September ~~Low Income Thread~~ - Page 2

[Jyotsna]

I'm taking my son to the doctor today, a requirement by the SSI folks, who will determine if he qualifies for SSI. I hate going through this process, but you know what? He needs alot of help with therapy and much more, and it will make a big difference with me paying for his therapies from the money. Also, he has medicine, and it will help with this too. Having a child become special needs as they move into their teen years is quite a challenge.

Wish us luck.

[transformed]

ooooooh! can we do a swap on here?

[New]

Originally Posted by Jyotsna

The newest pair of shoes I have is a 3 year old pair of fake crocs, and they are horrible looking. They don't feel good either. My birkenstocks are completely worn out. They are 10 years old, and I've worn them into the ground. I went to price a new pair of birks the other day and they were $109 with a $10 discount. I'm nearly ready to ask the owner of the store to sell me the pair FOR $10. I have too much pride to do that, but really, how will I ever afford that? And I have wide feet, with some feet problems in the past. I stand for HOURS. I really do need a good pair of shoes for my feet. I feel frustrated.

Costco was selling Crocs (adult & kid sizes) for $15. If you don't have a membership, maybe tag along with a friend?

[janerose]

Joining in! We get WIC, HEAP, EITC, and health insurance through the state. We're in a bit of a strange spot that we make *just* enough to qualify. Which means if DH wants to get a job making more it has be A LOT more. Like enough to make up $500-$800/mo of additional expenses. And that would be to just break even.

Also just found out that DD1 needs like 8 fillings. : The child eats mostly whole foods & we brush regularly. We've even recently started using flouride rinse at bedtime. Grrrr. Anyway, it would run us like $1000 to get that many fillings done at our dentist (who doesn't take medicaid), so I need to look into any local dentists that do take medicaid & take her there for at least the fillings. Unfortunatly, I think the closest one is like 3 hours away! Again...grrrr....

Anyway, looking forward to getting to know everyone here. I read through the August thread, but didn't find it until last, so held off posting until the Sept thread started.

[MichaelsSahm]

Originally Posted by janerose

Joining in! We get WIC, HEAP, EITC, and health insurance through the state. We're in a bit of a strange spot that we make *just* enough to qualify. Which means if DH wants to get a job making more it has be A LOT more. Like enough to make up $500-$800/mo of additional expenses. And that would be to just break even.

Also just found out that DD1 needs like 8 fillings. : The child eats mostly whole foods & we brush regularly. We've even recently started using flouride rinse at bedtime. Grrrr. Anyway, it would run us like $1000 to get that many fillings done at our dentist (who doesn't take medicaid), so I need to look into any local dentists that do take medicaid & take her there for at least the fillings. Unfortunatly, I think the closest one is like 3 hours away! Again...grrrr....

Anyway, looking forward to getting to know everyone here. I read through the August thread, but didn't find it until last, so held off posting until the Sept thread started.

Bad teeth I believe really don't always is because of nutrition. I know alot of people disagree. I had problems with my teeth since I was little. I ate healthy etc. I brushed etc.

[FondestBianca]

so I need surgery. And at some point soon I might need another one as well.... and it's major. This is too much for me to think about right now.

I have an appointment for food assistance tomorrow. They told me it was in person and at 9am. I called to double check and they then told me it was over the phone BUT, since I thought it was in person I didn't send in any proof of income or bills ahead of time... so if want want assistance any time soon I have to drive down there at 9 (with both sleepy, cranky, kids of course). I'm not an early sort of person.... I wish people would communicate things to me and save everyone some trouble. Same thing happened today with my application for project access medical coverage. Now thats going to take 2-4 weeks to get in line... hopefully everything works out with it and I get approved so I can afford to have surgery.

[Ianthe]

Originally Posted by FondestBianca

so I need surgery. And at some point soon I might need another one as well.... and it's major. This is too much for me to think about right now.

I have an appointment for food assistance tomorrow. They told me it was in person and at 9am. I called to double check and they then told me it was over the phone BUT, since I thought it was in person I didn't send in any proof of income or bills ahead of time... so if want want assistance any time soon I have to drive down there at 9 (with both sleepy, cranky, kids of course). I'm not an early sort of person.... I wish people would communicate things to me and save everyone some trouble. Same thing happened today with my application for project access medical coverage. Now thats going to take 2-4 weeks to get in line... hopefully everything works out with it and I get approved so I can afford to have surgery.

That sucks I always have issues with mine too.. it is all over the phone, not just one case worker who knows your case.

