (actually called first to make sure ok) and then bought me home my 2 tuxedo cats- they were really small when he first got them but they have grown into big lovable guys. One a Christmas and the other just a gift. I am blessed.
I have 2 gifts that fit this bill.
Back in the 80s my mother made 2 quilts, one side silky and the other side imitation fur. You talk about warm! Have used those since. The best gift ever was not Christmas but my husband (actually called first to make sure ok) and then bought me home my 2 tuxedo cats- they were really small when he first got them but they have grown into big lovable guys. One a Christmas and the other just a gift. I am blessed.
Electric Bill
Bill was $64.00!
$33.00 for actual electrical usage
$31.00 for Cust charge, Standard Metering charge, Distribution Facilities Charge, Transmissions Services Charge, Purchased Electricity Adjustments, Environmental Cost Recovery Adj, Energy Efficiency Programs, Franchise Cost, State Tax and Municipal Tax.
If you lived in the huge city where I live what you said
might make a difference in whether you lived or not. On a daily basis, people are shot and killed here for less than asking what a teenager was saying and I am not talking about 1 death, talking 3-4 a day. We just had a child killed here when a young kid (male) got upset with the a neighborhood family, went home got a gun, sprayed the home and killed a 2 year old child in his mothers arms. If you wanted to approach the parents, a lot of people only take up for their children and think you are in the wrong for approaching them! I have grown children and of course taught them right from wrong but I am not into trying to kill myself by responding to a small aleck kid. You can ignore and then again if you would like to come here and do that, give them your life. Your choice. You cannot change every smartie kid you might run into- and then you might not have to change anyone for long… I say just ignore. I have got more sense than to get myself killed over nothing.
Remember the New Kids On The Block when they were huge?? When they came to sm
Hawaii where I used to live, I won a radio contest from a drawing. The New Kids actually came to the radio station and drew one winner for the grand prize. There were thousands of entries. Donnie, one of the band members, drew a name after the drum roll, live on the air, and he called my name! I almost fainted! haha I always said I was their biggest fan. So, I got the works...Limo ride, dinner with the band, their family members, radio and t.v. cameras (I was actually interviewed for a Japanese t.v. station through an interpreter). I felt like a star myself....haha....Anyways, I sat next to Joe McIntyre (I heard he was on Dancing With The Stars recently) and I flirted with him the whole time. He was my favorite anyway (back in the day, if you were a fan, you always had a favorite and I was in love with him). I remember he had a wicked Boston accent and I loved it! I am part Hawaiian and he asked me a million questions and I asked him questions too. There was definitely an attraction! I was 16 going on 17, I think. We were the exact same age. He was such a gentleman. I took about a 100 pictures...
After we ate I was escorted to the concert where I had front-row seats, backstage passes, etc.
It was a huge moment in my life for me at that time. I didn't want the night to end. I wanted to be invited up to Joe's room. I swear, I think he really wanted to hang out and get to know me after the show, but he had boydguards and family around and was so busy...at least that is what I wanted to believe...Hey, let a young gal pretend that she almost dated a superstar!!
I rent also and live in a huge complex
They hired someone to do the vinyl and afterwards they were installing the new doorbells. Well, they could not figure them out and while I was working the doorbell was ringing constantly! I went down there and started to explain to them and they could not understand me, not a word. I then called the company myself (got the name off the truck) and threatened to call immigration and explained that if these people passed the citizenship test surely they'd know a couple of words of English. Within an hour they were gone and have not been back. It was funny watching them hightail it out of here from my window :) LOL
We always use VRBO and have had huge success with condos...nm
nm
I have huge love/compassion for animals.
nm
Reply sent! Oh dear...that picture came out huge!
Sorry about that! I wish I could take credit for those--aren't they adorable?! I just did a quick "Google" for those clothespin reindeer ornaments and I found a similar thing to what my cousin made me. You can make similar ones out of candy canes...just use pipecleaners for the antlers and stick googlie eyes and little red pom pom on the cane part to make the reindeer head. I have an ancient one of those too and it's all busted up but still gets hung on the tree because I'm a goofball like that. I love funky old handmade ornaments! All have a little story to tell and keeps the memory sharp.
We always send a huge box of goodies to the troops!
I include a card telling them how very appreciative our family is for what they are doing and that they are not forgotten!
Thank you Trose, so do I believe it will make a huge difference, NM
z
Huge animal lover here but I agree
I once had the most beautiful cat named "dumb cat" cause that was exactly what he was, but he knew he was loved and well cared for.
BTW, I live right out of the city limits but if I did live in the city limits I would not be allowed to shoot a gun.
We did lose some money, but not a huge amount
We have three different ones that we've been keeping an eye on.
lol, I meant - nice that it is all on one bill : )
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