December 2024 Budget | Family of 4 | Paying off Mortgage & Saving for Retirement |

[@moneywithjustliving5258]

Good Morning, listening while working.

[@amandahunt5721]

I have a separate account for my fixed bills. I take an average over the last year and that’s what I put in my account per month. Seems to work well in the winter and summer months without having to think about it.

[@SaraMarie]

I’ve considered doing this as well! But I would probably set it up as a sinking fund and treat it how we do our water and trash bills.

[@amandahunt5721]

@ it truly makes my life so much easier to only have to worry myself with our variable expenses each month. Because even though water, gas and electric all vary, I still see them as a fixed in my mind because we’ll always have to pay it.

[@amypetterson4181]

We do this also. We have fixed account and a separate variable account. Then I save for my older kids (21 & 25), so if they ever need something I have money set aside. (They don't know about this, lol)

[@amandahunt5721]

@@amypetterson4181 haha it works so well! I love the system.

[@romoplans]

For your utilities, curious if they have a budget billing option you could do to make it the same price every month. We recently did this and I love not having to guess anymore.

[@alysialang4298]

Be SUPER careful with this. We did this a few years ago and they also put us with a third party and we didn’t notice because we just knew what our bill was so we weren’t checking very hard. Well, at the end of the year we owed them 1500.00. I immediately got off of it and made them take me off the 3rd party.

[@sarahgomez6174]

Can you share which high yield savings you use and if you’ve had a good experience?

[@JANAA56357]

Im a little confused with the apple watch is it just to check where she is? Because you can’t make a phone call with an apple watch if it’s not linked with an iPhone and the iPhone must be close by so they are staying connected 🤔

[@SaraMarie]

I probably didn’t do a great job explaining it. If you get it with cellular you don’t need a phone near it. She’ll be able to make calls and text us without a phone! We can also check her location.

[@JANAA56357]

@ that is very handy! If it works than that’s awesome maybe you can explain more of it i think this can help others too 🤗