Self-Employment Tips: How to Save on Health and Dental

by | Nov 15, 2011

Anyone who is self-employed has had to face the insurance conundrum.  Do you spend an arm and leg to insure yourself (since there’s no corporate umbrella to absorb a portion of the cost) or do you risk losing an actual arm or leg because you can’t afford the cost of medical care without insurance?

While there are certainly benefits to being self-employed, such as working from home, setting your own schedule, and taking only the jobs you want, one of the major drawbacks of freelancing or staring your own company is that the cost of medical and dental falls squarely on your shoulders.  Luckily, there are a few ways to cut back on these costs.

Here’s how to save when you’re self-employed:

Preventive care

There is no better way to dispel the costs of medical and dental procedures than to continue practicing preventive care.  Early detection is often the key to ensuring that health issues never get to a critical (and expensive) stage.  So whether or not you have insurance, try to find a way to keep up with your annual visits (physicals, dental cleanings, and so on), especially if you have a family (or personal) history of problems.

Pay in cash

Many doctors and dentists are sympathetic to patients that lose their job or insurance (often both) and can’t afford to pay for treatment at full price.  Some are even willing to make concessions if you pay in cash as a way to keep you on track with your health.  So if your doctor or dentist might normally charge the insurance company $100 for your visit, they’ll allow you to pay as little as half when you offer cash.  Simply ask at your doctor and dentist offices to see if they’re willing to make such an arrangement.

Shop around

You comparison shop for everything from cars to jeans to canned vegetables, so why wouldn’t you do the same with doctors?  While it’s true that visiting a physician is a rather intimate experience, the truth is that you’re going to be poked and prodded one way or another.  So look into prices and how they vary from private practices to hospital staff to clinics; you’re bound to find something in your price range that suits your medical and dental needs, and you may be eligible to pay on a sliding fee scale (or even get services for free).

Prescription assistance

Even after you visit the doctor or dentist, you’re bound to be on the hook for additional costs thanks to prescription medication.  Some people can save by going for the generic brand while others will order via apps or the internet (finding the best cost locally or getting medication from other countries where it may be sold cheaper).  But if you simply can’t afford the cost of medications that you need in order to survive, look for prescription assistance programs that operate on donations (government, private, or other) so that you get the prescriptions you need at low or no out-of-pocket cost.

Discount plans 

There are companies out there that offer individuals like yourself both medical and dental discount plans.  You won’t pay much for membership (generally up to about $30 per month) and the plans will cover as much as 60% of your costs.  This is a good way to ensure that you won’t be tanked by potentially costly problems, without spending a boatload on pricy insurance that you may never use.

Evan Fischer is a freelance writer and part-time student at California Lutheran University in Thousand Oaks, California.

Budgeting Tips for Single Mothers

by | Nov 13, 2011

When you first started your journey as a single mother, you may have been worried about how you were going to survive on one income. If you have not already created one, you should know that a household budget will help you get through any tough financial times and it could even help you save for your child’s future. With a well thought out plan and a little effort, you will soon be rich, both in love from your child and in money.

Planning your budget
Actually writing down where your money should go each month will help you see your monthly spending needs and habits. With a budget, you will be able to track your household cash flow as well. You probably already know your monthly income, but calculating your monthly expenses could be a bit more difficult.

First, you should gather all of your bills, credit card statements, checking account information, and receipts for everything you have bought with cash in the last month. If you haven’t been keeping these records, do so for the next month before you create a set budget. When you are able to see exactly where your money goes, it will be easier to figure out which costs are necessary and which are not.

Pay close attention to your most important purchases. You will obviously need to budget for rent, food, credit card payments, and other bills before you can buy the things you want. Some of the most successful budgeters use envelopes to manage their finances. They put money to pay for each of their bills in separate envelopes so that they are ready to be paid. With that money safely put away, they are able to see what they have left from their monthly income, and they are less likely to miss a payment.

Saving on a budget
Saving is a very important part of creating a budget. You obviously want to try to save as much money as possible for your future and for your children’s future, but most people only save what is left at the end of the month, meaning that they could be saving nothing at all. Set aside a specific amount each month that you want to save, and then create your budget around what you have left. With this strategy, you may have to cut back on some things that aren’t necessary for your family to survive, which could mean you have to do away with a few luxuries (i.e. going to the movies, having the largest cable package, etc.).

