Effective Sun. August 1st, our electric bill will be going up a whopping 5%. And they are going for another rate increase of 2.5% Jan. 1st.

Our car insurance went up a whopping $120.00 per year effective August.

We had a number of budget breakers the first of the year. Now this, with more to come I'm sure.

Anyone else finding more budget breakers at this time of the year.

Not at the moment, but come fall I expect more than a few as the heating season starts again and the annual adjustment to our heat and light bill happen. Our car insurance is due right after Christmas so we will face that along with Christmas bills.

Seems there is an increase in all areas over here. Insurances- utilities-cable.

:(

I'm thankful our summer electric/gas bills are considerably lower than fall/winter. We've had cool weather and haven't even needed fans for awhile now.

Blah, car insurance is always a killer here. It's $450.00 every three months.

Yes, same here.

Last Dec. our Gas-Elec. bill [on the budget] was $141 a month.
In Jan 2004 it jumped to $174...in March it jumped to $226...in June it went up to $297 per month!!!!!!!

Car Ins. went up only $17 [for 6 mo.]

I am sure everything else will take a jump up also.

On a fixed income...it gets pretty dicey sometimes, just to make ends meet.

Our supplemental health insurance has been $650 a month now for over a year. Can't drop it as it has a great persription plan & I have some health problems.

Oh well, enough complaining for now :D

Our electric rates went up as did our Water, Sewer, Garbage. Our auto insurance will be going up with the new van and as soon as Jaysn gets his Driver's liscence it will take another big jump.:eek:

:hug2: CJ, Liz and all of you. We haven't seen any great raises lately (but they will come I am sure).

One thing that has SO helped us this summer is insulating the attic over our home. I can't believe the difference in our electric bill comparing last year and this. We have more than recouped the cost of renting the blower and the bags of insulation.

I can certainly relate! Our gas bill went up $18 and our mortgage payment went up about the same amount. Plus with having to water the lawn, garden, flowers our water bill is up of course!

Not this month....but .... we have a 2nd mortgage w/ a variable rate... come March, I might be in for a nasty surprise.

(Of course I'm working to pay it off as soon as I can. But still have a long way to go.)

Our water went up 5%, sewer 15%. OUCH!

After reading this post, I DREAMED that DH got a ticket -- and that our insurance was going up!

Then I woke up!

Last year was the first time we did prebuy for our heating oil for the winter, last year it was $1.17 a gallon. This year it's $1.40 a gallon. I can't imagine what the actual cost will be, but still 23 cents more for the prebuy is still quite the rate hike!

And I'm sure the 1st of the year, we'll see our health insurance go up again, like $130 a week isn't high enough.

Just before I had my car inspected last month, my muffler went on my car!

I paid not only $60.00 for an oil change and auto inspection, but $360.00 for a new muffler!

I'm having to keep track of the mileage on both our vehicles for 6 weeks and then give the average # of miles per week to our insurance. This will determine whether or not our rates are going to be raised. :(

Not so much utilitiy hikes that I see here, but having big ticket items go kapoot. Like the washing machine.

:dollar: yeah I know what that one feels like my washing machine went west this morning, it can't be fixed so I've got to get a new(ish) one!

Well now our electric company is going for 2 raises in 2005 rather than one. BUT they can build a huge office complex in downtown Winnipeg when they already have a couple but they say they aren't big enough. UGH!!!!

Now I need to look even more at ways to cut back on our electricity.

Its been pretty bad here too, last weekend the riding mower engine blew and we had to buy a new mower, then the brakes and roters on my car needed to be replaced..so all together last weekend cost us close to 2,000.00...last night I had Pearl to the vet for her yearly exam $83.99 and looks like I'm back to the vet today with Chloe, she has a bladder thingy going on, I fear what that will cost!!!!:toothy: