~~~~2013 Low Income Support Thread~~~~ - Page 9

[mamarhu]

I am SO-O-O disappointed! I hadn't been to the dentist in 15 years (I remember this because YoungSon, now 16, was nursing, literally, as I had a tooth pulled!). My job provides dental insurance, so I thought I would take advantage... I went in last week for exam, x-rays, cleaning, and the insurance paid 100%. So far, so good. Went back today for consult - I knew it wouldn't be pretty, but I thought insurance would pay 70-80%, so I listened to all the planning, pros and cons of various treatment options, and all that. I pretty much decided they were right, I need full denture on the top, plus a couple crowns and major periodontal work on the bottom. When they got to the money part, my etes sort of glassed over, and I lost track of what she was saying - insurance will cover 50% of this, 70% of that, anyway, the total came to nearly $9000. My part would be over $3000. I was trying to think how I could come up with that, when the sweet receptionist mentioned casually that my insurance has a cap of $2000. Oh, minus the $400 they already billed for the exam. That means my part would be $7000!!! Well, so much for dental care for this girl. I am going to have the 3 painful teeth pulled, and hope that the front ones last so I don't look too awful.

This is really discouraging. It took a lot for me to even get in to the dentist's office. Bleh.
 

[Honor Noble]

Oh honey, that sucks. If you are really looking into dentures look into clinics that specialize in dentures. In my area they are much more affordable than typical dentists and have payment plans. As far as the periodontal issues I have been using periobrite toothpaste and seen some great result. I didn't have major gum issues but still they are noticeably healthier. If you don't aleeady look into getting adequate d3 and magnesium as well. Thes3 things, cheap old peroxide,xylitol, and some homeopathy have been majorly improving my dental issues.

[tillymonster]

Originally Posted by phathui5 

Being broke the past few days here has meant that I couldn't spend any money. No stopping at the drive-thrus, no picking up a few things at the grocery store. We've eaten what we had at the house, did the WIC "shopping," which helped. Not buying things that I wanted (when it's not like we had no food at home) has probably been good for me.

OMG thanks ye gods for this thread. Especially this post above-- we basically had the same week and wow WIC just doesn't cover it meal-wise.

I got our BFP back in January for this baby who was planned. DH comes home a few weeks later with a layoff notice! This happened with my DD and was all too familiar and sad for me. DH and I are now applying for assistance and such and moving into a dumpy mobile home in a not-so-nice area to save on rent. My FIL is a wonderful man and always does what he can to help so it's hard for me to complain about it. The jobs in DHs industry are all booming in another state and DH is too afraid to move while I'm pregnant so we decided to stay put. It's all so hard for me because I've turned my job into a WAH situation and did it well. Just to find out again that DHs job is being taken from us and it falls to me again. I was the only one working for most of my pregnancy with DD1 and if was a super stressful time in my life I'll never forget.

So that's my story. We only made rent this month because we got a tax return. Yikes!

[frugalmama]

We're in the same boat - broke. I really wish we still had WIC - I miss all the free food, especially the milk & eggs. 

I've been listing stuff online to try to make some funds. Sold a little, but not much, so we're having a garage sale this weekend hopefully if the weather is okay. Need to raise funds so I can pay bills next month. We managed to get this month covered, but next month is completely unfunded at the moment. 

Anyone have tips for staying cool with no a/c? It's already getting up into the 90's here, and it looks like we might not have a/c all summer unless I can sell some of the big stuff we have that isn't selling now. We've been doing the whole eat lots of popsicles to stay cool, but it's still really hot. 

[Honor Noble]

Re staying cool-you should call 211 if its available in your area. They may have assistance of some kind, helping you pay utilities and/or buying you window acs, etc. I also know our area sometimes has cooling shelters, allowing people to go somewhere and cool off during peak heat. Otherwise, try to go to the librsry or other public place during peak heat times. The old fan in the window helps, as does cold showers and putting rags in the freezer. You can also put pillowcases and lap blankets in your freezer in a siplock bag. I know there is supposed to be certain foods that help cool you.