However, you will be much happier in the end because you will know that your finances are stable thanks to your savings.

Ways to save money
For some single moms, a budget may not be enough. No matter what, you should always try to find ways to save, even on the smallest purchases. Spending less than your monthly budget will mean more money in your savings account. Try a few of these tips to get started.

  • Look through ads before you shop – You could save hundreds each year if you look for the least expensive option. This can work for food, cloths, and vehicle maintenance, as well as many other important and necessary purchases.
  • Coupons – Very few families take advantage of the coupons they get every week with their newspaper. Even the smallest amount of savings could add up by the end of the month. One thing you should not do, however, is fall into the coupon trap. Coupons are meant to get you to try new products. You should be willing to do this, but don’t buy a product with a coupon if you know your family won’t use it.
  • Price matching – Some stores will match the price of their competitors. Research online before you shop to know who will price match and gather ads from their competitors that are advertising cheaper prices.

Amy Shoemaker is an author of many articles relating to topics including finances, volunteering, and nursing homes. Her website is for elderly citizens who have suffered nursing home abuse.

Using Deal Sites for Holiday Shopping

by | Nov 11, 2011

The Dollar Stretcher
by Gary Foreman
gary @stretcher.com

According to a recent Gallup poll, Americans expect to spend about
$715 this year on holiday gifts. That amount is almost unchanged from
last year.
<http://www.marketingcharts.com/direct/holiday-spending-forecasts-chilly-19430/>

In the current economy it’s no surprise that families will be
watching their holiday spending closely. Consumers are expected to
use every tool at their disposal to get the best value for their
shopping dollar.

Among those tools are the daily deal type sites that offer a variety
of special deals, many targeted by city. I use one myself occasionally.

I wanted to get a feel for how consumers might use these sites during
this holiday shopping season. To help me answer that question I spoke
with Gary Lipovetsky, president of DealFind.com.

The first question I asked Gary was do you expect many shoppers to
take advantage of daily deals this holiday season?
“Absolutely  people love deals and daily deal sites are positioned to
help people stretch their money further than ever.”

According to his research, Mr. Lipovetsky expects customers to save
around $100 million just during November and December this year.

He also expects that certain product categories will be more popular
than others. “In our experience, the favorite deals for holidays are
stocking stuffers, spas or facials. Restaurants and getaways coming
in close second – they are great as gifts and a wonderful treat for
one-self as well. Magazine subscriptions did very well last year and
even useful presents like lost and found security tags for your
phone, keys, wallets, etc.”

I also wondered whether there was any way to tell when the best deals
would be available. In a tough economy I’d be tempted to wait until
desperate retailers were forced to offer above-average last minute
discounts. Would that apply to the deal sites?

So I asked Lipovetsky when would be the prime time for daily deals –
Black Friday? Nearer to Christmas? “It has already started, its
happening now and will continue through November with the last week
of December being most busy. There is always a huge influx of last
minute shoppers or people buying additional gifts.”

Finally I asked him what his favorite method for getting the best
deal? “We recommend the following tips: Buying deals early, buying
multiple deals if the price is great, buying as gifts – you can find
so many items that you would otherwise buy full-price or wait for
after-Holiday sales.”

Naturally, Lipovetsky is a big believer in deal sites. You’d expect
that. But, I agree that for the consumer who knows what they’re
looking for and what a good sale price is for that item, the deal
sites can give them another tool to use this holiday season.

My warning would be to be careful to avoid a rush decision that
hasn’t be researched. Deal sites can offer savings. But, if it’s not
something that you need or want or the price can be beat, you don’t
want to pull the trigger on the purchase. As always, think before you
pull out your credit or debit card!

Keep on Stretching those Dollars!

_____________
Gary Foreman is a former purchasing manager who currently edits The
Dollar Stretcher website <http://www.stretcher.com/index.cfm?column>.
This article originally appeared at
<http://community.stretcher.com/blogs/stretcher/archive/2011/11/08/deal-sites-and-holiday-shopping.aspx>.
You can follow Gary on Twitter <http://twitter.com/#!/gary_foreman>.

(end Dollar Stretcher blog)

How to Use PrePaid Debit Cards to Control Your Expenses

by | Nov 4, 2011

Use Prepaid Debit Card Control Expenses

How many times have you run out of money at the end of the month? How many times have you had a check bounce? How about the last time you swiped your card and it was denied?

