A community of 30,000 US Transcriptionist serving Medical Transcription Industry

The things you do to make ends meet? (sm)

Posted: Mar 3, 2014

I'm 60 years old and this is the first time in my life I have had to deal with such long standing poverty period due to our pay being cut so drastically and losing jobs to no work available. I thought it might be nice to share tips on survival. It also might set my mind at east to hear that others are doing the same unusual things I'm doing to save money, such as:

Warming my hands over a candle while keyboarding because I don't want to turn the heat up.
Using coffee grounds 3 times because I don't have enough coffee to make it till pay day.
Making most dinners a variation of Top Ramen.
Splitting paper plates into layers so I can use one layer at a time.
Re-using paper plates and paper towels that didn't get dirty the first time.
Counting the miles I need to drive for the next two weeks so I can put just the gallons needed into the tank.
Skipping showers to see if it saves water.
Cancelling my cell provider to go with a cheap pay-up front service.
Sewing things I used to just throw away.
Vacuuming the cars air filter instead of replacing it.
Going to the food bank.
Applying for food stamps.
Covering up with blankets to watch TV at night with heat down to 55 degrees.
Thrift shop to buy $1. blankets for my dogs.
Being about 90% vegan as carbs are cheaper than meat.
Renting out a basement or room in house for a little income.
Continuing to work with a broken finger in a splint.
Disconnecting the landline and fax.
Propogating flowers in fall to replant in spring.
Quit paying on credit cards (except ones that will accept lower payments) just to make sure the utilities are paid.
Getting shut off notices for utilities.

I did want to say that this is the first time in my life I have used a food bank. I had been just going without groceries since I wasn't starving, just losing weight. I actually went in for a homeless man someone told me about who was starving and had no transportation so I brought him a box of food. While I was in there the Food Bank volunteers asked if I needed anything for myself. I said "No, I'm managing on Top Ramen". They insisted I take a box of food and started loading one up for me. Didn't have to show any ID, fill out any forms, answer any questions, just let them bring the food out to my car. I was amazed at how easy the volunteers made it. They had frozen turkey, cereal, peanut butter, tons of noodles, rice and canned goods. It was a tremendous help. If anyone is short on food and can't get food stamps, I recommend trying your local food bank.

Hope this isn't too boring. I just wonder how many can identify or have any ideas for saving money.

;

Not boring but I have never been in this dire - of situation and the times when low

[ In Reply To ..]
I had more than 1 job going at a time. One time I had 2 full time jobs, 1 paid 1 week, the other the next. It was like a full 2 weeks pay each week. That was nice. I never relied on food stamps nor anything such as a food bank. I am not saying this is wrong but I just never had to. I just always, always felt not enough money, get another job to bridge what I needed and it worked out for all the younger years. Now in the golden years am not having to put in all those hours I did in the past, so glad.

Not there yet but getting there... - clb

[ In Reply To ..]
With my average hourly rate dropping by $1-2/hour I've learned to cut back. I grocery shop once a month (just 2 people to feed) and coupon. We just bundled our TV/internet/phone and dropped our home phone service and saved $60 a month. Stopped spending anything that wasn't mortgage, utilities, bills, gas for the car, or basic groceries. Save up our gift cards for when a restaurant has a 2 for $20 promotion kinda thing. Not eating Ramen yet but I'm about halfway there. I used to save $50 a month into a savings account but paying off medical bills ate that up. I'm not broke (yet) but as long as I can keep my house, water, heat, light, and medicine I will just have to live w/o any extras. It's sad really but you do what you gotta do. I learned to love staying in and cuddling with my dog, a good book, a cup of tea, and an afghan. Five years ago I would've been out shopping! Oh well...

Dear Rose - Emma Lee

[ In Reply To ..]
I am a complainer. I flip out when I sign on and have no work available, heaven forbid I have to check on at a later point in the day for work! I work a couple of different FT jobs that equate to a single FT job in the "real world". I set a financial goal for myself so that I can manage my bills and travel back and forth to see my kids. I call and complain to my CMTs when things don't go my way!

I read your post and realized I have nothing to complain about. I see that your situation is dire, but you still manage and you still thought enough to share with others the idea of going to the food bank and shared ideas on how you get by.

You have humbled me. I am setting time aside to count my blessings and am lighting a candle in prayer for you, that your situation improve soon.

