
How Mississippi Families Can Cover Utility Bills in Summer
When Mississippi summers hit their peak, many families face a familiar and stressful challenge: soaring utility bills. That’s when families start looking for ways to prevent shutoff with loans in Mississippi offered by reputable companies like Mississippi Title Loans Inc.
In this guide, find out what you can do to lower your bills and how to take out a loan if your budgeting strategy suddenly fails. Discover how title loans, payday loans, and signature installment loans can help you afford financial emergencies like overdue utility bills.
Why Are Utility Bills So High In The Summer?
Home electricity bills are expected to hit a 12-year high this summer. The expected increase in costs is due to a combination of high temperatures and rising electricity prices, which are growing faster because of inflation.
Unfortunately, when electricity prices go up, they tend to stay high. Even when it gets cooler, your bill might still remain quite elevated.
Furthermore, the average water and sewer bill for a typical household has increased by nearly 25% in the past 5 years. The spike becomes even more obvious during the summer as we simply tend to use more water for garden and pool maintenance.
How To Lower Your Utility Bills This Summer
When facing the hot summers in Mississippi, there are many ways to reduce your utility bills. As your bills increase with the heat, you'll need to use money-saving tips to prevent spending more on utilities than you can afford.
To make your bills a bit more manageable, you might want to try out the following tips:
- Adjust your thermostat: You can save up to 10% on your cooling costs if you adjust your thermostat by 7-10 degrees for at least 8 hours per day. Giving up air-conditioning altogether only to lower your bills should not be an option, as this might lead to various health issues.
- Turn down the water heater: Many heaters are set at 140 degrees by default. In reality, you might need it set only at 120 degrees or even lower. This small adjustment can help you save hundreds of dollars annually.
- Avoid peak hours: The off-peak demand is billed at a rate of 25% of the demand charge. Using your dishwasher, washing machine, and other appliances during mornings, nights, and weekends will help you significantly lower your bills. If you manage to avoid the main peak hours during the summer season (3 p.m. to 6 p.m.), you’ll already be saving a small fortune.
- Fix all water leaks around the house: An average home loses about 9,400 gallons of water annually due to leaks. The most common types include dripping faucets, worn toilet flappers, and other leaking valves. These leaks can actually worsen during the summer due to higher temperatures, potential pipe damage, and increased water usage. Therefore, be sure to keep a close eye on your plumbing system.
3 Emergency Loans To Help Mississippi Families Pay Summer Utility Bills
Even those who master the tips above might still struggle with rising expenses. The good news is that there are several lending options to help if managing bills becomes difficult. If your utility bills are too high to cover, Mississippi Title Loans, Inc. offers three emergency loan options to assist.
Here are the three loans you can borrow to pay for expensive utility bills to avoid service disruptions:
1. Title Loans
A title loan uses your vehicle’s title as collateral. It can become a convenient borrowing option for those who need a relatively large sum to cover their emergency expenses. Depending on the value of your vehicle, you might qualify for up to $2,500.
However, only those who own their vehicle outright and have a clear title can consider such a loan. If you’re still making payments on the vehicle, you won’t qualify. Only cars, trucks, and vans are eligible—motorcycles, boats, RVs, and trailers do not qualify.
Thankfully, if you do own an approved vehicle outright, you can get approved with the following required items:
- A driver’s license or a state-issued ID with your name, age, and photo
- A lien-free car title in your name
- Your vehicle for a quick inspection
2. Payday Loans
With a payday loan, you might be able to get anywhere between $100 and $400. You wouldn’t be required to provide collateral to secure the loan. You can get approved for this type of short-term loan if you can prove you have current income using your most recent pay stub.
A payday advance is best used for a smaller emergency that you need to pay right away. A Mississippi cash advance for utility bills can help because you likely will only need a couple of hundred dollars to afford the charge. Same-day approval can allow you to get money fast before you experience service disruptions from missed payments.
Here are the items you will need to get approved for a payday loan:
- A state-issued photo ID that displays your full name and age
- Your most recent pay stub
- A blank check from an active checking account in your name
3. Signature Installment Loans
A signature installment loan can bring you up to $1,250. You wouldn’t have to put up any collateral, as your signature will be used to secure the loan. Upon signing a loan agreement, you agree to repay the loan in fixed installment payments over the course of a few months.
However, please note that you will be required to provide proof of income and a checking account statement in your name. This means that you won’t be able to qualify if you don’t have a bank account or if you don’t have the documents necessary to prove you have a stable income.
The following are the eligibility requirements for signature installment loans:
- A state-issued photo ID that displays your full name and age
- Your most recent pay stub
- A checking account statement in your name
How To Get A Mississippi Loan For Utility Bills?
Mississippi Title Loans, Inc. offers several loan options to help with utility bills. Whether you decide to go for a title loan, a payday loan, or a signature installment loan, the process is very similar.
You will only need to complete a few steps that should take less than one day. You can apply online, but you will need to come to one of our Mississippi store locations to complete the process. Thankfully, the in-person portion of the process takes less than 30 minutes.
Here are the steps involved in getting an emergency loan in Mississippi:
- Fill out the correct loan form on our website
- Answer a phone call from a loan specialist to discuss the process and terms
- Bring your required items to the nearest Mississippi store for verification
- For title loans, get your vehicle inspected for its value
- Sign a loan agreement to complete the process
- Receive your urgent cash the same day or the next business day
FAQs
Can I qualify with bad credit?
We strongly believe that people with poor or no credit should not be ‘punished’. Everyone deserves a chance to get a necessary financial boost when they need it most. That’s why, at Mississippi Title Loans, Inc., your credit score won’t prevent you from getting approved. It may reduce the loan’s value, but you can still borrow some money for your financial emergency.
What type of loan is best for paying overdue utility bills?
Each loan can be helpful because of the fast approval process. However, title loans can be more difficult to get approved for than the other two, especially if you haven’t fully paid off your vehicle yet. Payday loans are probably the most attractive option due to their simple approval and shorter terms.
How long does it take to get approved?
You can get approved the same day you apply for each loan. The online form takes less than five minutes, and you can get approved in person in under 30 minutes. Approved borrowers will receive their funds within one business day.
Get Help Covering Your Utility Bills – Borrow Mississippi Emergency Loans Today!
Need help covering overdue utility bills? Mississippi Title Loans, Inc. can help with our flexible loan options. Explore your options and speak with a friendly loan specialist today. Relief from overdue bills could be just one visit away. Ready to get started? Fill out the correct online loan form for the loan you seek, and we will contact you over the phone to discuss how to get approved in person today!
Note: The content provided in this article is only for informational purposes, and you should contact your financial advisor about your specific financial situation.