In good ness it looks like we can afford health insurance after all. I can get my yearly pap smear with no out of pocket and get a free eye exam. I still don't think Ican swing much in the way of dental care but the insurance is less shitty than before so after saving we can get in there too. Im still not sure what to do with mychildren. Medicaid has 30 days to process, but if they are approved, which they should be, it is cheaper and better coverage.

My only worry now is the fact that we are doing wonderfully as long as hubby gets overtime, but underwater if he does not. Overtime is pretty consistent there but I want to beef up savings in case there is any lull.

[AngelBee]

We have finally bit the bullet and applied for full assistance. I also called 211 today and have an appointment to get food tomorrow and call into get maternity clothing. I am sick of struggling. So we asked for help.

So much hoop jumping. Today alone I have been going 9am-about 30 mins ago, Phone calls, appointments, printing forms, filling out forms, checking in with worker, calling employer, printing bank statements, etc......so much to do!

Good news is we wont be hungry, we will have health insurance, and we will have resources for anything else we need (like car seats for twins due in July)

I am embarrassed and relieved all at once. Grateful and sad. Plus being 21 and a half weeks along and still working. Tired and emotionally exhausted.

[justmama]

AngelBee, I know that was hard but I think it's for the best.  It won't be forever and your kids deserve everything you can give them even if it hurts to give it.

Tillymonster, congrats on your BFP.  I know that it's hard to be super excited and thrilled when you are struggling and looking at how hard life will be since it's not what you planned on(even though the babe was planned) but babies are a wonderful gift and ALWAYS a blessing!  So I believe congratulations are in order!

Rhu, I can't imagine how upset you must be.  I am angry FOR you.  That's ridiculous.  Who can afford $7K for fixing their teeth?????  Even financially sound people would have to really think about life and finances in order to fork over $7K for teeth.  Dental care is highway robbery.

happyhats, I hope the insurance situation works out for yo u.

I had to share my happiness today.  I got a great deal today and it got me all excited.  It's foolish really.  My youngest daughter's asthma was acting up so her teacher called me to come pick her up.  Once I realized it wasn't critical, I gave her the inhaler and decided to stop by the natural foods store to pick up something on the way home.  They had 5oz buckets of Olivia's organics baby kale for $1 each!  I got two.  They were only slightly wilty on the top handfuls and the rest was great.  So I chopped up the wilty parts and froze them in baggies and the good stuff I'll be using for salads and smoothies today and tomorrow.  I missed out on free bananas but they had a box of Annie's organic wheat bunnies for just $2 which is crazy low.  We never get those and the kids love them so that was a special treat.  I was so excited about my good deals.  I've gotten free stuff from there bunches of times but typically I can't even afford to shop there.  

[crunchymonkey]

justmama, what do you do with kale? I know how awesome it is for you and I bought a bundle the other day but it's just sitting in the fridge, being lonesome since I don't know what to do with it. If we had a blender I'd have no problem making a smoothie, but we don't. Also, my daughter loves those bunnies. She's 11 months old and will walk around with the whole box haha

Me and my daughter are fully enrolled and done with the medicaid process thank god. Sent in daddys payslip this morning so we should get SNAP next month. Had my first prenatal appointment scheduled for yesterday but we didn't have the gas. My fiance only got paid enough to pay rent + $4. I want to cry about it. We're going to have to ask his grandparents for help again. We need gas, groceries, and electricity so we'll have to borrow about $150.  Waiting for my phone to come in so I can start working. As soon as it gets here I can schedule myself to start taking calls and contributing again. In the meantime I'm doing swagbucks, see if I can get SOMETHING to help out.

[justmama]

My kids' favorite: http://www.katheats.com/favorite-foods/kale-chips

Be SUPER careful.  They make your house REEK but they are delish.  Once your house starts smelling horrendous, check them every minute or so because they will go from lovely crispy with golden tips to "cajun style" blackened in seconds.  But they are worth it.  

I usually just use it in place of spinach.  If you "massage" it(squish it up a bit) it tastes like broccoli and gets rid of the bitterness.  I like to chop small and put it in soups, quiches, bean burritos, etc.  I'm vegetarian so it makes it's way into a lot of foods I eat.  But this baby kale is soft and tender like spinach.  It hasn't gotten that thick inner stem/rib and the bitterness yet.  

