Little by little money is coming in from online sales. I had another DVD sell today on half.com. My new Feb total for the Ebay Challenge is $24.56

Little bits coming in from work, too. Picked up an extra shift this week, to that helps.

Going to try rolling up some change from CITB later. Would love to have another buck or two to add to the EF.

In other financial news, I finally got my MassHealth card and used my new health insurance. Before, I had a $15 co-pay for my therapist. Not too bad now that I am seeing her only once a month, but it was tough when I was seeing her every week. But I saw her this week, and with my new insurance, I have NO co-pay! YAY!

I am also getting 3 of my prescriptions filled this week, so we will see how much they cost compared to what they cost with my old health insurance.

I got a notice in the mail today that I was awarded MassHealth!! MH is the state's health insurance program. I will be covered for all my medical needs, including therapy and my MS. Yay!!

Prescriptions will cost $1 a month for generics, $3 a month for brand names, and my birth control will be free!!

This means instead of $90 a month on my prescriptions, I will be paying about $8 a month!! Yippee!!!!!

I am so excited about this! In addition to the savings on my prescriptions, I will also be saving big money on my monthly cost for insurance. I am paying $420 a month, and now it will be either a small fee or no fee.

*Happy dance!!*

We are having an ice storm here, and so I have decided I am staying in all day. We don't need groceries or anything else, and we really need to not spend any money on wants. We haven't had a NSD in a while, I am aiming for one today.

I am going to watch tv, play my computer game, read, and maybe even nap a little later. I do have work later, but assuming the ice storm goes on I won't be going in. It's stinky, cuz I need the money, but at the same time I'm kinda OK with it. I have been having massive headaches and body aches the last few days.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Got a letter in the mail telling me the cost of prescription meds for MassHealth. I don't know if this means I will be approved or have already been approved for MassHealth, but I hope so. With COBRA my meds are:

P - $40 a month
W - $10 a month
T - $5 a month
N - $10 a month
C - $25 a month

for a total of $90 a month. With the MassHealth plan, it looks like my meds will be much better prices:

P - $4 a month
W - $2 a month
T - $1 a month
N - $2 a month
C - $4 a month

for a total of $13 a month!! $77 a month savings!! Let's hope this applies to me and I get MassHealth soon!

Waiting in that massive snow storm to hit today. Yay! Snowed in for the weekend!

Headed next door to Walgreens to pick up some things: lunch meat, cheese, Advil, allergy meds. Came to $26 (!!) AND I used 2 coupons and got $4 off. Yes, the $26 was after the coupons.

BF has been craving bagels, so I stopped at DnD and picked up half a dozen. $5 and I know I could have gotten them much cheaper somewhere else, but with the storm coming I just wanted to get home ASAP and I really didn't want to deal with panicked New Englanders buying bread and milk. Yup, for some reason, when a storm hits, we buy bread and milk. I have no idea why. And no, I didn't buy any bread or milk (well, I got bagels) because we already have plenty in the house.

I found a nickel and 2 pennies while I was out, too. New Pennies on the Sidewalk Total: $2.17

Last night I got a phone call from the local social security administration office. The woman who called has some questions for me re: my application. After talking about work history, she gave me some possibly great news.

Before I can receive disability, I have to be not working due to my illness for 5 months. I thought they meant no work at all, but it is actually not being gainfully employed. Basically, not earning a specific amount. This means I can keep my tarot job, since I don't earn a lot there and actually am only guaranteed 4 hours a week.

But the better news is this: I started working from home om my freelance job in June. The woman said that the amount of work I did and money I earned wasn't enough to interfere with my SSDI. In other words, I may have already had my 5 months of not being gainfully employed.

She said as soon as she gets a from from me I need to sign, she will present it to the medical team for a decision. I cold get approved and start getting checks by the end of January, rather than June!

This is great news, and takes such a stress off my shoulders. I've been thinking I may have to just suck it up and find work, despite the fact that I can barely walk around my apartment without pain and my cane. I mean, right now I can't even stand long enough to do dishes, let alone work an 8 hour shift.

I really do. I got a bunch of things done that I needed to do in order to get financial things rolling better.

