My Cash Went Fast This Month!

Remy

Remy

Well-known Member
Location
California, USA
Not sure why exactly. I did buy premium dry cat food. One the Science Diet hair ball control my cats won't eat. Not even the ferals like it. So I got a bag of Royal Canin hair ball control. They love that one. I may have to toss that Science Diet bag and I hate the thought of doing that.

I had to go to the doctor. 40 dollar co-pay and then my as needed stomach medication isn't covered so I paid $130 out of pocket. I paid $230, 2 1/2 years ago so that at least was less.

Food. Gas. Thrift store shopping. I went to the craft store only to buy plate hangers but left with a package of flour sack towels and a fabric remnant also. Of course. I hope I'm not the only one who does this?

I'll go to the bank this coming week. I'm going to watch my cash more closely. I do just about all my in person shopping in cash.
 

Same here. For the first time in at least 5 years my checking account got below 3 digits within the first 2 weeks of this month and I didn't shop any differently and didn't have any surprise expenses....just the usual stuff.
 

Remy said:
Not sure why exactly. I did buy premium dry cat food. One the Science Diet hair ball control my cats won't eat. Not even the ferals like it. So I got a bag of Royal Canin hair ball control. They love that one. I may have to toss that Science Diet bag and I hate the thought of doing that.

I had to go to the doctor. 40 dollar co-pay and then my as needed stomach medication isn't covered so I paid $130 out of pocket. I paid $230, 2 1/2 years ago so that at least was less.

Food. Gas. Thrift store shopping. I went to the craft store only to buy plate hangers but left with a package of flour sack towels and a fabric remnant also. Of course. I hope I'm not the only one who does this?

I'll go to the bank this coming week. I'm going to watch my cash more closely. I do just about all my in person shopping in cash.
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I hope your next month goes smoother financially. In Canada we have stores called ā€˜Value Villageā€™ which are second hand stores that I personally enjoy shopping at for certain things like unique clothing items. Nothing shameful about that. I agree to donate the cat food to a shelter instead of tossing it.
 
The price of EVERYTHING is going up. My income not so much.

Biggest expense this month so far was having a heating and cooling guy work on my heat pump.
He was here about an hour, added 1lb of Freon to the system and checked the system out ... $280
Honestly I didn't think that was too bad.

Utilities this month including Internet: $242.69
Mortgage, Automobiles, purchases so far: $827.69

On my way shortly, to the grocer for bi-weekly shopping. I expect to spend about $125

I keep a clipboard and "cheat sheet" with notes hanging by my computer.
At a glance, I can determine approximate state of affairs at any given time.
It doesn't ease the pain but surprises are less likely as I try to remember things off the top of my head.
The reality also limits impulse spending ... sometimes
 
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Might be off-topic, I have a bad habit of going off-topic. The point is posting with people over the pond can be a little difficult as lifestyles are different such as health costs. My prescription medication is delivered to the door each month, as is my wife's. As we have aged the bags of pills have increased and adding the total cost up each month it is quite incredible and would be a job to afford if we had to pay for them. So do you folk have to pay for yours?
 
Avon said:
So do you folk have to pay for yours?
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My one and only monthly prescription (Thyroid) is mostly paid by Tricare For Life.
I don't pay anything for Tricare For Life. It is a government benefit from a career in the military.
A 30 day supply of Thyroid supplement medicine is currently $3.12

About a decade ago, I had my gallbladder removed, which would have been about $60K.
Tricare picked up all of that except $25.00.
 
June is always the most costly month of the year for me because on top of all my typical expenses property taxes and both auto and home owners insurances are due for renewal. It's doesn't panic me but does bums me out a bit. ā˜¹ļø
 
C50 said:
June is always the most costly month of the year for me because on top of all my typical expenses property taxes and both auto and home owners insurances are due for renewal. It's doesn't panic me but does bums me out a bit. ā˜¹ļø
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I get a break on property taxes. Over 65 and get a tax waiver entirely, by local law.
In fact, don't pay state taxes either. Social Security and Military Retirement are exempt.
Always get a refund on federal tax.
Home owner insurance and coverage on two vehicles ... all with State Farm ... runs $1,600 a year.

EDIT: Another break I get is on vehicle tags. The Veteran's Administration has me @ 40% disability, military related.
That entitles me to a state tag on one of my vehicles for less than $10 a year.

Retired life isn't too harsh in Lower Alabama at all.
 
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We did our weekly grocery shopping this morning, and I was amazed at the number of items that have gone up in price in just the past couple of weeks. Everything seemed to have gone up in price by a few cents....the one item that had dropped a bit was a dozen eggs. Inflation isn't showing any signs of slowing down at our grocery stores.
 
... the good thing about being 40% disabled (established by the Veteran's Administration)
is that a good portion of my monthly income is exempt from any and all federal taxes.
That disability income is not reported anywhere not required to be. It's almost like money under the table.
As such, my IRS reported taxable income is near the poverty level.

SOooo ... my smart phone (Moto g Pure) with unlimited data ... is totally free.
AND ... I get a $30 credit each month for Internet access, which currently is a 300Mbps plan with Spectrum.
 