[justmama]

Oh and we are dairy-free so we use nutritional yeast but you can put parm on your kale chips if you so choose.  They are really good with just sea salt.  But lots of people like garlic powder and parm cheese.

[Honor Noble]

Yes I love kale chips. We just make them with sea salt and olive oil. I make a small batch almost every day. Justmama Im super jealous of your deals! I was proud of getting 10 lbs of potatoes for 99 cents, and strawberries were 1.19 a pound. I get reduced bananas quite often but nobody does free.

Hugs for all my mamas.

[mamarhu]

I just found a free 12 week cooking class for DS and me to attend. Very healthy nutrition lessons and recipes, sponsored by a whole grains company and the local acupuncture college. Probably not frugality-oriented specifically (some of the menus include salmon and other expensive ingredients), but at least we will get 1 free healthy dinner a week! YoungSon, at 16, is interested in health, but not so much in listening to Mom, so perhaps he will be able to hear it better from someone else. Wish y'all were near - I would love to share this resource!
 

[frugalmama]

Justmama - those are some amazing deals! I wish our stores did things like that - the only store here that does is over an hour away on city bus. Once in a while I get regular bananas 4 or 5 lbs for $1, but that's it at my local grocery

Mamarhu - hope you have fun at the cooking class! It may surprise you - frugal is in now. Of course our idea of frugal and theirs aren't quite alike :)

I'm kinda down today - when it rains it pours. We scrimped and saved and sold enough to pay the rest of the electric bill, and I was about to go pay it tomorrow. But today I got a disconnect notice - they voided my payment plan since I got assistance, and now we owe another $150 on top of what we had to pay. And I have until the 28th to get it paid in full. So back to the grindstone I must go to sell off more stuff. We're going to have a yard sale this weekend, but that was supposed to go towards next months bills.

I really need to find something else I can do for income. I sell books online, but sales haven't been good lately, plus with all the shipping increases it's eating up my profits. I can't watch kids with no a/c, so that's out. The only things I can think of is something on etsy, but I don't know what to do. I sew, but I never have time to anymore. 

[AngelBee]

Originally Posted by frugalmama 

Justmama - those are some amazing deals! I wish our stores did things like that - the only store here that does is over an hour away on city bus. Once in a while I get regular bananas 4 or 5 lbs for $1, but that's it at my local grocery

Mamarhu - hope you have fun at the cooking class! It may surprise you - frugal is in now. Of course our idea of frugal and theirs aren't quite alike


I'm kinda down today - when it rains it pours. We scrimped and saved and sold enough to pay the rest of the electric bill, and I was about to go pay it tomorrow. But today I got a disconnect notice - they voided my payment plan since I got assistance, and now we owe another $150 on top of what we had to pay. And I have until the 28th to get it paid in full. So back to the grindstone I must go to sell off more stuff. We're going to have a yard sale this weekend, but that was supposed to go towards next months bills.

I really need to find something else I can do for income. I sell books online, but sales haven't been good lately, plus with all the shipping increases it's eating up my profits. I can't watch kids with no a/c, so that's out. The only things I can think of is something on etsy, but I don't know what to do. I sew, but I never have time to anymore. 

I would call and beg them to keep you on the payment plan. We have done that and it has worked.

hug Praying it does for you too.

[AngelBee]

Went to the food shelf yesterday and the kids acted like it was Christmas. Great to see them so excited. Heart breaking for me to think it was over food.

I am getting over myself though and doing whatever it takes to make this a less stressful time for my family.

I am looking for help with planning healthy and frugal meals using what we have on hand and minimal grocery store add ins.

Any ideas of the best place to get that help?

Sending prayers and hug to everyone here.

[Honor Noble]

Angelbee, on allrecipes.com you can list ingredients and find out recipes that use them. May take a little digging to see what you can do but its simple. I found a website that may be useful on here called 2hands.org. Its sort of like freecycle but it seems like you can ask for help with food, clothing, info on aid available, etc. For now the children are going on the family insueance. Once we get cards we will be setting up appointments for eye exams, dental exams for the kids, and a gyno exam for me. Its sad Im looking forward to this, lol.

[mamarhu]

Thank you all for being here to whine to!

