Re: Surgery Monday ,May 10 living on less

[Guest guest]

I started on 50% salary and am now on 2/3rds salary. I am a former accountant.

It was SO hard to altar $y lifestyle.

My credit is tanked, but have avoided bankruptcy. I took every penny out of 401k

to pay cash for a house. I had to go far into the country to find something

habitable for $31k. But its precious and I'm loving the slower paced lifestyle.

Country neighbors like to help. I have no family here and if I did they would

have a hard time helping me with my work schedule.

I was on food stamps when I was eligible. I'm off of those now. I can't shop

WalMart for good deals because its just too big and sitting in the scooter would

kill my back. I shop online and at small groceries.

Dollar General has best prices for paper products, and OTC meds. Really cheap

ibuprofen.

I buy off brand pet food. They don't seem to care. Vet visits in the country are

cheap! $5. For a rabies shot can't b beat. Vet allows me to buy heartworm and

flea prevent one month at a time.

When cold I put my heated mattress pad on turbo and layer clothes and blankets.

I put the heat on to take the chill out of the air.

I put together a budget on a spreadsheet. I combine all my trips to town. I put

my car as pleasure vehicle b cuz low miles and saved a bit on car ins. I buy

cute clothes at Goodwill. (That was hard). No more fast food.

I had to stop paying unsecured debt like credit cards and surrendered items that

secured debt. SOCIAL SECURITY cannot be garnished. On months when I had high Rx,

I paid partial car notes and I stayed in touch with them. The economy is tanked

and they appreciate and will bend over backwards to keep a paying customer.

Don't let them bully u into a promise u can't keep. And always keep. Your

promises to pay. STOP all auto debits. Your medical becomes too unpredictable. I

told one bank my account was stolen when they wanted to charge me $32 to stop

each auto debit.

I pay cash for everything to ensure I don't have NSFs.

Always ask doc for Rx samples.

Arms hurting. Will give more tips when I feel better.

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and he says no work for 6 months.That part has me super worried.I have STD and

LTD,but it only pays 60% of my salary.My job may let me do some case management

from home,so I,m gonna see how it goes for the first 3 months or so and then see

if he,ll let me do that from home at least on a part time basis to supplement my

income.I will also wear the bone growth stimulator. My PM Doc was pissed that I

went to see a surgeon,she feels like

> if I had an easier job I could avoid surgery.

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