God Bless you! Thank you for hitting me right upside the head with a healthy dose of reality.

Emma Lee, That was so sweet! Thank you! - Rose

[ In Reply To ..]
.

You are going to be blessed for your sacrifice, Rose - sm

[ In Reply To ..]
Rose, you are the most humble person I've ever known. (I feel like I know you, from MT Stars.) Listen, I have utilized food banks many, many times, and I will not feel bad about it. Nope. I also went on food stamps for about 6 months, as well as received LIHEAP (gov't help to pay power bills). I will not hesitate to go this route again if the need arises.

Your kinds words mean a lot! Thank you! - Rose

[ In Reply To ..]
.

Good suggestions - smsm

[ In Reply To ..]
Excellent suggestions and best wishes to you. (Just a small tip: Be careful not to let your gas get too low---It can result in your car's fuel pump "drying out" and big expense to replace.) Prayers and good thoughts going out to you.

Thanks! I had no idea. (sm) - Rose

[ In Reply To ..]
I have left it on empty sometimes for two weeks. Thanks so much for letting me know. I'll make it a point to not let it get down to the warning light. Thanks so much for telling us about that.

Sweet Rose... - Depressed

[ In Reply To ..]
...you are not alone. I have done almost all of the above, except go to the food bank. I am even selling things on Ebay. My bookcase and shelves are looking empty, but I can buy food with the case I am getting for things. Also, for those of you who are crafty, you can sell things you make on Ebay or etsy. Winter scarves have sold well this winter, lol. ;)

Good ideas! (nm) - Rose

[ In Reply To ..]
.

I've got a few - Keypounder

[ In Reply To ..]
- Cut dryer sheets in half when I use them and only use them for things that I feel MUST be soft. The rest, like jeans, sweatshirts, etc., no dryer sheets.

- Water down fruit juice, colas, and anything I drink with lots of ice cubes.

- Cut my Rx medications in half with scissors and take the 1/2 dose every few days. Saves on $$ by making Rx last a bit longer, without actually cutting my medication intake too much.

- Waste less kitty food by feeding them tiny amounts more than twice a day. That's how they eat anyway, and if I put a day's worth of food down, they take 3 bites, then the rest spoils.

- I have 2 cats, and thus 4 litter pans. I use litter in 2 of the pans, and leave the other 2 empty, which is what one of my cats prefers, anyway. Cuts litter costs in half.

- Stopped vaccinating cats, as they're indoor-only.

- Signed up for low-income rates on utilities. Burn one bulb at a time. Unplug everything I'm not using, including space heater, toaster, washer and dryer,etc.

- In my area, the cheapest gas station for a 50-mile radius is actually in a city. I go to the city about once every week or two. You get a cheaper price still if you pay cash, and don't use credit. So I plan my trips so that I'll pass by this gas station on the way through the city, and bring two $20 bills to fill up the tank. Since I work from home, that $40 of gas can be stretched to last up to a month.

- If friends/neighbors offer to pay me for things I would do for them anyway for free (ride to the airport, feed pets overnight, etc., I let them.

- As the poster above mentioned, I harvested seeds from last year's flowers and planted them this spring. Another thing I noticed is that when I didn't replace last year's potting soil in my planters, last year's flowers sprouted new plants, and bloomed again!

- I color my own hair. The drugstore hair colors used to be awful, but now they're really good. I have great luck with L'Oreal, and go about 2 shades lighter than my usual color, which is a grey-sprinkled light brown. Works wonders.

- I do as many of my own repairs as possible. Just realized that only one electric window and one turn indicator aren't working in my car. Cheap and easy to fix... it's the fuses. A quick trip to the local auto parts store solves that in a hurry. I also keep my tires properly inflated so I'll get the best possible mileage. I refuse to pay for air/water pumps at the gas station.

- I freed myself from expensive laundromats, and got a teeny-tiny washer you plug into your sink, and a teeny-tiny clothes dryer. (Damp climate where I live, so drying outside isn't always possible.)

- I cut up absolutely every piece of scrap paper I have, and staple them together to make my own scratch pads.

- Krazy Glue and duct tape are my friends.

- My cellphone is mainly just for emergencies. I purposely didn't get texting or internet apps for it. Keeps my internet costs down.