Filled out the Food Stamps App. Just need a copy of my 1099 and a copy of my license. Then it is off the the mail.

Also spoke to the woman helping me with the SSDI claim. I have a form my neuro needs to fill out at my next appointment, which is Thursday, and she is sending me another form that I can send to MassHealth. That form will complete my application for health insurance.

I also filled out the 2 forms I needed to defer my student loans for 6 months due to not working. Plopping them in the mail today.

And finally, not finance related, but wrote out my holiday cards last night and mailing them today.

Who-hoo!

Yesterday was a pretty good day. Spent way too much money on eating out. $12 at DnD for lunch for me and BF and then $20 on dinner for the both of us. Not a huge amount, but we shouldn't have spent any at all. I do need to go to the grocery store today, though, so there will be no more eating out for a bit.

Ended up getting called into work last night for a few hours. I like working Tuesdays, since that is a day BF works there so we get to work together. Made $50. Yay! $20 will go to savings, $20 to Mom for the laptop, and $10 for me for the week. Also working tonight, so hopefully I can make another $50 or so!

Picked up 3 meds yesterday; $60. I'm still waiting to hear about MassHealth. Will be a couple of weeks I think.

Wow, just reread what I wrote...kinda boring! LOL Maybe I'll have more exciting news later. *smile*

...again. *sigh* I'm not going to go into the long story, but I spent $40 on a necklace. I'll just say it is one I saw, literally, 9 years ago for about $100 that I wanted, but I didn't buy. I have regretted it ever since and have looked for it ever since. Turns out a girl I work with has the exact necklace and sold it to me for $40. Totally worth it to me, and I figure it is a nice holiday gift to myself.

Worked tongiht and earnerd $22. Then, we spent $20 on dinner tonight.

And I bought a coffee and bagel. $5.

*hanging head in shame*

In other news, I had an appointment today to apply for MassHealth. Seems easy enough, and since I am not working right now (except that tarot store) the guy I met with said I should get it. Let's hope so. Even if I have to pay for it (some people qualify for free health insurance through MassHealth) it will be substantially less that I pay now with Cobra. Yay for government sponsored health insurance!

Happy Turkey Day, everyone!

Had a pretty busy day money-wise today. I got my freelance check, finally! Wahoo! And I submitted my last invoice for my freelance job today, so now I am waiting for this new freelance check. It is for $500. But I got the big $1,100 one today, so I'm very happy.

I also picked up my meds. Only $18! I love Walgreens! They $4 generics have saved me more than I can count.

Earlier in this week, I posted about a book I had listed on Craigslist: a first edition of Wicked. Someone wanted to buy it, but we were trying to figure it out b/c he didn't want me to mail it, and I wasn't going to go into the city to meet him. I really thought it would fall through. But today he came to the town I live in and we met at the T station (the subway). Paid in cash and a happy exchange was made. $25 for me. $18 went to my meds and the other $7 went into my pocket. Actually, it only went into my pocket until I got home, and then it went into the Holiday Gift Fund.

I also picked up 2 holiday gifts today. Both books, both for half the cover prices on half.com and brand new. Total for the 2 books plus shipping was $27.71 One is for my best friend A and one is for my BF. The book will be the only thing I get A, since it is a big and usually expensive book. BF will get a few other small things since the book was very inexpensive. Dads is half done. Got him a Life is Good golf t-shirt and golf towel. Still need to pick up a GC to his favorite cigar shop. Mums isn't done yet. Getting her a CD and a DVD, so I am waiting for Black Friday when they will all be really cheap. Same for BIL, he's getting 2 DVDs I will pick up on Black Friday. Sis is half done, some Elvis stuff. I am also knitting her some fingerless gloves now that I know how. About half-way done with those. And then I need to knit a pair of gloves for my best friend L. And that's it for holiday shopping. Not a big list, and with making things this year it makes it less expensive and more personal.

Found a penny on the ground today, but it was a Canadian penny. What's that equal to now, 2 or 3 of our pennies? *smile*

This morning when I woke up the swelling in my face was worse. Moved down to my throat and neck, and I had a rash all over my chest and arms. Decided not to fool around with it and went to the ER.