[Pumpkin_Pie]

Originally Posted by Jyotsna

Pumpkin Pie---

I looked over the birks on ebay today, and including shipping, everything was close to 100 dollars except for the 90 cents birks, which I doubt will sell for 90 cents. I wear a shocking 41. I sometimes can wear a 40, depending on the style.

I'll keep looking. Thanks for the fyi.

What style are you looking for? Here is a pair of basic sandals for $29.99 with free shipping. A pair of clogs that is currently at $38 with 14 hours left and free shipping. A VERY cute pair of loafers for $49.75 with shipping of about $10. More expensive, but they are really nice shoes, and way less than you would spend in the store. If you are looking for super casual, these have the Birkenstock footbed, but are totally waterproof (plastic). I bet they would be a comfy alternative to flip-flops. $40 with shipping, but I am betting they would feel good on your feet.

Just FYT, Footprints and Tatami are both Birkenstock brand and both use the exact same footbed that Birkenstock does, so you can order them interchangeably. Hope this helps a bit!

ETA: I just found these and bought them in my size! I am a 42, and normally don't buy used shoes, but Birkenstocks have removable footbeds, so I am going to just put the footbeds from a pair that I already have into these and they will be good as new! The bottoms don't look like they are worn at all. They were $20.99 with free shipping! Wah Hoo! I have been dreading looking for shoes to wear to interviews, and these should be just perfect. I am so glad you asked about them here, I had forgotten all about looking on E-Bay for Birks. :

[Jyotsna]

Birks:

Pumpkin Pie, thanks so much for posting these. I will definately consider the first two. A lovely person here on MDC (I think on our little thread) has offered to send a pair of Crocs to me, which she wore a couple of times. I've accepted the offer, and as soon as I have the extra money, will buy a pair of the Birk Clogs (like the ones you showed here).

My kids are sick, and one of my dd's has the flu (possibly H1N1) and we are just staying put. I went out with the kids tonight and bought tylenol, motrin, juices, hand soap and hand sanitizer. I really didn't have the money to buy all of that, but didn't want to be stuck in the house with 3 sick kids and no meds or drinks ect. I've already had H1N1, so I don't think I can get it again, can I?

My most recent 2 clients sent me checks in the mail (final payments) and so I was able to pay the utility bill today, fill the van 1/2 way up. What a great feeling. My ex told my father that he wasn't going to pay child support this month. I spoke to the child support case worker here and she had already spoken to my ex (he called her) and she told him that he HAS to pay, even though he is mad at me. At least there is someone with reason, that he is listening to. I'm so thankful to have them already working on my case (even though I have been waiting 4 years for them to start helping me)! But now they are preparing to go to court, and so I am providing them all the documentation that they need, and things should look better at some point.

[Eyelet]

Hey everyone, glad to have found this tribe. I apologize in advance for this random rant, but this is really bugging me.
I have severe/chronic asthma and my only insurance is medicaid. We live in a rather rural area, so there's only 1 doc within 20 miles of me that will take new patients and his office is a zoo. 2 hour waits and the doc sees you for like 3 minutes. Ugh. Anywho, after several trials with different asthma meds I finally found a good combo that keeps it in check and have been taking these meds for a few years now. Monday, I go to the pharmacy pick them up and I'm told medicaid no longer covers them for adults! : No warning whatsoever. I call my DHS caseworker and she tells me I have to switch to other meds for them to be covered. So I call my doc several times and leave messages with the receptionist...nobody has called be back yet or called in new meds to the pharmacy. The next available appointment isn't until the the 11th and I'm completely out of my meds. Not sure what else to do.

[Ianthe]

Originally Posted by Jyotsna

My kids are sick, and one of my dd's has the flu (possibly H1N1) and we are just staying put. I went out with the kids tonight and bought tylenol, motrin, juices, hand soap and hand sanitizer. I really didn't have the money to buy all of that, but didn't want to be stuck in the house with 3 sick kids and no meds or drinks ect. I've already had H1N1, so I don't think I can get it again, can I?

I think we have H1N1 too.. but it could just be the reg. flu.. (me and DS1, luckily DS2 [2 mo old] has not had any symptoms). It's been lingering for 5 days now.

I still am covered on medicaid, so I could go find out for sure, but I hate going to Dr. offices.

[transformed]

Originally Posted by LizzyQ

I think we have H1N1 too.. but it could just be the reg. flu.. (me and DS1, luckily DS2 [2 mo old] has not had any symptoms). It's been lingering for 5 days now.

