Quite a few people, military and otherwise, inquire about properties that include utilities in the rent.

At first this may sound like a good idea, and you may think you're saving money. But a little number crunching could reveal the truth of the matter.

First, very few rental properties on Guam offer leases that include utilities. The cost of power is a real wild card here. For example, my neighbor was talking about his bill being under $200. Ours is normally over $400 for the same size home. Granted I keep arctic like conditions at night, causing my wife to bundle up like she's bivouacking on the summit of Mount Everest, but that's another story.

The point is, owners generally have no way of controlling or keeping tabs on your power use, so very few are willing to stick their neck out and assume responsibility for your consumption. So, generally speaking, finding living quarters on Guam that includes utilities is pretty rare. Most condominiums on Guam as well as apartments, have individual meters for power and water. A few offer utilities at a flat rate, which is probably quite a bit more than you would be spending if you paid your bill yourself.

Military personnel receive an allowance for utilities ($800 with dependents, $600 without) that should more than cover the cost of power and water and leave enough left to cover cable, internet and telephone. That's a flat rate you will receive every month and you don't have to account for it or show evidence how much your bill was.

I'll talk a little about saving money on your power bill in the next post.