I was just wondering how many of you are struggling financially and without insurance. You may have read that I am without a job, insurance or even a Doctor at this point… (but I’m doing ok!)
Would you all be interested in learning how I use coupons to make ends meet?
Do you have frugal ideas that work for you?
Anyone interested in establishing a group for Penny Pinchers with Diabetes?
I would LOVE to hear how you use coupons! I have not had much luck with them and I have been trying to save any way I can. I would love the idea of a group. I am not working right now because I am doing an internship for grad school (in other words I have to work for no pay) so we are broke. I do have insurance thru my husband’s work but the copays are killing us right now. I just try to stock up on the things I eat often when they are buy one, get one free. When I run low on strips and my insurance won’t let me fill the rx because it is too soon, I buy strips off ebay. If you keep an eye out you can get them at 50% off. I just got 200 one touch strips for $50 including S&H so that was a killer deal.
I’ve been fortunate because my work insurance is phenomenal, but I’m treading on thin ice as half of the tech dept. has been laid off.
Also crazy, that the Medicare costs I accrued that insurance paid, were MORE than my whole annual salary. I think Uncle Sam’s gonna screw me this year because of it.
I think what needs to be done, is that a generic rapid acting insulin be available without prescription to help those who typically use that. It’s ridiculous that Regular insulin and NPH are the only ones available, they seem very much outdated.
Great! Suzanne & Ray.
The first rule in couponing is to set up a “just for coupons email account” otherwise you’ll have so many emails in your regular accounts you won’t believe it.
I just posted this in another thread… but…
Today… at Walgreens
4 contour meter kits…
4 boxes of sugar free pudding
1 60ct box of low dose Bayer asprin for the heart
1 Mitchum deoderant.
Total w tax. 342.60
my out of pocket… 10.13
The key is to build a stock pile… Ray you need to do this NOW!
I’ll let you digest that for now…
I’m interested but not sure if I’m organizationally gifted enough to do it. You are amazing!
Awwww Shucks! :o) I look at it this way… I was almost paid to shop today… (some times I really am paid to shop with coupons more on that later.)
It does take a little time… but hey… time is really all we have.
Thanks for sharing your ideas Sylvia! You might find more good ideas in this discussion with suggestions for people without insurance. There are lots of good ideas there.
ooooo goodie!.. My idea is to show people how to do this for FREE or as close to it as possible when they fall through the cracks. Also I think it’s good for all of us to save as much as possible on our every day expenses to free up money for meds, supplies and Drs appointments. Suzanne for instance… she’s working basically a full time job for no play to complete her training. I think it would be awesome for her.
In January I only purchased $63.24 for groceries for 2. And the only reason it was that high was because of my new found condition and the fresh veg I’ve added to my diet. In Feb I spent about $150 but that was because i bought $100 worth of meat when it was on sale. 20lbs chicken, 10 lbs of pork ribs, 50lbs of steak :o) I love steak. Now I’m good for several months and my freezer and pantry are fill.
Before darling hubby lost his job in Sept… we regularly spent $70 a week for groceries and another $100 a week for eating out.
I just blogged about this topic. Diabetes Update: Diabetes on a Budget.
We really do need universal health insurance in the U.S… What worries me about what sounds like is being considered is that everyone EXCEPT patients are being included in the dialogue. The government is under the impression that organizations like the ADA represent patients when they really represent drug companies, food companies and to some extent doctors–the people who profit from our illness, not we the patients who have it.
I will definately be in April. In April, I will be cut from my moms insurance and imagining that life will be stressful and scary. Not sure what Im going to do to get my meds.
Cathy: I feel your pain. I know it’s hard and humiliating but YOU are worth the effort, AND if we do this right YOU can donate extras to Shelters/Churches and Food banks. Don’t worry… there are cigarette coupons too. 
Read the starter thread above to get started. Get your couponing email set up. I’ll be spitting out information and where to get coupons soon.
In the meantime start a list of products you and hubby like a lot
Hi Carol:
wow! I didn’t know they denied you the basic testing stuff. I suppose that if you had a bad episode and ended up in the hospital they would pay for that expense. That’s crazy!
The majority of the coupons that I find are for U.S residants only… however the strategies should work in other countries… I would love to see how things work in Ontario. Keep me posted.
Jenny: Great ideas in there… I want to not only learn how to get supplies/meds but to focus on how the entire household expenses can be reduced.
Ok folks… I’ve started the group…
Strategic Savers. Come on in… I’ve put up a few videos (from youtube) that should get you excited about saving.
OK, I am convinced, I am going to do this coupon thing! I did follow your advice about buying in bulk today on these Think Thin bars I eat for breakfast. They cost $1.79 each at the store and I couldn’t find any coupons online. www.drugstore.com had them for $14.99 for a case with no shipping since it was my first order on them. Then I found a $10 coupon in a coupon mailer that came to my house for that site. I usually don’t even look at them but I did today. It only took me 5 minutes and I saved $16 this way. Now I have enough bars to last me over 2 months! It’s a start! I am signing up for coupon sites tonight to my new email account just for this!
Congratulations!! That is a fantastic start! You are going to be great at this!
The thing with bulk or family size is you need to be sure you are getting the best deal. Sometimes it’s better to buy the smaller size if your coupon covers the entire amount and buy several because you’ll have several coupons to use.
Those Mailers can surprise you. Today I found a coupon for .55 off Sara Lee Bread. I always look at them… Other sources are magazines, the newspaper at work, the recycle bin at work. (I hear women say they dive into these all the time to grab the flyers in there.) oh and don’t forget the newspaper at Church. Sometimes they just get tossed. You can also ask your neighbors to save them for you. (all they can do is say… no I need my Q’s) LOL
I guess I should post the group link.