Financial Challenges Support Group
This community is for people who are struggling to meet financial obligations of any kind. Financial challenges include everything from the day-to-day challenges of making ends meet to managing credit card debt to bankruptcy. Get support from others who are going through similar obstacles on the road back to financial stability.
Sitting here closing the books on the first quarter of 2015. It seemed like I was juts spinning my wheels but when everything is written out and all the figures are finally put together it shows a very productive quarter for me.
At the end of March my financial reserves are where they were exactly one year ago. That might show no growth, but for all my medical issues and not working for three months I am very pleased and thankful with being where I am.
For the first three months I have saved 61% of my gross pay and 72% of my take home pay. I've been living an extremely frugal lifestyle because I knew some medical bills would be arriving. Well today, all three of those bills arrived.
One bill is from my general practitioner. That is nothing to major and will pay that out of my general fund this week. The second bill is from the Heart Hospital. They keep sending me the total bill without any claims yet arriving from my insurance company. It's three different dates on it and one finally shows a correct balance, the other two, I have never heard anything from the insurance company. So next week, I'll be on the phone with the Heart Hospital and make sure the claims have been filed.
The big bill is from my community hospital where I had a bunch of tests done shortly after the new year. I've been saving for this bill and even got money directly sent to me by the insurance money. That money though I have put into savings and anymore when money goes there it is out of circulation.
So while I have the money already waiting to be used to pay this bill off, I'll probably use a CC to pay it and get 1.5% discount on it. And by paying it before April 14th, I'll get another 10% off from the hospital.
These bills will set me back a little as far as the bottom line but it is nice to know that I can sleep peacefully tonight because the money is there to pay them all.
Six years ago, this would have had me on edge wondering how I would pay it off and thinking my life will always be like this so why try. I am so thankful that God gave me a choice to find a better way to deal with money and to put things in place, as far as how much power money had over me.
At the end of March my financial reserves are where they were exactly one year ago. That might show no growth, but for all my medical issues and not working for three months I am very pleased and thankful with being where I am.
For the first three months I have saved 61% of my gross pay and 72% of my take home pay. I've been living an extremely frugal lifestyle because I knew some medical bills would be arriving. Well today, all three of those bills arrived.
One bill is from my general practitioner. That is nothing to major and will pay that out of my general fund this week. The second bill is from the Heart Hospital. They keep sending me the total bill without any claims yet arriving from my insurance company. It's three different dates on it and one finally shows a correct balance, the other two, I have never heard anything from the insurance company. So next week, I'll be on the phone with the Heart Hospital and make sure the claims have been filed.
The big bill is from my community hospital where I had a bunch of tests done shortly after the new year. I've been saving for this bill and even got money directly sent to me by the insurance money. That money though I have put into savings and anymore when money goes there it is out of circulation.
So while I have the money already waiting to be used to pay this bill off, I'll probably use a CC to pay it and get 1.5% discount on it. And by paying it before April 14th, I'll get another 10% off from the hospital.
These bills will set me back a little as far as the bottom line but it is nice to know that I can sleep peacefully tonight because the money is there to pay them all.
Six years ago, this would have had me on edge wondering how I would pay it off and thinking my life will always be like this so why try. I am so thankful that God gave me a choice to find a better way to deal with money and to put things in place, as far as how much power money had over me.
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Can you identify these rom-coms from just a screenshot from the middle of the films? This is a multiple choice quiz so even if you're not entirely sure you can always take a guess and at least have a 25% chance of getting it right anyway, so why not have a go?! https://www.buzzfeed.com/alysaurus688/rom-com-screenshot-trivia-quiz
I've been a member of town boards, church boards. I've been a baseball umpire for 13 and under baseball teams. Oh, I know how to donate time....
I believe you have to help yourself first before you can help anyone. If I was broke, I'd be looking for handouts and being no help to anyone... while taking care of myself first I am able to donate time and money to others without the stress or worries in my life.
For me, it's God first, me second, life third... in my opinion, that ain't selfish... I've been broke, I've been homeless and have done many things I'm not proud of... this is a matter of survival for me.
My first CD "Purple Power" was created for the cancer society.... it cost me over $3,000 to make and I donated 75% of every sale to the American Cancer Society... I'm still trying to break even on that deal...
In another fund raiser for the ACS, when I had 14" long hair, I got the community involved in "Dave's Dare." For every $100 I raised I would cut an inch of hair. I raised $1,500 and lost all my hair... the cut hair went to "Locks of Love"
So yes... I do know ho0w to be of service and make it fun for everyone involved...
and I think, the first act of 'service" - is to not cost any other person, state, institution etc one single cent. I am self supporting financially - and I feel that is my first step in service to the community. Following that - is anything in addition that I choose to give via either time or money.
I've never received a bill one day and then the very next day pay it off...
A very nice feeling...
CopingJust, I do agree with your idea of service... very well said
My poems on cancer have been used throughout the States, Canada, Jamaica, South Africa, and Belize for no cost. The poems were used to help raise funds in the fight against cancer.
Poems on alcoholism have been used in the State of Washington for national recovery month and they have also appeared in different recovery programs and state and federal prisons again for no cost.
12 Op-eds I wrote on the Promises of AA were used for a three day conference in Melbourne, Australia... again for no cost.
Service work has been a major part of my life in sobriety and it will always be that way.
I have read my poetry at nursing homes and funerals. Poems written about veterans have been read at the christening of a new veterans park.
Someday, a fantasy of mine is to get good enough with the Native American flute, that I could play it in grade schools (6-7 year olds) and share stories about Native American Myths and Legends.