Despite rising costs, Arkansas ranks among most affordable states for monthly bills
This article was originally posted in The Saline Courier
In the early 1950s, newspaper gossip columns had become an important feature in newspapers.
Such columnists exercised a great deal of power — particularly in the entertainment industry — by providing good and bad publicity for the celebrities of the day.
The columnists also came up with a few good lines their readers would often quote.
One of those columnists was Earl Wilson. He is best known for his nationally syndicated newspaper column “It Happened Last Night.”
One of his best quotes was “If you think nobody cares if you’re alive, try missing a couple of car payments.”
In these times of high inflation caused by too much government spending, balancing monthly household bills and income is often challenging.
However, there is good news for Arkansans.
A new study shows that Arkansas ranks 48th among the 50 states for the monthly cost of “essential household bills.”
Hawaii, California, Massachusetts and New Jersey are the most expensive states to live in for household costs. The more affordable states — with the average lowest household bills — are West Virginia, Mississippi, Arkansas and Kentucky.
This is according to a national study conducted by doxo, a Bellevue, Wash. based bill payment company. That company pays all such household bills for customers.
Customers pay doxo one amount per month for that service.
Since Doxo pays the individual bills for its clients, it has the data to conduct such a study.
The study comes from bill payments in 97 percent of U.S. zip codes and 45 bill pay service categories.
doxo focuses on the estimated $3.35 trillion spent by households on the most common household bills.
These common bills include home mortgage or rent, auto loans, utilities — things like electricity, natural gas, water and sewer, and trash collection — auto insurance, cable/internet service, cell phones, health insurance paid by the person insured, home security and life insurance premiums.
The average American household spends $25,512 annually on household bills.
Two Saline County cities made the top 10 list of most expensive cities in Arkansas.
Coming at number seven was Alexander. Number eight was Benton.
Maumelle was them most expensive city in Arkansas for household bills.
Bentonville, Alma, Jacksonville, Conway and Little Rock were all more expensive than Alexander and Benton.
Marion and North Little Rock finished in the bottom of the top 10 cities.
The five most affordable cities in Arkansas are Pocahontas, Malvern, Hope, Camden and El Dorado.
doxo data shows that the following are the most expensive average monthly bills in Arkansas: home mortgage, $1,022 or rent, $872; auto loans, $459; utilities, $343; and auto insurance, $181.
Still, the average household in this state spends 17 percent below the national average so Arkansas is a great place to live and pay bills.
The study turned up some interesting insights into the concerns of doxo customers nationwide:
- 82 percent of its customers find it difficult to stay on top of paying their bills because of the high price of food.
- 74 percent of Doxo customers have changed their spending or savings habits — with fewer being able to save money.
- 65 percent have received a one percent or less increase in salary during the last year.
- 70 percent are worried about their financial health in 2025.
Finally, 85 percent are worried that they will not be able to pay all of their household expenses next year and have to charge some of those expenses on their credit cards or take out loans on the equity in their homes.
Increasing debit to pay bills is never a good idea, but many see no other option.