They couldn't tell me what it was from. Possibly a side effect of the IV steroid treatments, possible just a random allergen in the air. So frusterating.

But they gave me prescriptions and hopefully I will be better soon. Don't know how much they will cost. They gave me 3 different meds (more steroids, ugh) and I have to pick them up at the pharmacy tomorrow. And next week or so I'll be getting a bill for my $50 ER co-pay.

Don't you just love being sick?? *smile*

On a happy note, I found a penny on the sidewalk today. New Pennies on the Sidewalk total: $1.93 *smile*

Well, as I mentioned in a post yesterday, I started my IV steroid treatments. I had thought I was going to have to do a $15 co-pay each day I went to the cancer center this week. Going there 5 days this week meant $75 in co-pays this week.

BUT, turns out that I only had to do the co-pay on the first day, not every day. $15 is much better than $75!

And then, I did something silly/stupid. I figured, hey, that gives me about $60 I wasn't counting on. And instead of using it for a bill or to put on the CC, I bought 3 magazines, ice cream, a coffee, and 2 donuts. *hanging head in shame*

Yes, I confess. I did a bad bad thing. In a little bit of redemption, though, I only spent $30 on all that stuff, so I am technically still $30 ahead of where I thought I would be this week. That $30 is totally going to bills!

Hi everyone. Well, as many of you know, I have numbness and tingling in my left foot and right foot and leg, plus a tight band sensation down my right leg and foot from my MS. It is making it hard to balance and walk, and is really uncomfortable.

At my neuro's request I had an MRI done, and it showed active and new MS lesions. So today I started IV steroids. I went today and will go every day this week, for a total of 5 days, 1,000 mg PER DAY. When I was on oral steroid the beginning of Oct I was taking 60 mg per day, now I'm at 1,000 per day.

Turnes out this current problem is part of the mini-attack I had with my eyes in the beginning of Oct. The steroids I had then just quieted it for a bit, but now it is back with a vengence.

I know this is a financial blog, and this post does have a financial point (I promise!). My insurance company covers the IV treatments at the cancer center, but I still have a co-pay. $15 each day I am there. So, there is $75 out of pocket this week. Plus the $2.99 for the oral steroids I picked up at the pharmacy on Sunday and I am now being told I don't have to take cuz I am on the IV treatment. Ans then, there is the fact that the cancer center where I am getting treatment is an hour away, so I have 2 hrs of freeway driving each day this week...A good chunk of money goes to filling up the gas tank at least twice this week, if not 3 times. Great way to start the new month! Grrrr...

I think I might apply for disability. My MS is getting worse and I am having trouble getting to or even being able to work.

I'm having another attack; this time my right leg and some double vision again. I need a cane to walk whenever I leave the house. I walked around the mall with Mums today for about an hour, and was so tired and wiped out I came home and slept for 2 hours.

I haven't been able to work for the last month (with temp services). I am trying to do more work from home with my freelance editing, but I haven't been able to get any new clients. I still do the tarot readings once a week, but last week I brought home $11. Not enough to live on.

I had a new MRI on Thursday. It shows new and active lesions, which means my MS is progressing. The meds I am on is supposed to stop that, but either I haven't been on them long enough (started Feb 1st) or they aren't working for me. So, the change that soemthing will happen in the near future is raised.

Next week I have to have 5 IV steroid treatments. Each one will last about 2 hours, and I will have one a day. Hopefully this will clear up my legs issue. But there is no way I can work next week, either.

So, I am thinking of applying for disability. My Dr is not a fan of it, and I'm not sure if he will support my decision, so we will see what happens. I hate the idea of it, but if I can't work, what else can I do?

I am also applying for food stamps. Looks like we will get aroun $200 a month. Thanks to all I have learned here, we can work with that.

So I fully intended to bgin posting daily this month, but I got struck down with an MS attack. It started with an outbreak of shingles (joy) and that in turn caused the MS attack. I've had shaky eyes and then double vision. Very bad, esp. when I am looking at a computer all day trying to edit.

My neuro put me on my 2nd dose of steroids in the past month. Hopefully they will work this time and things will clear up soon.

