Have you missed so many payments they're threatening to cut you off the grid? If you answer yes, it's time to snap out of the debt cycle you're in and start taking control of your finances. There are many ways you can make ends meet and save up, no matter how small your paycheck is. Here are some money-making ideas.

1. Put in overtime. If your employer lets you do overtime, put in a few hours more - what you make doing overtime can go to your utility payments.

2. Get a side job. Surely you have some skill others don't, or maybe a hobby that you can make money from. Whatever your skill or hobby, you can offer services in exchange for cash.

3. Adjust your withholding tax. Withholding extra money from your pay just so you can get a tax refund is not a good idea when you're one who needs help paying electric bills. So if you have been doing that, stop. Make sure you're having just enough withheld for taxes so you don't owe the IRS anything come April.

On a related note, the IRS' official website provides a calculator that you can use to compute the tax amount that should be taken from your paychecks.

4. Look for local hardship programs. These programs - usually of local organizations - can loan you the money you need to make ends meet. Local churches and humanitarian groups such as the Salvation Army are also good places to look to for help.

5. Take out a loan from a credit union or a bank. If you have great credit and a steady income, odds are you can qualify for small loans from your bank. The upside is that these loans have low interest rates and offer good repayment terms. The downside is that they have very strict qualifications and it's highly likely your application will not be approved.

Finally, there are payday loans. You can get one online in as fast as an hour. Bottomline, there are many ways to get help paying electric bills. Good luck!