What you can do:

• Make a donation.  Even $10 can make a difference.  Get a free pink sweatshirt with a $100 donation.  You can also make a donation in memory of a loved one.  Use the link on the website to donate or call 877-337-3348.
• Instead of using your normal search engine, set GoodSearch as your home page and a donation is made every time you search or shop online.
• Order gift cards.  Gift Cards for a Cause is an easy way to support a non-profit organization throughout the year by shopping for your every day needs like groceries, clothing, and casual dining, or any occasion that calls for gift giving.
• If you use a professional maid service, ask them if they have heard of Cleaning for a Reason.

For more information, visit the Cleaning for a Reason website.

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Post from: Thrifty Mommy

If a person smokes just one pack of cigarettes each day for 20 years, the cost of the unhealthy habit will be at least $25,000.  Think of what you could do with $25,000!  The thing is, smoking just doesn’t cost you money for cigarettes, it also costs you money for other things such as higher premiums on health and life insurance.

Other reasons to quit smoking:

• decreased coughing and shortness of breath
• decreased risk of coronary heart disease
• decreased risk of stroke
• decreased risk of lung, mouth, throat, and other cancers
• decreased health risk from secondhand smoke
• more environmentally friendly

The American Cancer Society has support for those who are quitting.  Help is available 24 hours a day.

Have you thought of quitting?

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1)  Stay in groups.  Never go trick-or-treating alone. 

2)  Teach children to never enter a home without prior permission from their parents.

3)  Teach your children to never approach a vehicle unless they have their parent or guardian.

4)  Carry a flashlight or glow stick and wear reflective clothing.

5)  Never go up to a home that is not well lit.

6)  If possible, go with your children.  If not, go in groups or see if your child can tag along with another parent.

7)  Consider attending fall festivals and community events rather than trick-or-treating.  Usually these are more fun because they have games, bounce houses, and other activities.

8)  Teach your children not to eat any treats without permission.  When they get home, check their candy and treats.

9)  If something seems suspicious, report it to the proper persons.

10)  Take a cell phone. 

I don’t mean to be paranoid, but it’s always best to be safe.  What tips can you add to this list?

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Post from: Thrifty Mommy

7)  Take something to do with you.  This one isn’t going to get you seen any quicker, but it can help save you time especially if you have a recurring weekly appointment.  I have cleaned out my purse, balanced my checkbook, clipped coupons, made phone calls, taken a short nap, and written articles while waiting.  No sense in doing nothing.

8)  Have your paperwork ready.  If you’re a new patient, then try to have the necesary paperwork completed before the appointment.  Stop by and pick up forms or call and ask to have them faxed or emailed to you.  You can even try to drop them off before your appointment.  This can save you 15-30 minutes on your first appointment.

9)  Have your current insurance card.  Researching insurance information and benefits can cause the office clerk to make phone calls which will keep you waiting.

10)  Try not to schedule appointments during busy times.  I’ve heard that Mondays and Fridays are the busiest days for appointments.  On those busy days the doctor may get behind schedule. Instead of scheduling on a Monday or Friday you could leave work an hour early on a Tuesday.

Please also check out Part 1 and Part 2 of our time saving tips.

What ways do you save time at the doctor’s office?

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4)  Find out the best way to communicate with the doctor.  Some doctors are now conversing with patients by email.  Some prefer to have you leave a message with the nurse who usually returns your calls within a few hours.

5)  Be willing to see a nurse practitioner or other physician on staff.  If my kids are sick and need to be seen right away then I know that I can probably get a same day appointment for being flexible and seeing any staff member.

6)  Ask about refill procedures.  Some controlled substances such as medicines for ADHD can only be given a month at a time.  Ask your doctor if you can call or email to get a new prescription.  Some doctors will let you come in every other month for these medicines rather than every month.

What ways do you save time at the doctor’s office?

Stay tuned this week for part 3 of time saving tips at the doctor’s office.  Please check out part 1,  10 Time Saving Tips for the Doctor’s Office.

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Here are some tips to save you time:

1)  Be on time.  This one may sound simple, but so many people are late for their doctor appointments.  Being late can cost you time.  Many offices have a policy that if you’re more than 15 minutes late you’ll lose your appointment and have to reschedule.  And I’ve even heard of some office staff that penalize late clients by making them wait at least an hour or two to be seen even if they’re not busy.  This is not just rumor.  I have heard this from employees.  So the first simple step is to be on time.

2)  Call before your appointment.  Sometimes I will call on the day of my appointment just to confirm that everything is scheduled properly.  Unfortunately I have had circumstances where my appointment time was not written down by office staff.  Also, calling ahead gives you the opportunity to ask if the doctor is on schedule for the day or running behind.  The nurse may tell you to come 15 or 20 minutes later than scheduled.  This is time that can keep you from sitting around and waiting.

3)  Be specific when making your appointment.  Tell the person what the appointment is for.  If you tell them that you’re making the appointment for your hurting back and then you ask to have something else tested then they may not have the staff on duty at the time.

