tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6959918163454225829.post9186853585758258726..comments2024-03-28T15:22:23.142-04:00Comments on Blue House Journal: Retirement Remedies: Fourth Quarter Reportterricheneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06865436021565986224noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6959918163454225829.post-62133823716367153762015-12-18T19:14:43.599-05:002015-12-18T19:14:43.599-05:00Off the subject but, go to Pinterest and search on...Off the subject but, go to Pinterest and search on Magic Cookie Bar recipes. There are lots of varieties but more importantly ones made with pretzels! The salty and sweet your family liked! I am going to try those after Christmas. I am not messing with tradition without a trial run. Lanahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09380649410508372279noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6959918163454225829.post-35644681212522304662015-12-18T09:38:37.529-05:002015-12-18T09:38:37.529-05:00I really enjoyed this post, Terri, it's a very...I really enjoyed this post, Terri, it's a very good recap of your past year. You've analyzed everything, good and bad, and seem to have a clear plan in mind for the new year. I've been very impressed with your determination (and follow-through!) to get healthier and lose weight so you could get off medications and have to do less testing, which of course saves you a lot of money in turn. If you don't mind my saying, though, I do see a theme with your unexpected medical costs/bills: you don't seem to know much about what your insurance will or won't cover or which providers might or might not included. I do agree (oh, do I agree!) that the doctor's office should have warned you that they didn't take your husband's insurance, but the sad reality of the health industry in our country is that customers are their best (and sometimes only) advocates. We all need to do our due diligence and ask questions and not make assumptions. Again, I'm not excusing the system (I hate it myself!) but that is the sad reality. So I would advise that, for the new year, you check the documentation from your various health plans (you must have something available to you, either in print or online) and endeavor to understand what is available/not available to you and under which conditions. Also: when thinking about making an appointment or getting a lab done or what not, ASK QUESTIONS and then double check with your insurance provider. Don't just blindly accept what the doctor's office clerks tell you. They won't be the ones stuck with paying the bills. Train your husband to do the same. If you have another major health crisis and are unable to perform those duties yourself, you need to trust that he will be able to do the same so as to avoid significant medical (and possibly avoidable) expenses. Just my 2 cents. I wish you continued improved health in 2016! <br /><br />Great job turning all those reward programs into gift cards for Lowe's and such. I have decided to change my Swagbucks earnings from Amazon gc to Walmart gc. I find Walmart really expensive compared to Aldi, but if I can get foodstuff for free after coupons, gift cards and even get money back with Ibotta and such rebate apps, it becomes cheaper than Aldi :) But I wish SB had other grocery store gift cards in stock. Publix would be great!<br /><br />I like your idea of asking myself whether buying something makes my money work for me. I sometimes have a similar problem as your Target Dollar Spot problem but with Dollar Tree! Overall, though, I have been much more mindful of my spending this past year. I've bought several items from Goodwill and a local thrift store which improved our lives and cost us a fraction of what I would have paid at a retailer. I've upped my Swagbucks earnings and used those to reduce my grocery bill even more, purchase presents and necessities and used my credit cards' reward programs strategically to earn gift cards that I used for reducing my gardening costs and again my grocery budget. It's been an eye-opening year, even for someone who had thought herself as being so frugal for all these years!<br /><br />I'm pleased to see that the personal loan you extended to a family member was actually paid back and in record time, it seems! Not much is harder than money issues between family members. Clearly you extended yourselves in providing the help and thankfully that person was responsible and realized that you indeed needed it back. Kudos to them and also to you for being so generous.<br /><br />I look forward to continuing to read your frugal adventures! Happy Holidays!<br />Nathaliehttp://www.imperfectlyfrugally.blogspot.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6959918163454225829.post-10970035357461808822015-12-17T21:46:04.374-05:002015-12-17T21:46:04.374-05:00That really stinks about the labs and the insuranc...That really stinks about the labs and the insurance!<br /><br />We ended up the year very well here. I have enough funds for our kitchen renovation that we will do in Jan and Feb. It feels good to be able to do that project without touching savings. Christmas was all covered from the amount that I save each month all year long and we have money left for our traditional tickets for live music to each other for next year. We plan to see the Glenn Miller Orchestra in January. We were also able to give to some charitable organizations that we like to support. <br /><br />The pantry is very well stocked from all the sales. In November I went over by about $60 but that put me at $310 so not bad. This month I will likely go over by about $25 for holiday food and all the kids being here. I do not feel bad about it since I often only spend $200 a month and and put the remaining $50 aside for all the home projects we are doing. For anyone in the SE, do check out southernsaver.com. Jenny does the ads and coupon match ups for just about any store you would want to shop at. That site saves me a ton of money and helps me to keep my pantry well stocked.<br /><br />We are looking forward to a new year and a possible house move. This big house and acres are too much for us and we look forward to what the Lord has in store for us. <br /><br />Lanahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09380649410508372279noreply@blogger.com