4 Bills You Don’t Have To Pay If You’re Poor
Written by
Caitlyn Moorhead
Edited by
Sean Fisher
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Financial hardship can be a daunting challenge, but there are certain times when saving money on bills and expenses seems impossible. Now it’s not a matter of paying your bills on time, but rather if you can pay them at all — a debt spiral from high-interest rate credit cards ensues.
However, if your monthly bills are stacking up and you have a low income, you might not have to pay everything on your list. Thanks to various assistance programs and policies here are four types of bills that might be alleviated if you’re facing financial difficulties.
If you can’t pay all of your bills and are having a hard time making ends meet, these “Four Walls” should be what you spend your money on first (and in this order):
- Food
- Utilities
- Shelter
- Transportation
Outside of these four walls, however, there are assistance programs and ways to get aid for some of your standard monthly expenses.
Utility Bills
No matter if you make the switch to energy-efficient water heaters or light bulbs, your electric bill can put a ding in your monthly budget. Low-income families often qualify for assistance with utility bills, such as electricity, gas and water.
Programs like the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) provide crucial support in managing these essential services. These programs can offer subsidies or even cover the entire cost of utility bills for qualifying households.
Healthcare Costs
For those struggling financially, healthcare costs can be overwhelming and dipping into your emergency savings account for a big medical bill can be a financial shock that leaves you exposed.
Medicaid and other state-specific healthcare programs can provide comprehensive coverage, reducing or eliminating the need to pay for medical bills, prescription drugs and even some forms of therapy or counseling.
School Meals for Children
Families with low income can benefit from programs that offer free or reduced-price meals at schools. This can significantly reduce the burden of ensuring that children receive nutritious meals during school days.
Programs like the National School Lunch Program offer free or reduced-cost meals to children in eligible households.
Housing Costs
Various programs can help with housing costs, such as Section 8 housing vouchers, which cover a substantial part of rent for low-income individuals and families. Additionally, public housing options provide affordable living spaces with rent adjusted according to income levels.
Living with financial constraints covering everything from unexpected maintenance to home insurance costs is undoubtedly challenging, but various assistance programs can alleviate the burden of some essential bills.
If you’re struggling financially, exploring these options can provide some relief and stability in critical areas of life, like healthcare, utilities and housing.
Final Take To GO
The bottom line is that cutting back on your bills isn’t always about getting rid of discretionary expenses like streaming services or expensive cell phone bills. It’s about figuring out how you can get some help with the necessary bills with which you’re struggling.
You shouldn’t have to go into debt because you can’t afford both your car insurance and your gas bill, so make sure you research where assistance is available to cover your cost of living.
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