Resources 2

Buying on a Budget

Seems like everyone likes to save money, no matter their income level. 

A favorite money strategy that many people over look is using a “cash back” credit card to pay for things. Or airline miles credit cards if travel is your thing. Many people are hesitant about using credit cards and prefer cash, but cash doesn’t pay you to use it, cash back credit cards do. People can get hundreds of dollars back each year using the right credit cards and always paying the full balance due each month. Accruing interest on a credit card will far out-weight the cash back benefits, so the monthly balance must be paid on time. Credit card companies are pretty good today about protecting people from unauthorized charges. And a credit card company may also be able help with charges for returns, and bad products or services, if you have made serious attempts to negotiate with a company unsuccessfully. Where can you turn for help if you paid with cash?

Local Services

Finding local services can daunting, who is a good attorney, where can I find a good electrician, I just need some tree branches cut, who can do my taxes? These are the kind of questions we are faced with because it seems like something always needs to be done. Many states have help for people who may need it, in Texas try 211Texas.

While Angie’s List, Thumbtack, HomeAdvisor, TaskRabbit, and such are popular ways to find local services, Nextdoor is the new place to get ideas and recommendations from your neighbors and people in your area of town.

Nextdoor has become a trendy place to ask for suggestions from neighbors, from finding a hair stylist, to where to find help with food or housing in these trying times. Nextdoor is also a very active source for lost or found pet notices.

Prescription Drugs

A big hunk of our medical expenses are prescription drugs, and in retirement, the cost can be magnified by a reduced income. See the prescription drug help list below.

For seniors, it is important to look into getting prescription drug coverage when turning 65, unless you still have coverage through perhaps an employer or veterans program. This is not just an off-hand suggestion, there can be penalties if you wait to get prescription drug coverage later and did not take it when first available. Just check out your options

While Original Medicare does not include prescription drug coverage, you can buy a prescription drug plan through a private insurance company. Many Medicare Advantage Insurance Plans include prescription drug coverage. If you opt for a Supplement Insurance Plan to add to your Original Medicare coverage, you can also purchase a separate prescription drug plan. If you shop around you should be able to find a prescription drug plan that fits your budget.

So are there other options? If you are under 65 and not on Medicaid or Medicare yet, and do not have employer or other coverage it is possible to get some good prices using the prescription drug discount cards like are advertised on TV, and also many pharmacies have their own in-house discount programs, if you ask.

These discount cards may also help with the cost of veterinary prescriptions that are written to be filled at a human pharmacy.