Bills are too low in this game IMHO; but of course using cheats and / or having thousands of Simolions worth of stuff in your household inventory ups the bills a lot.
That's one thing you have to remember if you use money cheats or turn on FreeRealestate to move before your Sims has the income to sustain themselves.
I don't think I have ever struggled with money in this game since before Vampires came out. You literally have to cheat to NOT be a millionaire before becoming an elder in the game.