I still am covered on medicaid, so I could go find out for sure, but I hate going to Dr. offices.

how do you know?

[Satori]

Originally Posted by Jaki

Hey everyone, glad to have found this tribe. I apologize in advance for this random rant, but this is really bugging me.
I have severe/chronic asthma and my only insurance is medicaid. We live in a rather rural area, so there's only 1 doc within 20 miles of me that will take new patients and his office is a zoo. 2 hour waits and the doc sees you for like 3 minutes. Ugh. Anywho, after several trials with different asthma meds I finally found a good combo that keeps it in check and have been taking these meds for a few years now. Monday, I go to the pharmacy pick them up and I'm told medicaid no longer covers them for adults! : No warning whatsoever. I call my DHS caseworker and she tells me I have to switch to other meds for them to be covered. So I call my doc several times and leave messages with the receptionist...nobody has called be back yet or called in new meds to the pharmacy. The next available appointment isn't until the the 11th and I'm completely out of my meds. Not sure what else to do.

which meds?

[Ianthe]

Originally Posted by transformed

how do you know?

I don't.. just a gut feeling I have.

[Eyelet]

Originally Posted by Satori

which meds?

My Advair and Singulair. I was told that IL medicaid will no longer cover these meds for adults, but for children they're still covered.

[New]

Originally Posted by LizzyQ

I think we have H1N1 too..

Originally Posted by transformed

how do you know?

Originally Posted by LizzyQ

I don't.. just a gut feeling I have.

You should go to your doc/clinic if so, Lizzy. The health dept needs to track progression of H1N1.

[~D~]

New Member Here

Hi everyone I just found this thread looking through the frugality and finances threads. I am looking for advice about banks. I am seriously considering giving up banking altogether... but that's another topic. :

We are so low-income it's almost no income... I just got approved for FS and medicaid for DD,DS and DH & I. Our rent alone is 60% of DH's UIA check... Gotta love Michigan. I am looking forward to getting to know you all and sharing ideas & support....

[FondestBianca]

my food assistance appointment at DSHS this morning was sucessful! Luckily they used dh's YTD to determine projected rather than the current month. As of tomorrow we can finally buy some food!

Yesterday I also had to pick up a perscription that was written at my $175 doctor appointment yesterday. I was thinking, "oh, these will be $40 combined or something right...?" Wrong! One of the medications was $8. Great! The other, the one I really need to use, was $128! What! How the heck can it be $128?? This is nuts, I miss my insurance. Growing up with parents who worked for the state I always just thought it cost $5 to see a doctor and $10 to get perscriptions.... then dh and I bought our own house, moved out of my mom's and I lost my dependent insurance I got through my mom's employeer... and I was introduced to the insurance game. The cruel, cruel game that it is.

Hope everyone is well today and getting some kind of positive news.

[janerose]

Originally Posted by FondestBianca

my food assistance appointment at DSHS this morning was sucessful! Luckily they used dh's YTD to determine projected rather than the current month. As of tomorrow we can finally buy some food!

Yesterday I also had to pick up a perscription that was written at my $175 doctor appointment yesterday. I was thinking, "oh, these will be $40 combined or something right...?" Wrong! One of the medications was $8. Great! The other, the one I really need to use, was $128! What! How the heck can it be $128?? This is nuts, I miss my insurance. Growing up with parents who worked for the state I always just thought it cost $5 to see a doctor and $10 to get perscriptions.... then dh and I bought our own house, moved out of my mom's and I lost my dependent insurance I got through my mom's employeer... and I was introduced to the insurance game. The cruel, cruel game that it is.

Hope everyone is well today and getting some kind of positive news.

You should check with your local chain stores like Walmart, Target, pharmacies, even grocery stores with pharmacies. DH & I now get all 3 of our meds from the grocery store. They have a *huge* list of stuff that is $10 for 3 months worth of meds. It's actually cheaper for us to pay out of pocket this way then to use our insurance and pay the co-pays.

Also, mention to you doctor that you don't have insurance & you'd like to use one of the above programs. Our MD at least has lists in their office of the major chains and the approved medications in each of their programs. This way she always tries us on something from the programs first, then something from our insurance, then as a last resort an uncovered med.

Good luck. Insurance (and lack of it) stinks!

[jessaroo]

Shoes: Simple is have a clearance. Many are summer shoes, but there are good deals and you can find a free shipping code.