Finally got around to filling out and sending off the paperwork for the reimbursement for my meds from last month. Now I just have to wait to get the checks. Shouldn't be too long; the forms say expect it withing 21 days.

Just for my own records, I mailed this today so they will go out tomorrow.

Med = Cost/expected reimbursement amount:

P = $317.99/$277.99
W = $105.99/$80.00
L = $33.99/$29.99

Total expected: $387.98

And it will all go right on the CC!

I've had 2 Kinda No Spenders this week. Monday and yesterday. I say kinda because while I did spent money, it was on necessary things. Monday was groceries and stamps, and Wednesday was my new contacts (instead of new glasses). I'm not going to count these as NSDs since I did spend, but the feeling of being more careful and not spending on wants is great. Now I just need to work on getting needs done all in one day so that I can have real NSDs.

In other news, when I went grocery shopping, I saved over $11 with coupons. Plus I saved over $30 with store sals. I think I am getting the hang of this.

I had a job interview on Tuesday. It went really well, I think. It lasted over 3 hours (!) and I met with 7 people (!!). It sounds like a great place and a good job. My only concern is the commute. It is about 40 miles each way, and with the rush-hour traffic, it will take over an hour (almost and hour and a half) each way. Ugh. I really liked the commute with public transportation, so I am not sure how I feel about the driving commute. Plus, with the price of gas...? They will have to offer me a decent salary to make up for it. I'm still waiting to hear from the place I interview with a couple of weeks ago.

I'm sure there is more I want to ramble about, but I've completely lost my train of thought. Maybe more later.

I need to find a new bank that ffers free checks. I just went and ordered new ones and they are going to cost me $20. OK, so it isn't a huge amount, but still, paying for checks bugs me when other banks offer them for free. When I mentioned this to the woman at my bank, she goes "No they don't." Uh, yeah they do. Wa-Mu: free checks FOR LIFE!! Unfortunately there are no WaMu's around here. Bleh.

Spendings:
$20 for new bank checks
$24.52 balance due on old car insurance
$15 co-pay to Dr. from last month
$120 Student Loans
$10 meds
$410 COBRA enrollment and 1st month coverage

Will also pay phone bill and electric bill later today, but I might need to buy money roders for them later if I can't pay via phone.

I know it is all for necessary stuff, but it still kills me to spend this much in one day. Plus, added to the $250 I spent yesterday?? EEK! Money is getting low, quickly, and I still haven't heard anything new about that damn phone interview.

STRESS STRESS STRESS!!!

Today was a Spender. A big spender. A $250 spender!

First stop was the Dollar Store. I heart the Dollar Store. I got Dads Fathers Day Gift: a matching set of pot holders, oven gloves, and hand towels that all say "Grillin" on them. Very Cute. Got a bag to put them in. Total: $6 I'll add in a bottle of his favorite BBQ sauce as well. I also got my sis' b-day gift. A set of body lotion, body wash, body butter and bath salts and a matching candle in a cute basket; also $6

Then I had an eye doctor appointment for my new contacts. The co-pay was $15 but my cheap-ass health insurance won't cover the exam for the contacts, so that was another $75 on top of it. $90 that came from my EF and will be replaced when I get that stimulus check.

Old EF Balance: $714.53
Eye Doctors: -$90
--------------------------------
New EF balance: $624.53

And finally, I hit the grocery store on the way home. Spent $145, but got a bunch of meats and stocked up for a couple of weeks.

Total spent: $250

Eek!

Today I am going to see one of my best friends' band play. He is going to be part of this huge local bands show that is a fundraiser for The Station Night Club Fire. This was a club that went up in flames about 4 years ago. Hundreds of people were trapped inside the building. There were a lot of deaths and even more injured. My older sister and I almost went to that show, but decided not to at the last minute. Thank Goddess for that. However, we still know people who know people who either died or were severly injusred in the fire. A bandmate of my cousin passed away in the fires, a local DJ from the radio station we always listen to passed away, and so many more. So, today, there is a funraiser for the survivors fund. It is anall day long event, with a bunch of local bands and a buffet. $10 a person, and it goes to a fantastic cause.

Other than that, I am just bumming around the house, gathering stuff for an upcoming yard sale.

