Budget Diet To Pay Medical Bills

     B-U-D-G-E-T...it's not a very attractive word!  It automatically makes me think of things I wish I could buy, but can't.  I have to admit that I do cheat on my budget from time to time shh, don't tell the husband!  In the end though I figured it will all balance out.  What doesn't help my budget is when I have to fit in a medical bill. 

     It's that time of year where the boys have had their factor levels checked, iron, hep, etc...and because Laithan broke out with a crazy rash I had an inhibitor test done.  Wow, is all I could say when I saw the bill.  Laithan's blood work totaled $1,907 reduced to member rate of $1,319.65, but I still get a bill for $663.93 (500 deductible plus 20% co-insurance).  Add on another bill for Marques that just came in for $498, I can't even look at the clothes ad in the paper.  I'm going to have to go on a strict budget diet to payoff these new medical bills.  I'm thinking,.. I should get them on a different blood work schedule so I can have time to pay off one bill before another one comes!

     What I will look at in the paper is the coupons!  Clipping coupons have really helped me reduce my food budget for the month and it's also one of the monthly expenditures I can control.  If I could use a coupon for the mortgage, that would help.  Couponing can be quite tedious and takes a lot of planning, since I'm a stay at home Mom I can take those extra hours on each week.  I look at it as a part-time job because I'm saving our family atleast $400 a month on groceries! 

Total for the above was $30.34 saving $89.68 (75%)!

 

     I've been couponing for about 2 years now and I'm not an expert, but I have reduced my grocery bill 40%-60% consistently.  My motto to the kids is, "If its not on sale, don't ask me for it!"  When huge medical bills like these two new one's come in, using coupons creates more wiggle room in my budget.  I don't stockpile like the show on TLC, "Extreme Couponing", because no one needs that much toothpaste and yogurt, but I will buy enough of an item on sale to last until the next sale cycle. 

     One of the websites I use to help cut down on planning my shopping trips is www.SouthernSavers.com.  This site is regionally based on coupons in my area, so definitely look for one in your area.  Also, you can look for local coupon meetup groups where you can trade in those dog food coupons for items you need.  My local group meets at the library.  I haven't gone yet but I may soon. 

     Besides going back to work, I don't know how else I could manage with these extra medical bills.  I'm lucky and grateful to have insurance.  After I get past the co-pay and deductable stage, I'm even happier!

How do you budget in medical bills?

A New Phase Of Life

     So it has been awhile since I've posted anything....not for a lack of having anything to say. I have been spending all of my time trying to free myself from a business I started, that did not work out. Those issues are holding me back from completely moving on to a new phase in my life.  It is funny, now that I have 4 kids with the oldest and youngest having an 11 year age difference, I think I just may be replaying a previous phase differently. 

     With MaRee' (11) and Marques (9) I was a workaholic Mom.  Maree' stayed with my Mom for the day until she was about 4 before we sent her to Chesterbrook Academy (daycare).  Being the first grandchild my parents had around, they were uncomfortable with her going to daycare with out being able to talk...in case someone did something to her she could tell us.  With Marques, he stayed 6 months with my sister then off to Chesterbrook. 

     It would seem, we would be more worried about Marques.  He had hemophilia and he was the first grandchild with it.  I did make sure a nurse visited the daycare to do a presentation about Hemophilia to his teachers.  When he was about 3, we even had the nurse start going to the daycare center for his prophy treatments.  Chesterbrook provided a spot in the refrigerator for his factor, so I really became removed from the process. 

     Besides educating the staff, Marques also wore a helmet and knee pads from the time he started walking.   As I think back, we had a very successful time with Marques at daycare and I need to thank the lord for protecting him from any major issues.  Like I said, I was a workaholic Mom, I was working close to 12-14 hours a day and I did that from about 1999 to 2007!
 

     Now, with Layla and Laithan (1) I am a stay at home Mom.   So, in this phase of my life I get to take care of my children differently.  I have to say, I feel more protective of them.  Maybe, because I have more time to think instead of just doing.  I can not imagine putting Laithan in daycare and not worrying about him getting hurt.  Shucks, I'm at home with him everyday and I worry about him hurting himself; the boy is bonkers!!! Another concern for me is that in SC I don't have a nurse that can come out for emergencies....I am the "nurse" for those emergencies.  (previously lived in NJ) 
 

     I'm glad I have the opportunity of re-doing the toddler phase and having the opportunity to re-do it being a stay-at-home Mom.  (Even though, at times I have an urge to work... but don't all recovering workaholics!)  I know, my older kids like me being home now and I think they need me more even if it's only to drive them to activities!  I pray my husband can keep maintaining us so I can maintain the family!