Managing bills
Unfortunately bills are part of life and they often feel like they all come at once.
Bills and ‘bill time’ can place incredible stress on households, especially with the rising cost of utilities.
The Queensland Government offers a range of concessions and supports to help ease cost of living pressures like energy costs, but there are other ways you can make bill time more manageable.
Automate regular bills
By automating your regular bills, you can save time, avoid late fees or paying interest. There is also the peace of mind that your bills are paid on time. Some providers even offer discounts for automatic payments - that's more cash in your pocket.
Pay large bills in smaller instalments
Paying in instalments, where providers allow, helps to avoid ‘bill shock’. If you can, set-up a direct debit and take the stress out of remembering when a payment is due. The Queensland Government allows you to pay your car registration by direct debit and if you get a Centrelink payment, you can use Centrepay to pay bills.
Go paperless
Not only is receiving your bills friendly to the environment, but it can also save you fees and means that your bills are in one inbox instead of on the fridge, on the kitchen bench or at the bottom of a bag.
Consolidate
Where possible, try to consolidate providers who may be able to offer a discount if you have multiple products with them.
Shop around for better deals
It pays to do research and compare prices. For utilities like energy and gas, you can use platforms like the Australian Government’s Energy Made Easy. With internet, phone and private health insurance, every 12 months, look at what you use – there could be a better plan or provider for you.