How do you save time at the doctor’s office?

Stay tuned later this week for part 2 of 10 Time Saving Tips for the Doctor’s Office.

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According to coverage of this issue in the Chicago Tribune, “Women who were in a relationship but not married were most concerned about an unintended pregnancy, at 33 percent. Almost one in ten married women said the economy was a factor in their decision to postpone a planned pregnancy.”

Postponing a pregnancy is one thing; dire consequences won’t come of avoiding a pregnancy, but skipping gynecological exams due to economics is quite another issues. Women need to have a basic gynecological exam on a schedule. Some experts recommend annually, others bi-annually, but no matter the schedule, skipping health care due to costs is something that may create problems, especially if you’re planning on having children later on. Pelvic exams, pap smears and mammograms (if you’re the right age) can help prevent major illnesses by catching issues early. Regular gynecological exams also mean healthier babies later on. Most exam appointments screen for STDs. Many STDs if gone undetected can create fertility problems later on.

However, it’s all good and well to preach about the benefits of gynecological exams, but if you can’t afford one, you can’t. So, if you’re in this boat, how can you get the health care you need?

Resources for free or low-cost health care for women:

AHIRC.org: An up-to-date, comprehensive and unbiased database of health care resources for artists, performers, freelancers and the self-employed.

Planned Parenthood exists in most cities and offers sliding scale and low-cost health care for women, including full gynecological exams, pregnancy testing, birth control, STD testing, and so much more. Plus they’re not snotty. Everyone I know who has ever visited a Planned Parenthood has claimed that the experience was a good one.

The National Breast and Cervical Cancer Early Detection Program, helps low-income, uninsured and under-served women gain access to early detection programs for breast and cervical cancers. Services like pap tests and mammograms are provided free-of-charge or on a sliding scale based on your income. Call: 1-800-CDC-INFO to learn more.

If you are pregnant and uninsured find out how you can get free or low-cost coverage.

Foundation for Health Coverage Education: At this website you can connect with the Health Coverage Eligibility Quiz, State by State Applications, and more.

Find guides to health insurance coverage for your state at CoverTheUninsured.org.

Another idea is to check with your local college. Even if you don’t currently attend, many college campuses, especially those with health programs, offer lower cost health care visits and plans.

Do you have any tips for finding the women’s health care you need?

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Post from: Thrifty Mommy

The USA Today piece points out that now the new economic stimulus package enacted this year seeks is addressing this issue by helping to lower costs. The catch; many may be ineligible for this subsidy or need to take extra steps to prove they qualify.

KEY POINTS:

• “The stimulus package subsidizes 65% of COBRA premiums for up to nine months for individuals who were laid off between Sept. 1, 2008, and the end of this year.“
• You may be ineligible for reasons such as being fired for gross misconduct, if your employer canceled group coverage, and for a number of other reasons.
• State and national COBRA laws differ to a point, so you’ll need to research COBRA both at a national and state level to learn if it can help your family.
• If you’re denied COBRA coverage, you can appeal.

LINKS THAT CAN HELP:

• Fact Sheet: Job Loss – Important Information Workers Need To Know To Protect Their Health Coverage and Retirement Benefits
• Protecting Pension and Health Care Benefits after Job Loss

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Schering-Plough has partnered with the Allergy & Asthma Network Mothers of Asthmatics (AANMA) to develop Breathless Bethany Buttercup, a cute and colorful children’s storybook that uses a little girl’s story about her experience with asthma to provide information about asthma management.  It’s designed to help parents talk with their kids about the importance of properly managing the condition.

You can order the book for FREE at asthmastorybook.com.

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So here is what I am trying and I hope it will help you as well to be mindful of keeping fluids in your sick kids:
* Use Pedialite freezer pops. Turkey Butt thinks they are ice pops and I am hoping she will eat them.
* Find a favorite color. Of course, I let Turkey Butt pick out her Gatorade and she picked pink. I’m trying everything.
* My LEAST FAVE IDEA – I let her go to bed with a cup of ice water. I will take any fluid any time I can get it down her.
* Use fun straws and cups they aren’t normally allowed to drink out of.
* Take them shopping for a new cup or water bottle.
* If they like pop cycles, then freeze their favorite juice in ice trays, cover with saran wrap and stick a toothpick in it.
* Make a smoothie with ice instead of milk and add fruit to the juice. This is very healthy and full of water.
* Let her pick out a fun kind of drink package like the healthy juice boxes and bags. Not the best thing to do to your pocket book, but it is very fun for them.
* Save a fun bottle and mix tang. My aunt does this and we call it special juice. My daughter will drink it like it is going out of style because of the packaging. This works great in the summer time for Turkey Butt.
* If they aren’t stomach sick, just not drinking, offer strawberry or chocolate flavoring to their milk. At least it’s fluid down the tummy.

I hope these ideas help you keep your kids hydrated during the summer and when they are sick. I am trying just about all of them right now. Wish us luck! Will update you tomorrow wither from home or the hospital.

Post from: Thrifty Mommy