2025 Budget Wrap Up

[Anonymous]

I don't feel capable of commenting, really, but this is great motivation for me to sit down and think about 2026 budgeting. So thanks for posting.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I have two systems: a heat pump upstairs and a gas furnace downstairs. I have no other gas appliances. I looked up my bills. The $14 is the minimum for keeping gas service. I use no gas in those months. In a heavy month, I use about 40 therms. The bill date paid does not exactly correlate with the date of the weather--it's a little ahead.

Jan - $36
Feb - $62
Mar - $62
Apr - $31
May to Nov- $14
Dec - $18

I would be dead if I used no heat in Dec. I don’t care to lower my heat to have an $18 gas bill in Dec, but that’s why we all set our own budgets.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have two systems: a heat pump upstairs and a gas furnace downstairs. I have no other gas appliances. I looked up my bills. The $14 is the minimum for keeping gas service. I use no gas in those months. In a heavy month, I use about 40 therms. The bill date paid does not exactly correlate with the date of the weather--it's a little ahead.

Jan - $36
Feb - $62
Mar - $62
Apr - $31
May to Nov- $14
Dec - $18

I would be dead if I used no heat in Dec. I don’t care to lower my heat to have an $18 gas bill in Dec, but that’s why we all set our own budgets.

As I mentioned above, the bill date is a little later than the date the gas was used. I used closer to $36 of gas in December which was paid for in January. You'll see March is really high, but that's because it's paying mostly for February.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I don't feel capable of commenting, really, but this is great motivation for me to sit down and think about 2026 budgeting. So thanks for posting.

I really found great enjoyment in telling my money where to go rather than wondering where it went! I feel like we live an amazing, abundant life on this budget. Yes, I like my house chilly but that's my choice.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Also, are you sure your utilities are that low? Electricity has been that much alone for a few months.

We are low users of energy. House set to 62 in winter and 77 in summer. We also do all those savings programs. Figures are accurate. It was 55 the other morning inside. Brrr. But I don’t mind and DH goes in to work.

You are my hero OP, tbh.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I recently did ours and it was $35,000 a month, not including income taxes. We have two homes and the property taxes alone are about $4k. We are retired, travel frequently between the two homes and are members at two clubs. It’s pretty insane but we both worked a lifetime to be able to live this way. We also give a lot to charity through a DAF.

Good for you. And not insane. Given that you give a lot to charity, you get no snark from me over the homes and clubs. Good job.