I spent $7.62 for breaky this morning. I will be spending $10 for the show, and $50 for some of my meds later in the day.

Oh yeah, and I found a dime on my walk to breaky this morning. (New total: 76 cents)

Blah. It figures. I have almost fully funded me EF, and am just about set to start putting all extra cash to my CC debt. What happens? Two semi-expensive needs arise.

Our AC from last year in kaput. We could always not have one in the bedroom, but with the heat of the summer, combined with my always being overheated from the MS, and my MS symptoms getting worse in the heat, we really need one. We don't have one anywhere else, and I need it to be cold to sleep. Plus, I just really need one place where I can strip down and cool off when I am having an attack. So, we need a new one. Luckily I found one online at Walmart.com for under $100 that should work nicely. Our bedroom is not too big, so we don't need a 10,000 BTU or anything like that. The best part? Walmart.com will ship it to our local Walmart for free, and we can pick it up there (as opposed to having it shipped to our house for $18).

The other need, which is going to be a bit more that $100, is my glasses. I've had the same prescription for over 2 years now, and I need a new one. And, I need new contacts. The few I still have left are an even older prescription than my glasses. I don't want new frames; I love the ones I have. It's just the new lenses and contacts. I can always not get contacts, but I hate wearing my glasses in the summer. Or, since I will only be wearing my glasses in the house for a few hrs a day, I can just get new contacts and not new glasses. Argh, decisions, decisions.

I know we are taking $100 out of the EF for the AC. Not sure where the money for the contacts will come from.

Whatever happens, though, I am going to pay off this CC debt!!!

Per Ima's advice, I am reposting...

First I would like to say that I do not expect anyone here to donate to this cause, and I totally understand if nobody does. I was never going to post this, but a few people have asked where and how they donate to my team in the MS Walk.

Second, again, please don't feel like I am hitting you guys up for money (we are, after all, ALL trying to save and be more frugal!). The words and support you all have given me re: my MS has been the biggest gift of all, and I can never thank you all enough. THAT is what means the most to me.

But, like I mentioned, a few people asked for this info, so I am posting it. To those people, thank you from the bottom of my heart (and wallet!). You (and everyone else here) are all so special and totally rock!!

*hugs to everyone*

The MS Walk will be April 13th, in Bristol, RI. It's a six mile walk (no, I probably won't walk the whole 6 miles, but my team members all will). My team is called the Errington Clan, and right now we have 6 members.

To donate to the National MS Society 2008 MS Walk on behalf of my team, please click here: Errington Clan MS Walk.

Search for us by our team name (Errington Clan) or by a particpant (Becki Errington). All donations are tax deductible, and you can donate by check or CC (I suggest check...avoid CC debt!!! LOL). You can donate on behalf of the whole team, or in sponsor of one person, and your donations can be made anonymously if you like.

Again, thanks to everyone for ALL the support!!!

First I would like to say that I do not expect anyone here to donate to this cause, and I totally understand if nobody does. I was never going to post this, but a few people have asked where and how they donate to my team in the MS Walk.

Second, again, please don't feel like I am hitting you guys up for money (we are, after all, ALL trying to save and be more frugal!). The words and support you all have given me re: my MS has been the biggest gift of all, and I can never thank you all enough. THAT is what means the most to me.

But, like I mentioned, a few people asked for this info, so I am posting it. To those people, thank you from the bottom of my heart (and wallet!). You (and everyone else here) are all so special and totally rock!!

*hugs to everyone*

The MS Walk will be April 13th, in Bristol, RI. It's a six mile walk (no, I probably won't walk the whole 6 miles, but my team members all will). My team is called the Errington Clan, and right now we have 6 members.

To donate to the National MS Society 2008 MS Walk on behalf of my team, please click here: Errington Clan MS Walk.

Search for us by our team name (Errington Clan) or by a particpant (Becki Errington). All donations are tax deductible, and you can donate by check or CC (I suggest check...avoid CC debt!!! LOL). You can donate on behalf of the whole team, or in sponsor of one person, and your donations can be made anonymously if you like.

Agan, thanks to everyone for ALL the support!!!