Naturally said:
... the good thing about being 40% disabled (established by the Veteran's Administration)
is that a good portion of my monthly income is exempt from any and all federal taxes.
That disability income is not reported anywhere not required to be. It's almost like money under the table.
As such, my IRS reported taxable income is near the poverty level.

SOooo ... my smart phone (Moto g Pure) with unlimited data ... is totally free.
AND ... I get a $30 credit each month for Internet access, which currently is a 300Mbps plan with Spectrum.
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It's great that you are able to find discounts that you can use. I think many people miss a lot of oportunities because they simply don't look or know where to look, or the application process is too overwhelming. There's money and benefits to be had, but it does take some work to get them.
 
squatting dog said:
Don't toss the Science Diet. (or any pet food for that matter). See if there's a shelter nearby. They are always in need of food.
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I'm worried this stuff is total crap or something is wrong with it. The ferals I feed should be total disposals and they don't want it? Something seems up.
 
PeppermintPatty said:
I hope your next month goes smoother financially. In Canada we have stores called ā€˜Value Villageā€™ which are second hand stores that I personally enjoy shopping at for certain things like unique clothing items. Nothing shameful about that. I agree to donate the cat food to a shelter instead of tossing it.
Click to expand...
I grew up on thrift. We weren't rich but certainly not poor. My mother was never in a bad mood on the day of a rummage sale. We have good thrift stores in my town. The Goodwill and Salvation Army (not my favorites but GW has a big book section) but also PAWS and a little one downtown. Also all volunteer run.
 
Avon said:
Might be off-topic, I have a bad habit of going off-topic. The point is posting with people over the pond can be a little difficult as lifestyles are different such as health costs. My prescription medication is delivered to the door each month, as is my wife's. As we have aged the bags of pills have increased and adding the total cost up each month it is quite incredible and would be a job to afford if we had to pay for them. So do you folk have to pay for yours?
Click to expand...
I have Covered California health insurance which I am very grateful for as I could not work full time. I'd die from the physical and mental stress my job causes me. I do wish I had waited to go part time though. Insurance also known as Affordable Care Act and Obama Care.

I have had cataract and carpel tunnel surgery with this insurance. I had some co-pays that made me cringe including the CAT scan I almost forgot to mention.

Medication payments can vary. My stepfather pays like 5 or 10 dollars with his medicare and supplemental. I know because I've picked up medications for him.
 
I'm a credit card girl. When I used to use cash, I'd lose track of my money. What the heck did I buy?!! I know what you mean about hating to throw (expensive) cat food out. Deja's vet started her on Fromm's dry food, which is expensive and not easy to find. There was one particular flavor she never cared for. Unfortunately, that was the one I opened first (my son had bought three bags). After I opened it, I realized the expiration date was soon approaching. I wound up throwing probably 1/2 bag of it away.

It's too bad your co-pay and medications are so expensive. Have you ever tried the Good Rx pharmacy card? My doctor gave me a card and I also get one as an Aetna dental plan member but don't need it because my State retiree RX plan is excellent. Check out GoodRx.
https://www.goodrx.com/discount-card
 
C50 said:
June is always the most costly month of the year for me because on top of all my typical expenses property taxes and both auto and home owners insurances are due for renewal. It's doesn't panic me but does bums me out a bit. ā˜¹ļø
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My house payment when I owned that house was $535.75. I'm 99.9% sure that was the check amount I wrote every month. Plus tax and insurance. Had I kept that house, it would be paid off. But I couldn't stay there. Neighbors and now increased fire danger.
 
Remy said:
I did buy premium dry cat food. One the Science Diet hair ball control my cats won't eat. Not even the ferals like it.
Click to expand...
I've had short hair domestic cats most of my life. I fed them everything from dry to the expensive stuff. Whenever one started with the hairball thing, I just add some cooking oil to din dins- always worked. I don't know how that works on shaggy cats.
 
Naturally said:
... the good thing about being 40% disabled (established by the Veteran's Administration)
is that a good portion of my monthly income is exempt from any and all federal taxes.
That disability income is not reported anywhere not required to be. It's almost like money under the table.
As such, my IRS reported taxable income is near the poverty level.

SOooo ... my smart phone (Moto g Pure) with unlimited data ... is totally free.
AND ... I get a $30 credit each month for Internet access, which currently is a 300Mbps plan with Spectrum.
Click to expand...
My stepfather is disabled due to his total hearing loss. I know when he retired from the county, he gets more money I think due to the disability. He also retired at 55. I'm 63. But he did have to put up with my mother.

I'm sorry you have disability.
 
fuzzybuddy said:
I've had short hair domestic cats most of my life. I fed them everything from dry to the expensive stuff. Whenever one started with the hairball thing, I just add some cooking oil to din dins- always worked. I don't know how that works on shaggy cats.
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Both my two sisters are short hair. My last two cats, I had a long hair tortie, grumpy and didn't like being brushed. But she got brushed. I'd have to remove mats. I never used hair ball control food. I gave them hair ball medication from a tube.

But Talia has inflammatory bowel disease. The vet recommended hair ball control and it's helping firm up her poops. I'm feeding them about 1/3 to 1/2 hairball with their regular dry.
 

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