We are shelling out billions of dollars on prescription drugs. A consumer survey found that as many as 30-40 percent people are skipping medication due to cost. Here are some easy way to save on prescriptions.
Choose Generic:
Most of the generic medication are almost same in strength as brand name counter parts. Thyroid and Blood thinning medications are probably something you should consider taking brand name or specifically prescribed by your physician. Else generic works just as well.
Pharmacy like wal-mart,target,Walgreen's etc are coming up with 1$ per week for generic plan. They have 100s of medicines covered under this plan.
Use Mail Order:
Mail Order might be allowed under your plan and it might cost you only a fraction.
Know your plan:
Do proper research on your drug coverage plan. Certain companies do not cover prescription allergy medication with argument that over the counter allergy medicines works equally well.
Free Samples:
Don't be ashamed to ask your doctor about free samples if needed.
Get Help:
Here are some websites with helpful resources.
http://copays.org/
http://pparx.org/ - Pharmaceutical companies helping patient with certain medicines. Check this website for Prescription Assistance Program.
Showing posts with label Money Saving Tips. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Money Saving Tips. Show all posts
Wednesday, December 3, 2008
Saturday, November 29, 2008
Home Made Gifts - Gift Baskets
Gift Baskets can be very versatile Home Make Gifts. They can be customized to suit any taste.
Below are some of the examples of various gift baskets. And quick and easy tips about how to make them yourself. With very little effort you may turn simple and easily available items into Classy Gift Baskets.
Lets start with basic items needed to create a gift basket.
- Container - Wicker Basket,Planter,Tray etc. There is really no limit to what you may use as container. You may even use a cup or mug as a container for a small gift basket. !
- Filler Material and Shreds - To fill bottom of the basket and to put between gifts.
- Small individually wrapped gift items
- Ribbon,Bow, Gift Card
- Some small decorative items
- Cello Bags or Plastic Wrap - This wraps are not necessary but if used, they give Gift Basket very classy look.
Now simple technique to assemble the gift basket.
- If container is too deep, place some filler material like brown paper or flower foam etc.
- Place shreds between individually wrapped gift items. Use transparent tap to keep them in place. Based on the type of the gift basket different shreds might be used.
- Gifts can be purchased or even home made.
- Tie bow and small decorative items around the container to give it final touches.
- Finish off the gift basket with Cello Bag or Plastic wrap.
Enjoy.
Thursday, November 20, 2008
Tips to Save More and Live Better
In this difficult economy, it is easy to get carried away and to think that you will have to give up your life style. But if you really think about it there are ways that will help you keep your life style and still save a bit for future.
1. Purchase gift cards for less and use it for yourselves !!
I just bought Talbot's gift card from http://www.plasticjungle.com/ . It was 317 dollar worth gift card and I purchased it for 219 dollars !!. ie. almost 30 % less.
You may purchase 25 dollar worth Panera Bread gift card for 20 dollar. ie. 20% less!
2. Use Coupons.
Combine cheap gift cards (as mentioned above) with coupon for the same store and you got your self a great deal. You may get stuff for almost 50% off.
http://www.coupons.com/
http://www.valpak.com/
are some great source for coupons.
3. Shop at consignment stores.
Consignment shops don't only carry used items. They carry items that department store needs to get rid of to make space for new items. Perfectly new items marked down almost 50-70% . You may find cloths,furniture, appliances , jewellery at consignment shops.
Burlington Coat Factory and SteinMart are upscale consignment stores. This is where you may purchase CalvinKlein, Donald Trump, DKNY brand clothings for at least 50% off. Sometimes even 70% off. Ross and marshalls are also simillar consignment stores. Not that upscale though. All these stores also carry wide variety of baby, maternity and house hold items as well.
You may find simillar consignment stores for furniture in your area as well.
Shop for floor models while purchasing appliances, electronics etc. They are slightly used and most of the time look new. You can easily get 20-30% off on floor models.
4. Credit Card for Cash Back
If you carry balance on your credit cards and best bet is to transfer your balance on credit cards charging low interest. If you do not carry balance then it will be good idea to use credit cards that provide cash back. Many credit cards provide cash back between 1-5%. Sometimes during some promotional period they provide even 10% cash back !
http://www.creditcards.com/ is a website that will let you compare credit cards side by side for options such a cash back, rewards, yearly fee etc. Make sure you do not use any card that charges yearly fee.
5. Brownbag at least twice a week
A family of 4 can save up to 200 dollars per month by either eating at home only twice a week or brownbagging. Eating at home/Brownbagging does not really mean you have to cook at home. You may do that, and that will save you even more. But you may just as well get frozen family meals from wholesalers like COSTCO or SAMS club. Here is the math. You spend at least 20 dollars for family of 4 every time you eat out. And this is like cheapest thing you can get. You may end up spending even more. If you get a 10 dollar worth frozen ravioli from COSTCO, it will last two times for dinner. Thus making it little over dollar per meal per person. You may add a little home made salad or soup and make it a complete meal.