Finally got one of my medical refunds! This was the big one ($213.19) from my prescriptions the beginning of November. Still waiting on the one from the Dr. visit, but I am so happy to finally have this one! I got an unexpected bill (from the town of I live in) so $40 of this reimbursement went to pay that. The rest ($173.19) is going to the challenge!

$20 Tax Old Balance: $223.43
Medical reimbursement: $173.19
-------------------------------------
$20 Tax New Balance: $396.62

I got everything straightened out. Turns out my insurance company wanted the Dr. to call them and tell them he was a real Dr. and these were real meds. Right, cuz I am going to willingly inject myself with some med I don't really need. Sheesh!

Then after that, I had to use a special pharmacy that my insurance compnay has a contract with for these types of meds. Cux you know, the bottom line is more important here, not my health. At any rate, they will be here on Tuesday, so I can get started them. And my co-pay???

$40 a month!!!

SO much better than $1,800! Kickarse! I guess it was worth it to go through the hassle with the insurance company, ay???

I went to pick up my first monthly supply of Copaxone, the new med I will be taking for MS. I knew it was going to be expensive; without insurance it is about $24,000 a year. But luckily, I have insurance.

Except for some reason, my insurance won't pay for it! When I picked it up (or went to, anyways), the pharmacy gave me a AAA member discount, but it was still $1,800!!! A month!!!! ACK!!!!!

So, I came home without the meds, freaked out, and called the insurance company. They were closed. Grrrr... Calling today to find out what is going on. Something about it being a brand name drug and me not being at a network pharmacy, I think. Of course, this is the same pharmacy I go to for all my other generic and brand name meds every month...

I just go so angry and frusterated at insurance companies. In my mind, they are helpful in one way b/c they keep you from paying astronimical fees, but sometimes, it seems like they are just in it for the money and they think it is OK to mess around with their clients prescriptions and health. Grumble, grumble...

Back in the beginning of this past December, I was diagnosed with MS. It wasn’t a total shock; I used to work for the National MS Society so I knew a lot about the disease, and a part of me had a feeling I had MS. I had a lot of the classic signs, but my Dr. kept telling me it was something else. When I was in Vegas over Thanksgiving, I lost almost all my vision in my right eye. As soon as I got home I went to my eye Dr., and I was diagnosed with optic neuritis. My eye doctor sent me for CT scans and an MRI, and then to a neurologist. The MRI showed areas of MS activity, and my neurologist diagnosed it.

I have been doing OK with the disease (I start preventative medications this upcoming week and my vision is back to 100%), and since I already know a lot about it, I am not really panicking or freaking out. I’ve told my family, some extended family, and my friends. One woman at work knows; maybe more, for all I know.

Anyways, I wanted to share this with all of you even though it is not financial, because, in a way, you all are like an extended family to me. This actually will affect finances, with the meds being so expensive (between $10,000 and $15,000 a year!), more doctor visits and if, Goddess forbid, something serious happens, trips to the hospital, possible physical therapy, or even equipment to help with disability issues. But for right now, I just wanted to share with all of you, not only because I know you will give me massive amounts of moral support, but because when I do start to mention the financial aspects of it, I wanted you all to know what I was talking about, without having to explain it several times.

You all have been wonderful in terms of listening to (or reading) my rambling, sometimes mindless posts, cheering me up when I feel defeated, and encouraging me when I am doing well with finances. I just felt like this was something I wanted to share with all of you, not only as my financial buddies, but also as just my buddies.

Anywho, enough of this for now. Feel free to ask any question you may have, or feel free not to say anything. But whatever your reaction is, thank you for the support and the (hopefully) continuing support.

I just signed up for medical benefits from my new job. They are so much cheaper than the Cobra I was paying! At my old job, I had Tufts, and I was paying $204 a month. Then, when I lost that job, I picked up Cobra. That was even worse: $341.40 a month!! If I wasn't on so many prescriptions, I might have just said forget it until I found a new job. But Cobra was actually cheaper than paying full price for my meds.

Anyways, my new benefits will be with Tufts, and I am only paying $169.60 a month. That's $170.81 cheaper a month! I am so relieved about this. Especially as I am starting a new medication next week and the copay might be up to $100 a month.

This job just keeps getting better and better.

Happy Happy!