That is pretty embarrassing. I lived like that for a while and it was not fun. Granted, more people than we know probably have this problem every now and then. Let’s face it, money is short for many people.

One of the ways to get around this issue of running out of money is to use a pre-paid debit card. Why? (more…)

Is this a Good Time to Playing the Stock Market?

by | Nov 1, 2011

Everyone is talking about the ecomomy and how bad things are. Politicians and big business men are playing ping-pong with our emotions and wallets.

Everywhere I turn I hear about the 1% versus the 99%. Occupy Wall Street and various other offshoot “Occupy” groups are springing up all over the country.

With all this noise I wonder if it’s a good time to play the stock market. So many people are distracted because of the news coverag and naysayers. Is this a good time to be playing the stock market?

The reality is, business goes on and as usual. The stock market is still moving forward. People are still buying goods and services and companies are still making money.

Even in a recession we still need food, clothing, gas, shelter, and numerous other things. As  idealistic as it is to want to boycott, sit down, and/or be an activist life still goes on. We can complain about what happening or we can do something about it.

I think there are opportunities in the stock market, but it requires education and innovative thought. For me I have to get input from an experienced person that I can trust. There are many online brokerage services and products like Scottrade that offer quick and inexpensive options to jump into the market.

For me, I need a bit more hand holding and guidance. A while ago I spoke to an investment adviser that seemed on the up and up. He seemed genuinely interested in helping me set up accounts, transfer my retirement fund, and start making money to fund my dreams.

Thankfully I have a little nest egg to turn over which will make getting started much simpler and less stressful. I won’t have to figure out how to get the money to put into the market and beginning playing with the big boys.

Someday soon, I’ll be sitting pretty with a diverse portfolio of my favorite companies. In the meantime, I’m back to the grindstone to make a dollar out of 15 cents like everyone else. 🙂

3 No-Brainer Ways to Earn an Extra $1,000 for the Holiday Season, Part 1

by | Oct 28, 2011

The holidays are just around the corner. I’m surprised how fast this year has flown buy. One of the best times of the year is just a couple months away. The holidays, whether it’s called Christmas, Kwanzaa, or Hanukkah, are all closing in fast.

What Are Your Holiday Plans

What are you going to for yourself and your kids? Are you planning a big holiday or just a quiet, family-only affair?

Do your kids already have their gift list ready (my son does) or do you expect them to shift into high gear after Halloween?

Gift Giving Love It or Hate It?

One thing about the holidays is gift-giving. We either love it or hate it. We love it because it feels good to give. Or we hate it because we probably don’t have enough money to buy nice presents or at least the ones the kids want.

I’ll address how to cut down on that stress and expectations of giving in another post for people who just need an alternative.

But for the people who want to rush into the madness and spread holiday cheer, there are three no-brainer ways to make an extra $1,000 for the holiday season.

No-Brainer #1 – Clean Out Your Closet to Make Extra Money

You’ve probably heard me talk about this before. I have posts here and here about selling your stuff for extra cash.

I talk about it because it really works. Trust me. You really don’t need all those appliances and outdated electronics. Sell them and get some extra cash. If you are crafty you could throw in a few items you have made and sell them too.

Use Quick Research and Craigslist to Sell Effectively

Craigslist is your friend as are other classified ad spaces online. Some local weekly papers allow you to post ads for free. You may have to do a bit of searching but I’m sure you can find two or three places to list your items for sale.

If you are not sure about how much to price your items for, quickly research what others are selling it for. Set a price you feel comfortable with and list it.

Sell Your Used Movies, Games, and Books on Amazon.com

A couple places to sell your used movies, games, and books are Amazon.com (just set up a seller account) and Half.com.

With all this selling you should be able to make $1,000 or close to it by the beginning of December.  So you have time if you just get started.

Get Support with the Make $1,000 Sell Your Stuff Challenge!

I understand that sometimes it’s easier said than done so I’ve created a place to get support. I’m calling it the Make $1,000 Sell Your Stuff Challenge. Head on over to the community and let’s talk about how to make this a reality for you.

This challenge will run for the month of November so jump in as soon as possible.

There is truly power in community so join us. You can register with your Facebook account or you can set it up very quickly. I really would like to see you there and help motivate you to raise this money.

In the next post I will share another way to make $1,000 for the holidays.