1. Purchase gift cards for less and use it for yourselves !!
I just bought Talbot's gift card from http://www.plasticjungle.com/ . It was 317 dollar worth gift card and I purchased it for 219 dollars !!. ie. almost 30 % less.
You may purchase 25 dollar worth Panera Bread gift card for 20 dollar. ie. 20% less!
2. Use Coupons.
Combine cheap gift cards (as mentioned above) with coupon for the same store and you got your self a great deal. You may get stuff for almost 50% off.
http://www.coupons.com/
http://www.valpak.com/
are some great source for coupons.
3. Shop at consignment stores.
Consignment shops don't only carry used items. They carry items that department store needs to get rid of to make space for new items. Perfectly new items marked down almost 50-70% . You may find cloths,furniture, appliances , jewellery at consignment shops.
Burlington Coat Factory and SteinMart are upscale consignment stores. This is where you may purchase CalvinKlein, Donald Trump, DKNY brand clothings for at least 50% off. Sometimes even 70% off. Ross and marshalls are also simillar consignment stores. Not that upscale though. All these stores also carry wide variety of baby, maternity and house hold items as well.
You may find simillar consignment stores for furniture in your area as well.
Shop for floor models while purchasing appliances, electronics etc. They are slightly used and most of the time look new. You can easily get 20-30% off on floor models.
4. Credit Card for Cash Back
If you carry balance on your credit cards and best bet is to transfer your balance on credit cards charging low interest. If you do not carry balance then it will be good idea to use credit cards that provide cash back. Many credit cards provide cash back between 1-5%. Sometimes during some promotional period they provide even 10% cash back !
http://www.creditcards.com/ is a website that will let you compare credit cards side by side for options such a cash back, rewards, yearly fee etc. Make sure you do not use any card that charges yearly fee.
5. Brownbag at least twice a week
A family of 4 can save up to 200 dollars per month by either eating at home only twice a week or brownbagging. Eating at home/Brownbagging does not really mean you have to cook at home. You may do that, and that will save you even more. But you may just as well get frozen family meals from wholesalers like COSTCO or SAMS club. Here is the math. You spend at least 20 dollars for family of 4 every time you eat out. And this is like cheapest thing you can get. You may end up spending even more. If you get a 10 dollar worth frozen ravioli from COSTCO, it will last two times for dinner. Thus making it little over dollar per meal per person. You may add a little home made salad or soup and make it a complete meal.
Saturday, November 8, 2008
Saving Money Paying Off Debt - 0% APR Balance Transfer Credit Card
How much money you are spending every month carrying balance on your credit card. I read somewhere that if you make only minimum payment it will take you at least 7 years to pay off 2000 dollars !! You are just paying interest most of the time. This money can be very well used some where else.
Monthly Payment: Pay more than minimum required payment. So that you make sure you are paying something toward bringing down principle and not just paying interest.
Balance Transfer: Using 0% APR balance transfer credit card is another good thing. Search on Internet and you will find many card with 0% Balance Transfer APR, no yearly fee and maximum 75 dollar balance transfer charge. (There are some that charge as much as 300 dollars. You do want to avoid them.) Usually they provide this rate for 6 to 12 months. Once this term ends interest rates do shoot up. You do want to make sure that this new interest rate is not higher than your current credit card. Or you may just want to move your balance on another card after the end of the free term.
We have a friend who used this card to pay off almost 10000 dollars debt without paying almost nothing in interest.
Lower Interest Rate: If have been paying regularly and not been late, you may also work with your credit card company to lower the interest rate. That could slash your interest payment as much as 50%.
Monthly Payment: Pay more than minimum required payment. So that you make sure you are paying something toward bringing down principle and not just paying interest.
Balance Transfer: Using 0% APR balance transfer credit card is another good thing. Search on Internet and you will find many card with 0% Balance Transfer APR, no yearly fee and maximum 75 dollar balance transfer charge. (There are some that charge as much as 300 dollars. You do want to avoid them.) Usually they provide this rate for 6 to 12 months. Once this term ends interest rates do shoot up. You do want to make sure that this new interest rate is not higher than your current credit card. Or you may just want to move your balance on another card after the end of the free term.
We have a friend who used this card to pay off almost 10000 dollars debt without paying almost nothing in interest.
Lower Interest Rate: If have been paying regularly and not been late, you may also work with your credit card company to lower the interest rate. That could slash your interest payment as much as 50%.
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