The high cost of living
 

Possible trigger, money and finances...








As we're getting ready to move I can't help but to feel a little depressed about how much it's going to cost to move and how much things cost in general. On a fixed income it's so hard to meet ends with the cost of gas climbing with no end in sight. I wish I could just turn off the sadness I feel about this but I can't. How do you deal with the ever increasing high cost of living? I swear it seems like I am always borrowing from tomorrow you know?

I wish I could forsee how expensive or reasonable the new place is going to be but we have no real way to gauge it yet as we're still not quite there. I am not crying about it or anything, but it's definitely getting me down...I already buy meats when they are reduced, and I buy generic everything I can, but I wish I had more money so we could add to our barely there savings so we could get the car fixed sooner. I hate that ten dollars only gets you just about 3 gallons of gas these days, I remember when ten bucks was half a tank. :(

You are right Pamster.
It is very expensive to live these days.
Food costs are tremendous if you want to eat well.
Fruits and vegatables are so expensive.
WE never get enough of the right foods...that is why I take multivitamins.
Things like insurances are very high here.
WE are in the process of switching agents/companies...huge difference in prices.
I think we will save about $100 a month by switching our car and homeowners. Have you ever shopped around for prices?
(((HUGS)))
bizi:hug:

I get the cheapest on everything I can find from car insurance to food. Yet it always seems like we're having to borrow from tomorrow. It's so hard to make it with gas and food costs skyrocketing. I wish there was more we could do besides making sure we don't waste power or water. :p

Thanks for the hug bizi. :) :hug:

"borrow from tomorrow"
I like that quote......:D
Todd and I are also on the verge of moving as well....just 100 feet away to another part of the complex but it is more money a month because of the bigger apartment but a bonus is we don't have to pay electric because it is included and every appliance is electric. It seems like the moment we feel as if we get ahead, some bill or other comes in the mail and sets us back.
Sometimes I feel so useless because my income is so limited and the weight is on Todd to pull in the money. This is partially why I am thinking of going back to work.
We need new living room furnature too don't know what backside I am going to pull that money from.:D
Sigh......freedom ain't free....that's the truth!

It's a term I got from my Mother but I think it's true because I end up spending my entire income on neccessities and still end up with more that we need then we've got funds to cover. It's so depressing to not have any real savings account to speak of. I hope you can get through the move okay Wendy, I know how stressed I am over this move, but it's almost done with, we've got a lot to get done yet but still I am ready to just fall in bed and sleep until it's over. :p

Oh man major anxiety attack! I almost forgot the gas deposit! :eek: I am sitting here freaking out trying to regain my calm because I remembered it in time, I am going tomorrow to the new place and will leave a check with the manager for the gas to be turned on with, but DAMN! I nearly forgot it! *sob* I feel so darn incompetent. :( This is all so stressful, I am so worried about the gas as it is how could I forget that I needed to get a check to them? :(

Okay Pam, listen to me now......BREATHE!!!!!!
Everything will be fine. Its a good thing you remembered.;)

I am having trouble breathing, that's just the thing, it's like I have a vice around my middle and I want to sit here and cry, but because of the two other people who live here i can't give into that urge thank goodness. I wish things were easier. It's so hard to get everything done right. I am so glad I remembered today about that 80 deposit, it could have really been a disaster for us to have them come out and not have the check there waiting on them. :p

Thanks Wendy, I needed a little comfort. :hug:

Oh pamster...
I am so glad that you remembered the deposit....
Just what you did not need another stressor to your day.
Just keep taking it a day at a time.
Go in your bathroom and give yourself a good cry if you need to.
((((HUGS))))
bizi

I think I have to go to the store one last time and get a few things, but this will be my last trip there from this house. Kinda sad. But at least the anxiety let up after I took 1/2 a pill. :p Thanks for the support bizi, and for the hug. :) :hug:

Pam,

It's a good thing you remembered to make the deposit on the gas. I think a lot of times we will end up surprising ourselves how we get things done when push comes to shove. How about making some lists for what needs to get done and take care of them accordingly.

Yes, i cannot afford to hardly go anywhere in my car on count of the gas prices.

befuddled2

OMG so I went to put the soda under the dumb sink and it was leaking like all get out. I am so IRKED it didn't wait to start this crap until the next tennant got here. Honestly Jack had to spend twenty minutes AGAIN (he spent two hours about two months ago fixing this stupid sink) and we're still not sure it's fixed or not until the morning when we'll be able to try it. :p

And Jackie is being such a pain tonight....He will not stop bugging over packing up kitchen stuff, I did like four or five boxes of kitchen stuff and still have a couple left to pack up but they are waiting until the right time, in other words Thursday, NOT tonight. I am so anxious I had to take another half of a lorazepam when I discovered the sink and knew Jack's reaction would not be good. Honestly he's ready to leave tonight! Like we aren't? Sheesh I am so done with this place....