- I rarely buy fresh meat. Whatever the "mystery meat" in frozen dinners is, that's about the extent of my meat, poultry or fish intake. Most of my diet consists of yogurt with granola stirred into it, rice cakes with peanut butter on them, and frozen burritos.

- Thrift stores rock! They're so much fun, that that's a habit I probably wouldn't shed even if I were to have a good job again someday.

- I only use coupons if they're for something I was actually going to buy, anyway. If not, then they're not such a bargain, because usually whatever the coupons are for, is something that's more expensive than I was gonna buy.

- I rarely call other people, especially long-distance. They know my phone number, and they know my finances. I let them call me. (I prefer email & Facebook, anyway).

- I keep a "junk drawer". I save all sorts of odds and ends and do-dads that might just have another purpose. This is especially true because I'm always making repairs to things, or rigging up my own contraptions. I save old broken wire coat hangers, because I've made all sorts of things for them. A hook for my back-brush in the shower. A hook for a hummingbird feeder. Repairs to a sun-catcher I have hanging in the window.

- I buy generic or house-brand EVERYTHING, from food to aspirin.

- I use clothes-pins for all sorts of things. As extra bag-clips when I've used up all my regular ones. As a shower curtain clip so the water won't splash out of the shower. To hold window curtains open or closed. To organize envelopes with bills, etc. in them.

- When a pair of sneakers or hiking boots finally wears out to the point of having to be thrown out, I save the laces. I use them for everything from spare laces, to cat-toys, to something to tie up bundles of things with.

- Knee-sox make great arm-warmers! Just cut out the tips of the toes, and a hole for your thumb on the heel, and voila. And the arms of old sweaters make great leg-warmers.

- I use nail polish for all sorts of things, and often in place of paint, for very small projects. I have a pair of dangle-type earrings that I loved the shape of, but they were old and dull. You couldn't even tell what color they used to be. So I painted them a bright shiny pink with nail polish, and I've gotten so many compliments on them!

Keypounder - These are great! (sm) - Rose

[ In Reply To ..]
You should write a book! I've done some of these but you gave me a lot of new suggestions.

I've been hooked on thrift shops since the 70's and even when making good money I still have to get my thrift fix.

Thanks so much for the tips.

Nail polish is great for all kinds of things. - L&L

[ In Reply To ..]
I keep clear on hand for glue, filling in cracks, protecting surfaces. Best stuff around.

Your post hit home as though I had written it myself - Simpleton Sue

[ In Reply To ..]
Except I'm 5 years younger. I've never been at a scarier time in my life financial wise. Most nights I cry myself to sleep so worried that one little change is going to throw us into poverty. I work pretty much whenever I'm awake. Sometimes at night I just have to stop early, but here it is 12:30 am and I just finished and will get up at 6am to start again. Because of VR and the way some of the docs are I find my hourly wage can fluctuate so drastically. Some days I can make $5 an hour, other days (on a bad day) I make $2.50 an hour. Lucky days I make $9 an hour. DH cannot find work and he has been applying for at least 6-10 jobs each week. He keeps reapplying for jobs too. We bought a house 2 years ago and things were great, now the economy is so bad there are days I'm so stressed it just depresses me and most (okay, every) night I cry myself to sleep asking God to have something work out, which most nights I'm so exhausted I usually get out "Dear God, I'm sorry, please..." then I'm out like a light. Okay, enough of my sob story.

Here are some things I've done. Mom and grandma were very thrifty people and could make a penny pinch (or is that pinch a penny) LOL. Some stuff I learned from them.

The things I do the same things as you and another poster is cut up every piece of paper I have to use as scratch, color my own hair (thought I prefer my gray most of the time), duct tape and blue painter tape is a must in our house, skip showers.

No heat (only in extreme worse case do I turn it on, but we have oil heaters that make the area we are in toasty warm (and the cats like laying around them).

Keep all lights off (except in the rooms we are in.

No TV. We have movies and also the internet.

No dryer, hang our clothes over a dryer rack near the oil heater.

Save little bars of soap after they get so small you can't use them in the shower. Let them sit for a few days (or rather til you get enough of them. Then I buy dishrags (the ones for washing dishes) and I cut the bars into small pieces and sew them up in the dish cloths and use them in the shower to wash with.

