I am a stay at home mom of three and swamped with medical bills from my sons autism and my car accident. I have 8 or 9 different prescriptions that I take daily and that cost is eating us alive, along with gas prices like everyone else. :-) My husband only brings home $1800 per month and rent is $900, does not include all the other bills. I cannot take on a job right now due to my health and my three young kids, (I have severe back and neck problems right now and I'm being treated at Spine Team Texas.....my kids are ages 2 - 5 years). What is your advice on how to cut costs and shop cheap? We don't eat out, we live by candle light and oil lamps, I keep the air on 82 at night and off during the day. We have also gone down to one vehicle. I go without meals so the kids can eat and I don’t purchase anything for me unless absolutely needed. This is very different from being a HR Mgr. and bringing home $4000 per month, (I was the bread winner), so I am just lost and want to know how everyone makes it work please. HELP.
I am not proud about this but I wanted to let you all know what happened. We are getting $9 per month for food stamps now, yes $9 because they go off the gross not the net and with my husband working for the county they take out all kinds of things we have no control over it. Good thing is that it is better than nothing and if I shop right I can get around 10 lbs of hamburger meat off of it. :-) We are also getting WIC for Bella and Lauren. I am still trying to get assistance with my medicine and medical bills since I have to pay the doctors when I go in. I have just put it in God's hands and I'm going to let him take care of the rest. Thank you all again for your help. :-)
Have you contacted your church? If you don't have a church home try contacting just some local churches let them know you are need of help. They usually will have a food bank and clothing bank. I will be praying for you and your family.
Khristina: Your family is certainly in our prayers. The $ can only stretch so far, and it sounds like you are doing it to the full extent. I don't necessairly "advise" this, but if it were me, the medical bills would just have to wait. Have you looked into food stamps or welfare assistance? I know it is difficult, but you should never be ashamed when your husband is working hard for your family and you just need a little extra help. Also, Im not certain of where locations are in the metroplex, but in OK when I was growing up there were food banks where my mother would go once a month and they would provide groceries. I would certainly think there are some here!
The 99 cents store has, at times, decent food. It's cheap and nutritious... if you shop for food and not junk.
I don't know what your son needs, but Easter Seals in Ft. Worth, and the Brent Woodall Center in Carrolton are great places to look for assistance for autism. Easter Seals has a fantastic program for his age that is brand new and maybe you can talk to them about needing meds as well.
If you aren't connected to one of these groups.... please contact them. I know more about Easter Seals program as I'm on the autism task force from UNT and they help support that program. It's a great program and will help your son, which will help you and your family.
http://www.woodallkids.org/index.html
http://ntx.easterseals.com/site/PageServer?pagename=TXNW_...
Oh! And don't forget to see if you qualify for free prescriptions... remember Montel Williams doing those commercials? Here's the non-profit site for free or reduced price prescriptions....
definitely apply for benefits, food stamps, wic and also medicaid it will make a big difference! also possibly check into SSI benefits.
There is a organization called Angel Food Ministries. for like 70 dollars they give you tons of food.
I know you can google search it. I hope that helps. Good luck to you. Keep your chin up.
you can qualify to receive medicaid or chip for the 2 kids that should cover all the medical bills and medicine they need also you can apply for the lone star or tanf and wic for the under 5 year .with the medicaid they can give you discount if you are with txu
http://www.hhsc.state.tx.us/medicaid/index.html
http://www.dshs.state.tx.us/wichd/default.shtm
also you can dial 211 to ask how you can get more help
hope it helps :)
I totally understand what you are going through. Based on your family size and medical bills, you should qualify for state assistance. They will help you with medical bills and you can get the lonestar card that will help you with food. Your younger two should also qualify for WIC.
WIC Information
http://www.dshs.state.tx.us/wichd/gi/eligible.shtm
Apply for Texas Benefits
https://www.yourtexasbenefits.com/wps/portal
Hello Khristina,
I'm sure you are reducing cost wherever you can. this website can give you more ideas: the dollar stretcher.
http://www.stretcher.com/index.cfm
By the way, one "accidental" savings we've had is when I stopped using laundry softener sheets and softener rinse in the washer. my daughter kept complainting that her clothes were "itching".
God bless you! ~C.~