That is what happened, I made a list and forgot to add the gas deposit onto the new list, pure stupidity, but it's okay now because I'll get it done tomorrow. :) But I am done for the night now. :p Hope you have a great night Barbara. :D

Thanks Pam.

That's ashame about your sink.

befuddled2

Hang in there your almost there!

Financial situations can cause severe anxiety. Usually everything works itself out somehow.

Have faith.....Hugs, Nikko:hug:

I almost did NOT get a truck today for friday, I was having major anxiety and had to miss a doctor appt. I am so upset about things, it just seems like it's going to be one huge headache that will be felt for months to come. Its costing us over 600 bucks in deposits on things and the truck rental. It's just terrible. I feel so depressed and wish I could cry. I'm so disgusted with how we've been unable to get any breaks with this manager, you know? She now tells me I have to cough up a 250 dollar money order since they STILL won't take a check form me yet. Honestly it's one thing after another. *sigh*

The sink is still leaking but not as bad. Jackie is too full of energy and there's nothing more I want to do today, he helped with the kitchen stuff I had to do yesterday and today but it's as done as it's going to be until we go to move. He's already bruised up my foot from stepping on it so much lately and my arms hurt from lifting a heavy tool chest up and into the dumpster. I hope this gets over with soon. I can't take much more. :(

Oh pamster...you are gonna do this...it is happeneing and things do tend to work out.
I am sorry that they won't take your check...will they in the future?
Hang in there sweetie...better days are ahead of you....
(((((HUGS)))))
bizi:grouphug:

Yes they will take checks for rent AFTER we're there, but for the deposit we have to have a money order. I know it's going to work out, but I am pulling my hair out with how Jackie is ready for this to happen and we've still got one full day to get through tomorrow and how we're going to be after all this moving I just don't know. I am so scared, I hate being afraid of the future. But alas I am, and I don't know how to relax about it. I guess its the BP II and that is why I can't help but to obsess over things and really agonize over them. :(

I don' tknow what I would do without this board and all of you for moral support to get through this, I will probably be offline a day or two, might take awhile to get set up, but then again it might not. Just depends on how well we get situated once we've gotten our stuff there. :) <-- Me trying to be positive. :hug:

Dear Pam,

I got lost, did you take care of the gas?
Friday is moving day and you already have a truck. That is good.
What is Thursday? Do you have packing and cleaning?

When I was freaking out about my move last fall, the board here was so wonderful.

Focus on how nice everything will be in a few days. http://www.thesmilies.com/smilies/happy/cloud9.gif
Mari.

Yup, went today to get the check to the manager and she is going to get the receipt from the gas man tomorrow and things will be all set by the time we get there day after tomorrow. That's the good news.

I am just upset it's too big of a truck and that we've got to put gas in it on top of paying over 90 bucks to use it. I bet that was hard to leave that apartment Mari. I am tearing up now just thinking about saying goodbye to this place, it's been six years. Good and bad but six long years with my family here.

It's seen Jackie's growth and his teeth coming out and coming in and so many things and memories. It might be hard to believe but I have distanced myself emotionally from this so that I can get through it but I am really going to miss this place. :( It's okay to cry I know, but I think I will just try to save it up until we're there and then cry in my new bathtub with some bubble bath.

Thank you for being here Mari, you and all the others here are really helping me to get through this. Thanks god for this place. I am so glad I am welcome here to be with people who really understand what it's like being BP, and having to rely on medications to help 'maintain a normal' state of being. I know not everyone here takes meds, but those who don't have their own reasons which I can totally appreciate, I can only speak for myself and that I know you've talked about taking meds and how they helped you too so it's good to know that I am not alone in needing help to keep it together.

I would be all over the place if things hadn't worked out the way they did a few years ago with my current T. She nailed me quick and helped me to get better results fast because she listened to what I was telling her and judged me by herself and gauged my reactions well enough that she put the BP II dx in front of me in such a way that I really had to take it. Now I am not scared of it so much, but I am scared of what life was like before meds.

I am glad she understands about the anxiety too, she said she thought me taking one mg of avitan wasn't bad if it was helping the anxiety which plagues me every day lately and I am sure it will continue in the new place for awhile at the very least, but I hope to in time get over needing that benzo. :p But if I can't for awhile then I accept it too, but it was horrible when I needed it and didn't have it you know? :(

Thanks everyone, two more days and it will be over...:D

Hugs for the room....
(((((HUGS)))))
bizi:grouphug:

Hi Pamster, Just the change of a new place my do you good. We were all born and raised in Ca. , me, my husband, two kids and a grandson. When the houses went to 929,000.00, we said ,thats it. We picked up and moved half way across the U.S.. Boy was that hard. One of my kids stayed in Ca.for now. It hasn't been easy, but it is cheaper. I have fibro. so I take it one day at a time. You'll see, it well all be ok. Good Luck