Grandma taught me how to darn socks, which I would love to do for fun, but for wearing I have to have ultra soft, but if worse came to worse I could darn socks (but they are pretty cheap to buy, we just couldn't afford new socks all the time growing up).

Make meals that last. On weekends make a big pot of something. Chicken soup is the cheapest. 1 chicken, 6 carrots, 4 celery stalks and 6 potatoes. Use a lot of water and that meal last DH and I 4 nights (think it costs maybe $12 to make, which ends up to be about $3 per meal for the two of us). Once in awhile I will splurge and buy a ham (about $16-20 depending on the size). We get 4 dinners, plus lunches and snacks with it. Then I use the bone and make a pot of split pea with ham or navy beans with ham and that gives us another 4 nights of meals. So a $20 ham just gave us 8 meals.

Just a suggestion about the Ramen noodles. Watched a video on what Ramen noodles does once ingested. No thanks. There are many other noodles that are better for you. Maybe try getting a large back of angel hair pasta and just use small amounts. We eat a lot of butter and basil with garlic noodles for lunch. Another cheap lunch idea is chili-mac. Boil up some macaroni and add a can of chili - yum with a little bit of cheese and sour cream.

Here is our favorite meal. We have this once a week and sometimes twice a week. It last 2 meals for the 2 of us, or if the turkey breast is large we can stretch it to 3 nights. I actually made up the recipe myself with the input of a lot of posters here about a year or so ago.

1 Turkey breast cut into bit size pieces (or a packet of ground turkey, which is what we used to use until we tried it with who turkey breast cut up and like that better).
1 can of S&W white beans
1 can of S&W canned italian tomatoes

For seasonings I use salt, pepper, garlic powder (lots of it), taco seasoning and basil.

Cook the turkey in a skillet using the seasonings (I don't have an exact amount I use, I just sprinkle it until the taste is the amount we like). Don't over cook as it will be tough. I usually undercook just a hair. Add the beans and tomatoes and simmer until hot and bubbly (the turkey will continue to cook, that's why you dont want to over cook it). Serve with rice.

Recycle cans and bottles at the grocery store.

Put my socks on the space heater for a few seconds to warm them up then put them on my feet. Warmth may only be a few minutes, but feels good.

Sleep with the electric blanket and oil heater instead of heat.

Ditched paper plates and napkins (waste of money). Bought some cheap dish towels at Rite-Aid to use to wipe our hands and mouth then once a week wash them. Paper plates is just a waste of money to us. We use regular plates (got some for 99 cents at the thrift shop).

No sodas, chips or other yummy snacks we used to like.

Drinking water with some lemon slices or just water plain. Sometimes if we have juice I'll mix half juice half water.

Make my own cookies versus store bought.

Here's one I need suggestions on. Right now I have internet and phone. When I first signed up it cost $60 a month. After 6 months it went to $80. They told me the 60 was a 6 month special they don't have anymore. Told them I needed cheaper service and they said that was the cheapest. They told me they would give me that rate and it would not go up for the next 2 years (price locked in). 4 months later they raised the rates to $113. I called them and said they said I would get rate of 83 for 2 years and they said they don't have that. Fees went up and 113 was the best deal. 3 months later got another rate increase to $133 which is what it is now. I called them and said this is unacceptable. I said twice I was told my rates would not go up and within 3 months they raised the rates. Got the usual story taxes and fees went up, this is the cheapest plan. Told them their website shows internet for 49 and phone for 29. They said that's for new customers. I told them I can go somewhere else and get TV included in that price, to which they got very excited and said that's great I can add the TV to service pack and you would save money. I said how much would I save. They said $6. I said that's rediculus. So now I'm trying to figure out what to do. I need internet. Any suggestions?

Those are the only things I can think of right now. It's late.

This Tenuous State - worried

[ In Reply To ..]
I fear there are many more of us out there than we suppose. We may be at different points, but most of us are headed downhill. It seems no more than I find something to fill in an income loss, another bill arrives or increases to gobble it up and I am in the same negative position again. They say the economy is improving--I think it is just shifting. Really, girls, think hard about your Republican stance...think really hard about what they will do for you...and as someone posted earlier (somewhere) those mid-term elections are going to be important, I am on the other side of that thought though. I truly believe that Pres. Obama is genuine, perhaps in over his head as most are who really want to change things for the better in an insurmountable situation.

