Having been a bill collector over the last 15 years I wanted to post just a few tips I have that may be able to help you make it ONE DAY LONGER!!! Please keep in mind that most of these are based on the assumption that you were able to be somewhat current BEFORE the strike.
1. Home/Car Loans- CALL THEM!! They really do not want your house. They really do not want your car. Defer payments on these large expenses if you can. What these companies ultimately want is payment. When I contacted my finance company on my car to ask about a single deferment, they actually gave me TWO months!! That is one less bill I will have to worry about until January now!!
2. Collection Agencies- Yep, we all hate them. The difference now is the fact that we are not making what we are used to. They may be able to work with you more now because of your reduced income. A lot of medical bills can be completely written off!! It never hurts to try!!
3. Credit Cards- A lot of credit card companies offer "unemployment insurance". A STRIKE IS USUALLY COVERED UNDER THESE!! If you have this on your credit cards, use it!! You have paid the premiums for it so why not?? They will freeze your access to the card so make sure you can get the daily essentials without it but it is one less check you will have to write!! The insurance will pay your monthly payments for you and this will help keep your credit in good standing!!
4. Medical Expenses- Your regular doctor may offer a "self pay" rate for patients who do not have insurance. Sometimes it is even less than what you would pay if you used insurance!! Don't be afraid to ask. "Doctor Shopping" and going to doctors other than your own just because they are lower priced is not a very safe thing to do as these other places do not have the access to your medical records that your regular doctor does.
5. Prescription Costs- Now these can be safely shopped for. Call around to other pharmacies and ask what they would charge for your prescription with no insurance. In many cases you can even call back to your original pharmacy and tell them if you found it cheaper somewhere else and they will match it because they do not want to lose your business!! A lot of them actually call and check with the other pharmacy so be sure and tell the truth :)
We are in this together and we are here for the long haul. Like many of you, we are a single income family and the husband likes to refer to me as "Ms. Cheap". I guess being cheap has gotten us this far. Some other suggestions I could make to you are:
1. COUPONS- You can save an absolute fortune and they do not take long to clip. There are even a bunch of websites you can print them from home!! I go every Sunday and buy ONE copy of the paper (as long as it says it has coupons haha)When I get home, I go through them and if there are a lot I will use I actually check back at Kroger on MONDAY and pick up a couple more copies. (Kroger sells the Sunday paper on Monday for $1.00)
2. STOCK UP- If you can find a really good deal on non-perishable items you know you will use- stock up on them. Especially if you do the coupon thing too!! I can't begin to tell you how much stuff we had that I "bought" even though we did not need it right that moment. I had coupons that made most of it FREE!! Example: Suave shampoo at Kroger was on sale for $1.00. I had a 50 cent coupon (well a bunch of them haha). Kroger DOUBLED that so I got it for FREE!! I haven't had to worry about shampoo for 6 months!! I know that seems like a little thing but little things will add up!! Last week I was able to get 24 count boxes of Tylenol for 50 cents!! Kroger had them on sale for $2.50 and I had my little coupons for $2 off any size!! With as many headaches as we have all had over this whole thing I am sure I will need it.
3. BARGAIN SHOP- A lot of grocery stores do "close outs" on items. Basically the are not carrying them anymore and need to clear them out of the inventory. One thing I have learned is that they do not necessarily discontinue the same item at all stores. If it sells well in another store they will continue to carry it at that store. If you pass several different locations of the same store on a regular basis- pop in and see what they have on close-out.
4. GOODWILL- You really can't beat some of their bargains. They have certain days with different sales specials. If you take the time to look you can find great bargains on clothing!! A lot of it is all brand new with price tags still on it!!
Well, I am sure I have not covered everything I wanted to in this so my next installment will be coming soon.
~TS1~
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2 comments:
TS1,
Thank you for all of you very valuble info... We too are a one income family,and $150.00 a week doesn't go far when you have small children... young,but old enough to know that we are struggling right now. It's deffinatly gonna be a LIttle House On The Prarie Christmas morning at our house this year... Not the Christmas that my kids are used to,but lots of love,and togetherness!
So to you and yours I would like to wish yall a Happy Thanksgiving,and a very Merry Christmas! JESUS IS THE REASON FOR THE SEASON!
Girl your husband is lucky to have you! This is my families second strike the first one in 1989 we had debt and that one lasted 3 months. My husband took a job that paid very little but with his strike check and us cutting spending to the bone we made it. It made us stronger and taught us a lesson at the same time. Thanks for all you have done, God bless.
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