Comments on: 3 Ways to Smooth Out Big Expenses http://frugaldad.com/2009/09/07/ways-to-smooth-out-expenses/ Money Saving Insights: Coupons, Smart Spending and Promotional Codes Sun, 12 Feb 2012 17:23:02 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: George @ Debt Consolidation http://frugaldad.com/2009/09/07/ways-to-smooth-out-expenses/#comment-31599 George @ Debt Consolidation Sun, 13 Sep 2009 23:35:16 +0000 http://frugaldad.com/?p=3633#comment-31599 I think that the tips on levelizing one's billing with the utility company is a great idea that I have never thought of or hard of. This would really help reduce the very extremely high bills during long summers when the air conditioning is overworking. I'll consider this option. I think that the tips on levelizing one’s billing with the utility company is a great idea that I have never thought of or hard of. This would really help reduce the very extremely high bills during long summers when the air conditioning is overworking. I’ll consider this option.

]]> By: Michael - Fat Loss Tips http://frugaldad.com/2009/09/07/ways-to-smooth-out-expenses/#comment-31496 Michael - Fat Loss Tips Sat, 12 Sep 2009 01:58:34 +0000 http://frugaldad.com/?p=3633#comment-31496 Sinking funds? Never heard of the term but I'm assuming any high interest savings account will do (ie. ING Direct?) Mike Sinking funds?

Never heard of the term but I’m assuming any high interest savings account will do (ie. ING Direct?)

Mike

]]> By: Dawn http://frugaldad.com/2009/09/07/ways-to-smooth-out-expenses/#comment-31338 Dawn Tue, 08 Sep 2009 15:25:25 +0000 http://frugaldad.com/?p=3633#comment-31338 I use sinking funds for all my annual and semi-annual bills, including car maintenance, insurance bills, car registration, Christmas gifts, water and trash bills. It works great! I use sinking funds for all my annual and semi-annual bills, including car maintenance, insurance bills, car registration, Christmas gifts, water and trash bills. It works great!

]]> By: Hilde http://frugaldad.com/2009/09/07/ways-to-smooth-out-expenses/#comment-31312 Hilde Tue, 08 Sep 2009 04:53:20 +0000 http://frugaldad.com/?p=3633#comment-31312 Levelized billing is the only possibility to pay the utiltity companies here in Germany. And automatic deduction (is this the right word?) from your bank account. So this is one problem I don´t have. Levelized billing is the only possibility to pay the utiltity companies here in Germany. And automatic deduction (is this the right word?) from your bank account. So this is one problem I don´t have.

]]> By: Sherry http://frugaldad.com/2009/09/07/ways-to-smooth-out-expenses/#comment-31283 Sherry Mon, 07 Sep 2009 17:50:55 +0000 http://frugaldad.com/?p=3633#comment-31283 Happy Labor Day! I have actually "negotiated" my "budget" amount to the gas company. It's important to look at your usage & what the company perceives you potential usage to be. We had about a $800 credit with the gas company after a long winter (gas is our major source of energy for heat & hot water). The gas company wanted to raise our monthly budget amount????? So I called & after finally getting someone in the US (had been routed to an overseas rep), I said "hey, we have a credit after our highest season of use, why are you upping our monthly payment?" To which, the rep said, "you're right" & I negotiated it down. Contrary to the gas company's perception that the cost of fuel would go up,(it did, but not at their anticipated rate), we broke even. Soo....don't accept the utility company's monthly amount if they are going to become your "savings account" i.e. large credits at certain times. Great ideas....thanx again... Happy Labor Day!

I have actually “negotiated” my “budget” amount to the gas company. It’s important to look at your usage & what the company perceives you potential usage to be. We had about a $800 credit with the gas company after a long winter (gas is our major source of energy for heat & hot water). The gas company wanted to raise our monthly budget amount????? So I called & after finally getting someone in the US (had been routed to an overseas rep), I said “hey, we have a credit after our highest season of use, why are you upping our monthly payment?” To which, the rep said, “you’re right” & I negotiated it down. Contrary to the gas company’s perception that the cost of fuel would go up,(it did, but not at their anticipated rate), we broke even.

Soo….don’t accept the utility company’s monthly amount if they are going to become your “savings account” i.e. large credits at certain times.

Great ideas….thanx again…

]]> By: Financial Samurai http://frugaldad.com/2009/09/07/ways-to-smooth-out-expenses/#comment-31281 Financial Samurai Mon, 07 Sep 2009 16:06:34 +0000 http://frugaldad.com/?p=3633#comment-31281 Sinking funds... never heard of it, but interesting concept. I just put three reminders in my outlook/blackberry one day, one week, and one month before anything big is due. It does the trick. Don't want to go past due those 0% interest free loans or credit cards! Sinking funds… never heard of it, but interesting concept. I just put three reminders in my outlook/blackberry one day, one week, and one month before anything big is due.

It does the trick. Don’t want to go past due those 0% interest free loans or credit cards!

]]> By: Ray @ Financial Highway http://frugaldad.com/2009/09/07/ways-to-smooth-out-expenses/#comment-31280 Ray @ Financial Highway Mon, 07 Sep 2009 15:11:54 +0000 http://frugaldad.com/?p=3633#comment-31280 We have been using the idea of a sinking fund for a while now and it works great. We use a sinking fund for insurance premiums, but are implementing it in other areas as well. We have been using the idea of a sinking fund for a while now and it works great. We use a sinking fund for insurance premiums, but are implementing it in other areas as well.

]]> By: DDFD at DivorcedDadFrugalDad.com http://frugaldad.com/2009/09/07/ways-to-smooth-out-expenses/#comment-31278 DDFD at DivorcedDadFrugalDad.com Mon, 07 Sep 2009 13:35:17 +0000 http://frugaldad.com/?p=3633#comment-31278 Good tips. Frugal Dad you are not alone-- fiscal surprises always seem to come my way in three's . . . Good tips. Frugal Dad you are not alone– fiscal surprises always seem to come my way in three’s . . .

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