Advice For Anyone Struggling To Pay Their Energy Bills

For many people out there, there’s a monthly struggle to pay energy bills. Energy bills can be quite costly, but they’re a household necessity. If you do struggle to pay your bills, we’ve got some tips that can help you out:

Create A Budget

If you’re having trouble paying bills, the best thing to do is draw up a budget. Create a budget to get control of your monthly spending. You should take the money you get every month and subtract your energy bills from that amount. What you have left over is money to spend on food and other essentials. You should split this money up into weekly budgets. Set yourself a weekly allowance for food and drink. You should also factor in any transport of fuel costs. If you create a budget, you’ll find it easier to make it through the month and pay your bills. Plus, it’s a good way to help you save money. Of course, a budget only works if you stick to it, so make sure that you do!

Short Term Loans

A lot of people struggle to pay bills because of when their payday is at work. You may be getting paid money on a Friday, but need to pay your energy bills on Monday! If this situation sounds like it applies to you, then consider a short term loan. This is a loan that you can use to get a little bit of money, in a short space of time. It can help you get the cash you need to pay your energy bills and then you simply pay it back when your money from work comes in. As MoneyBoat has said, late repayments can cause serious problems. So, if you do opt for a loan, make sure you can pay it back in time, or you’ll be in real financial bother.

Get A Second Job

You may need to bring in some extra income to cover the cost of your energy bills. There are plenty of things you can do as a second job to gain some cash. You could do a bit of freelance writing. This is something you can do at home on the weekends. Or, get a weekend job in a bar or shop. A few hours work on the weekend can be all it takes to get the money you need. Soon, you’ll be able to afford your energy bills each month.

Switch Energy Providers

Perhaps the problem isn’t so much your finances, but rather your provider. Many people up and down the country overpay for their energy. A lot of the time companies can sneak up the price of your bills after you’ve been with them for a year. Most people can’t be bothered to go through the hassle of switching providers, so just accept the raise. But, if you’re really struggling every month, it’s best you look for a better deal. Take a look at price comparison websites for the best energy deal for you. A change in provider can make it a lot easier to pay your bills every month.

If you get your gas and electricity from two separate energy companies, you’ve probably noticed that they’re always trying to persuade you to get both your fuels from them on a dual fuel plan. A “dual fuel plan” is one where you get both your gas and electricity from the same supplier, on the same contract.

Energy efficiency image courtesy of pixabay.