I feel the same way, but not the same conclusion that you come to - Simpleton Sue

[ In Reply To ..]
Every time we've had republicans in office I and others I know who are middle and low income do well. When the democrats take power that's when we start sinking - and fast. The last time it was this bad was when Clinton was in office and democrats were in charge.

I do not believe Obama is genuine. I think he knows exactly what he is doing. While millions of Americans suffer he and his wife go on shopping sprees, multimillion dollar vacations using our tax dollars, and then we get the constant barage of seeing Michelle's "bling".

Very scary times and it would help us low income people to not see their endless parade of what should be shame flaunted to us.

But any more political than that I will address on the political board. I was just replying to your post.

differing conclusions - this tenuous state

[ In Reply To ..]
When Clinton was in office I was making $20,000 a year more doing transcription.

Cable & Internet & Phone Savings Idea - Mary Roach

[ In Reply To ..]
I hear you loud and clear about the internet and cable and phone ripoffs. Time Warner Cable nearly drove me crazy with their promises and lies. I got sick and tired of paying way more than I thought the services were worth. And, like you, I made absolutely no progress by calling them and trying to get a more affordable plan. Here's what I learned: The "customer service" people are NOT there to serve the customers. In reality, their job is to try to sell you more services at a higher rate, in other words, to get you to spend yet more than you do already. They will not help you. I finally went in to my local Time Warner Cable office, waited in line for 30 minutes, and was treated very well by the counter clerk. I explained to her exactly what I needed (lowest services) and what I could afford, and she worked with me to find a plan that gave me what I needed at a price I could far better afford (than what I had had). I ended up saving almost $100 a month and kept pretty much the same services we had had for years. Now, taking the time to drive in and go to the office was a pain, but it was way less stressful and far more fruitful than the futile phone call to "customer service." I hope this idea might help you. In any case, hang in there.

Thanks Sue! Tip on ISP (sm) - Rose

[ In Reply To ..]
Sue, you are doing so much better than I am at saving. Thanks for the tips and recipes. I'll have to try them and get off the Ramen.

I was very happy with my local wireless ISP for 6 years without any increases in cost. Then I signed on with an MTSO that required DSL. Century Link advertised this for $19 a month. I signed up with them, but with all the additional taxes, fees, and "we don't offer that in your area" stuff it was costing me about $80 a month. After losing that job I told them I was cancelling service to go back to my old wireless and then they gave me a great offer, same coverage minus the "required landline" for $29 per month. I complained about the price before but was never given this offer until I told them I was cancelling service.

My grandmother, who had been through the great depression, taught me how to darn socks on an egg to keep the shape.

I get the paper plates super cheap at Family Dollar. I know they are a waste but I'm so exhausted by the end of the day I just don't want to wash another dish.

I hope things improve for you, Sue, and your hubby. I have to commend you for all you are doing to save money!

I make my own laundry soap - Old and Tired MT

[ In Reply To ..]
All it takes is Borax, Arm & Hammer washing soda, and Fels Naptha soap. It costs just pennies and makes a lot of soap. Saves me a ton of money buying expensive laundry soap. Also found a way to make dishwasher soap so am going to try that next.

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I read an article today and had seen part of Meet the Press this morning where Hillary said Trump should release his tax returns. She's not the only one saying this and I can't believe I agree with her on that subject!!! Cokie and Steve Roberts also had a good article on Trump and his taxes in the local paper today. What gets me is the Trumpeters think it's okay for Trump to hide his taxes and it's okay that he's part of the 1% group, but in 2012 they were all ...

Jun 10, 2010
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1285467/BP-OIL-SPILL-Lord-Tebbit-Boris-Johnson-attack-Obamas-anti-British-rhetoric.html ...

Oct 07, 2012
I don't know why he makes the effort to appear on these programs. His answers to questions are always the same "It was Bush's fault." He should just make a recording of his answers and play them. ...

May 26, 2014
Read here:http://www.burr.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?FuseAction=PressOffice.PressReleases&ContentRecord_id=aa65233d-d544-d911-5730-974ef9952220 And read Veteran's reactions here:http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/05/25/richard-burr-veterans_n_5389296.html?utm_hp_ref=politics And then think about Burr's record regarding Veteran's bills. I'll lay it out for you. S AMDT 2634 Additional Funding For Veterans Amendment Motion Rejected - Senate(43 - 55) Nay ...