Many financial institutions, such as credit unions, offer budget account services, where a sum of money is set aside from your regular income to meet selected bills as they arise. Some of these institutions charge a fee for these services: the costs can vary so it pays to shop around. These services offer the advantage of allowing you to plan to meet bills that you consider essential. However, sometimes bills end up being larger than originally expected, resulting in you needing to find extra funds to cover the shortfall. It is important to note that once you have committed yourself to budgeting for the selected bills, you will usually have to pull out of the scheme if you decide you need the money for something else.