First whine: My internet/phone/cable is about to be cut off. I could live happily without cable, and I guess that is the direction we will be going. I tried calling and asking for an extension, but they said, "Due to your payment history, blah, blah, blah..." I am going to look into alternative internet services - guess that would be easier if I do it before we lose internet. YoungSon is 16, and I am going to suggest he can get a job and pay for cable if he really wants it. It isn't really quite that simple, because he is on the autism spectrum, and getting a job would truly be a major accomplishment for him. But he has surprised me before. In fact, he amazes me every day!

Next whine: I owe about $900 state taxes. I am going to try to set up a monthly payment system, but they might say no, as I didn't do too well with last year's plan. I have whined previously that the student loan folks noticed my tax refund, and claimed it. I understand that I do owe the money (both the taxes and the student loan), but I truly can't afford to be making payments - even with the coveted college degree and a full time job, we are below the poverty line.

Next: My car had a temper tantrum today. It decided it didn't want to go anywhere. The engine started fine (or as well as usual), but the automatic gear shift lever or whatever it is called refused to budge. I was between appointments at work, and I spent 20 minutes coaxing, begging, offering bribes, complimenting, threatening. I even tried Collaborative Problem Solving! Eventually, it gave in and went into gear, but I am afraid any trip may be the last. My work is absolutely dependent on having a car. If my car really dies, my only alternative will be to get one financed at the sleazy type of dealership that does their own financing, at exorbitant rates. Conveniently, I live in the sleazy neighborhood of such establishments.

Next: We have pretty much given up on the idea of getting a house together with my Mom. My Mom is my best friend, and I was really looking forward to more time together. Financially, it would have been great - at least for a while. Planned on being able to save $1000/month, buy a real car, and start paying student loans, on top of living in a much nicer house. But mom has had several minor strokes recently, and it is likely that her needs are going to be increasing beyond what I would be able to manage. This is depressing on several levels.

Not exactly a financially oriented whine, but it looks like DD's plans to move to England to care for my disabled sister will not come through. We were excited that she would get to live abroad, help my sister, gain some work experience, and generally have a good time. But requirements for visas, and residency requirements for carers seem to rule her out. Discouraging.

Well, thanks for the opportunity to vent. Generally, I don't dwell on money and related issues - my life is rich in so many other ways. I think I am generally more content with life than the majority of people I come into contact with - regardless of finances. But every once in a while, I get in this mood - when it all seems so pointless. And overwhelming.
 

[Honor Noble]

So many hugs and prayers, mamarhu. Have you looked into state paid home health care for your mother? I know its a possibility in some cases but not how to go abiut it, maybe her doctors could help. For internet check out cricket if its in your area. No credit checks and pay as you go. If your son is in school there may be programs in your area for free internet as well. As far as tv there is always ndtflix and hulu plus.

Ifor any mamas of little ones, barefoot books is offering a fifteen dollar gc for doung a short survey. I was able to get a book and pack of stickers for my little ones for 2 bucks. I want ti put them away for the holidays, so far I have that and twi sets of puzzles for them.

Wish me luck, Im off to yardsale.

[ILoveMyBabyBird]

Anyone have straight talk? I am paying 90$ a month with Sprint :/. My contract expires in April thinking of switching.

Good news my skin biopsy came back benign in a spot that was previously biopsyed abnormal. 80$ copays but worth the peace of mind.

Got 2 pairs and eye exam for Ds exh paid 40$ of the cost without hassle so Ionly had to pay 35$.

Next on my list do taxes, only getting 400$ back, my SIS is planning to pay me back soon 400$, so hoping to use that to pay my cc off completely by the summer.


Hoping to get me and Ds to the dentist this summer and cancel the insurance for it tobsave 40$ a month

[AngelBee]

I know! I can't wait to go to the dentist. Kinda sad.

Originally Posted by Honor Noble 

Angelbee, on allrecipes.com you can list ingredients and find out recipes that use them. May take a little digging to see what you can do but its simple. I found a website that may be useful on here called 2hands.org. Its sort of like freecycle but it seems like you can ask for help with food, clothing, info on aid available, etc. For now the children are going on the family insueance. Once we get cards we will be setting up appointments for eye exams, dental exams for the kids, and a gyno exam for me. Its sad Im looking forward to this, lol.