Followup question - since her electricity is included in the rent only up to a certain extent (which looks minimal!), last month saw a large increase in the amount billed by the apartment complex, as the bill due November 1 included November rent plus the "excess" electricity for September, according to the October meter reading. With the electricity bill being charged 2 months in arrears, how is this handled in regards to 529 reimbursement? Should she make a payment in December (if the apartment complex will allow it) toward the bill due by January 5 for January rent and November (and maybe December) electricity (though in reality, the apartment complex will credit the amount exceeding the November electricity to January rent and not December electricity)?
Should she pay the entire January bill (I'll assume she gets notice of what it is before January 1) in December if we think there is enough time to claim reimbursement from the 529?
Or should she just pay December rent and October electricity on December 1 and submit the charge for reimbursement (along with all the food expenses) for reimbursement ASAP (as soon as she stocks her pantry again for December), and then claim what she actually paid the apartment complex January - May (May rent prorated for 5 days, but the electricity portion which was for March not prorated?) as "room and board" since that's when the charges were paid, though not incurred? What do we do about April and May (prorated for 5 days) electricity charges that will be billed to her (even if she sublets her room after graduation until the end of the lease) in June and July?