Thanks for the hugs bizi, I needed some. :)

You're probably right rashelle. I am just so stressed out over all of this because it's like leaping into the unknown and I am really scared of establishing a new routine. My autistic son seems to be ready to have this happen but I can't be sure he's really understanding everything yet until we're in the middle of the move and he's helping. I feel so conflicted about things, we'ld have stayed here if they hadn't jacked the rent up another 50 bucks but as it stands we'll be saving close to a hundred a month if it goes well so I know it's worth it. :)

One more day and then I will know what it's like there in the new place. :D *shiver, shiver*

Dear Pam,
You are doing great.

Your son will take his cues from you and you seem to be on track.
The new place will be fabulous.

Mari

Dear Pamster,
Just one more day....you are doing great!
Sorry to hear about the ear infection...hoping the anti biotics work soon.
Easy off makes a cleaner that works in 30 minutes now if you needed something else to do....lol
Take care...don't hurt yourself and be careful...your computer will be off line for a couple days?
We will miss you.
((((HUGS))))
bizi

Thanks Mari, I think it will be too. Just getting there is the hard part, at least it's almost over. That is comforting. To think that this time tomorrow we'll be getting ready to take the truck back and go by Wendy's for dinner makes me really feel better. It's going to be a lot of work, I have to help move all three dressers and the tv stand and one bed, the other two are going to get loaded into the truck with help from the guys at the thrift store I hope. They are only twins so they should be easily moved.

I do think I am on the right track because we're really ready now and Jackie is ready...He wants his big truck ride. ;) My mom bought Jackie some adorable sheets too: http://www.target.com/gp/detail.html...sin=B000EN0RRY He picked them out by himself from photos I showed him of Spiderman, Superman, Batman and Spongebob sheets. He wanted the all sports ones. He is sitting here half asleep on the couch from the codeine in his cough syrup, it is to help his ear pain from the inner ear infection he got from swimming last week.

It might not be the best time to move, like the hottest time of the year and all, but we're going to get it done, Jack and I are determined to get it done and we will. Thanks to you, Mari, bizi, and a big thanks to everyone else for the moral support, it's really helping. :) I figure I will be offline for a day or two at least while the more important stuff gets set up and unpacked. But I will be back as soon as I can to show pics and stuff of us in the new place. :D

Fixed Income
 

I haven't learned how to make a new post or thread, yet. Today I got a bill from a water therapy rehabilitation that I took for one month; three 1 hour sessions a week. All my Medicare Advantage paid on it was $200; and all Medicare paid was $61.00. I owe $611. I dread seeing what my gastric tests and appointments will be after Medicare and insurance pays their part. I am on social security with just enough income to stop me from being eligible for state help; but not enough to cover the excess bill. I have no savings; and am unable to work due to Fybro, Arthritis, Barret's Disease, and Diabetes. Until Sept. I had no Medicare or Insurance and just suffered unless I felt like I was dying. Now I am thinking I must go back to just not going to the doctor and suffering. What do others do in this situation? Normally I am very positive and upbeat. I prefer to pay my bills and be responsible. Are we who are on fixed incomes and dependent on Medicare and supplements supposed to become deadbeats because we can't pay our bills. Hopefully the new Presidential Administration we vote in this year will have an answer for those like me and others in like situations.

May the Blessings Be;
Lynda

Do you have medicaid? That should pick up when Medicare doesn't. Welcome to the board Lynda, I am so sorry things are looking down for you finanicially, I definitely understand, this place we moved into that this thread was posted about just jacked our rent up by fifty bucks with NO concern for the lease we signed that doesn't end until June 1st. Anyway, just wanted to post and say my heart goes out to you. Hang in there, if you don't get medicaid yet you should see about it. :)

No, Pamster; I am getting a few dollars too much SS to be qualified for Medicaid. I've been toying with the idea of asking that my SS be lowered. Even though the money would be less; having Medical and prescriptions paid for would more than make up for the cut. I can relate to the price hike where you live. I live at a Senior Community that bases the rent on income. In January the rent was raised and I have only been here since last August. Seems evywhere we turn prices are rising and the belts are tightening. Seems we are all in the same boat; so something will break when so many peop are effected. Good luck. May The Blessings Be. Lynda

Tuani

If you haven't gone back and filed for medicaid, since your rent was
raised try that. I'm not sure if it makes a difference. But see if it
does.

Also see if there is anything else they can take into account to make
the amount go down for you. See if you can find a person that can
act as a advocate for insurance for you. THere are such people,
But I'm afraid I don't know where in your state or area.

I'd be glad if you would trust us here in this room to help you with the information, to try and locate the people

Donna

Thank you, Donna; I will take your advice.