shewolfnm wrote:...So, our next plan of action, sadly.. is to marry for insurance.
He can get insurance through U.T. that will cover me, but at a 300 dollar a month loss.
We will go from 1500 a month to 1200.
This will give me coverage I need, medication to deal with this problem, and a doctor to back up my depression to social security.
I just hoped that our marriage / wedding would be for other reasons then financial and insurance.
Oh well. No biggie. ....
When we got married, I was out of work. So, technically, I suppose it was for the insurance. Except, yanno, we kinda love each other. Like you and Mr. Wolf (Ian? I want to get his name right) love each other.
The insurance is just a fringe benefit. The love, honor and commitment are the driving force and the real reason. Big freakin' deal that you get other things with it (I also got 2 more syllables attached to my name and a nice set of silverware from my aunt L___. But I didn't marry RP for those things. I married RP for RP.).
You'll get married because you love one another. And the other stuff is just ... stuff. Necessary stuff, to be sure. But look at it this way, it's just the federal government's loving way of saying, "Vows, shmows, we wanna give you a tax break and some benefits!"
I know nothing about applying for disability but I do know a bit about saving money. I'm sure you know many if not most or even all of these things, but here goes, a few suggestions (plus I know your mil pays for some of these, but here goes) -
* Make gifts
* Sew
* Clip coupons, but watch prices carefully as generics without coupons can often be less expensive than regular items even with the coupon. If you save $5 per week, that's about $250 per year, after taxes. My personal goal is to average at least $10/week (I currently average more like $15 - 18/week).
* Sell stuff on eBay (e. g. baby clothes that Bean is out of).
* Learn basic home and car repairs so that you can live without a plumber or the like, for smaller stuff
* Pay bills online to save stamps, and as close to the due date as you can, so that you get a little more interest on your money
* Balance your checkbook and keep it balanced. Know where all cash goes.
* Justify your expenses, withdrawals, etc. Instead of $40 cash, it should be, $5 lunch on Monday, $2 soda and chips on Tuesday, $20 gas on Wednesday, $10 drug store copay on Thursday, $5 lunch on Friday or whatever. Once you've broken it down, you'll see where you can save.
* Walk or bike to close places, particularly if it's a destination/errand where you don't need to carry much. Of course, only do this in good neighborhoods. This will help with gas expenses, if you can make it so that you fill the tank every 8th day instead of every 7th, you'll fill your gas tank 6 or 7 fewer times per year. Here, in Mass., at current prices, that's about $150 - $200/year, after taxes.
* Combine errands to save gas. Try not to shop all over town.
* Turn down the heat and put on a sweater.
* Leave the a/c for when it's really unbearably hot. Try going to the public library when it's really hot, and enjoy their a/c for free, or the mall. Or the frozen food section. Any will do.
* Turn off your computer at night when you are not using it.
I hope these help.
