Easy Ways to Save Money When Shopping on the Internet or Even Locally

bank

By Lisa Copen Illness is expensive! Have you noticed? Those doctor bills, medications, rehabs, equipment. . . even when you have insurance it can quickly add up to the thousands of dollars. There are a variety of steps you can put into practice when shopping on the Internet and locally. Oftentimes we get so busy buying the item we need we simply forget one of the steps and we miss out on additional savings. Here are some of the ways I have been saving extra money recently. Feel free to print this out and sit it beside your desktop to refer to before type in that credit card for anything. Ebates. You really do get a check. Like "rebates" that you have received when you have bought items in the past, you sign up at this web site … [Read more...]

RM Shop’s E-Flyer: Tired of Bills? Want to Feel Like God’s Princess? We Got You Covered

04-28-half-price-living-800

Those of us with chronic illness realize just how expensive illness can be. Whether you are on disability assistance, private insurance or just trying to pay for your medical costs out of pocket, spring months can be a bit depressing when it comes to finances. Taxes may be due and all those medical deductibles keep adding up. This week I am featuring a book I love by someone I am honored to call a friend, Ellie Kay. You may have seen Ellie on Inside Edition or ABC News Good Money. When she married her husband she became a military wife, having 5 babies in 7 years and moving 11 times in 13 years. She learned how to cut expenses! Then she became "America's Family Financial Expert.(R)" She has loads of endorsements for her book 1/2 Price … [Read more...]

Coupons & More Coupons

coupons

I love the little thrill of clipping out the coupon for an item I would have purchased even without the coupon. But it can actually be even a little more exciting to find printable coupons online that you wouldn't have had otherwise. We found another site to add to you money-saving bookmarks: smartsource.com & then enter your zipcode. Another tips is look up your favorite local stores on Facebook or Twitter or ask them if they have a site that offers coupons. Lately I've noticed nearly every little store I go into from Smoothie King to the movies has a Facebook account for that LOCAL shop with coupons just for local customers! And while you are clipping coupons, if you see a big ticket item with a great coupon, clip it & as you are … [Read more...]

Make Your Own Artwork for Pennies

artwork-for-pennies

When you live with a chronic illness your house can get so dreary. We are often there--at home--looking at the same old knick knacks day after day, watching those dust bunnies grow into adulthood (oh, I'm sorry, maybe that is just at my house!) Well, either way, summer is just around the corner & maybe you are looking around wondering how you could cheer the place up. Or maybe you have kids that are out of school & they are bored & need a project. Here is a cool little tool we found! You can create a poster with the printer you have, even though your printer will only take regular sized 8 1/2 x 11 pieces of paper. Posterazor has a great video that shows how to download this free software & then how to upload your print. I can see … [Read more...]

5 Things You Need To Know Before You Buy A Massage Chair at the Fair

massage-chair

Okay, so maybe you aren't ever actually tempted to buy the chairs, you just want to sit in it for a few minutes. We underst& (& we're likely sitting right next to you, dreaming about how much better our chronically ill body would feel if this chair was in our living room & wondering if we could write it off on our taxes.) But before you plunk down a credit card, here are some things you should know. Here is an article we wanted to pass along to keep you informed! 5 Things You Need To Know Before You Buy A Massage Chair at the Fair By Tom Resnick One great venue to actually try massage chairs our various events. You can find home shows, county fairs & other types of shows where massage chairs will be displayed. This is a great … [Read more...]

Appliances – When to Fix, When to Buy

stove-retro

When I was young appliances were made to last a lot longer. When it broke, you called the repairman. Now day, however, it is sometimes more financially smart to recycle the old one & purchase a new one. Though the costs involved may not be welcome in our monthly budget, paying 40% of the appliances value & having it last just a few more months, may not be the best choice either. So how do you know when to fix it & when to start shopping? With more energy efficient appliances as well as rebates, it can be hard to know which way to go some times. A website by Dan O'Neill, Appliance411.com can help you decide. The web site has a lot of well-organized information even if you have to dig a bit. And most of it worth reading at some point … [Read more...]

Free Cleaning Services for Women w/ Cancer Gears Up for Awareness Week

cleaning-reason

There are some organizations you run across & you think, "Now THERE is something we need for the chronically ill!" Here is one we especially like, "Cleaning for a Reason." httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zZrhqElUfJs Right now Cleaning for a Reason is gearing up for Cleaning for a Reason Week, April 18-24 , 2010. (You can become a Cleaning for a Reason Facebook Fan here to help them spread the word.) They recruit professional residential maid services who are insured &/or bonded & perform background checks on their employees to participate. Each company has agreed to take 2 patients at a time & offer four free cleanings – one a month for four months. They accept cancer patient applications online, receive doctor’s verification … [Read more...]

How to Pay Those Impossible Medical Bills

medicalbills

This is an excellent article about saving money on medical bills by Penny McCracken. It was featured on the National Fibromyalgia Awareness web site & we thought provided some steps & insight into what she did to lower some of her bills. And while you're there be sure to check out this article too: Stay on Top of Your Finances... Even When You're Lost in Fibrofog . Regardless of your illness there is something to learn! Related articles Obesity & Fibromyalgia: a Painful Barrier to Weight Loss? (drsharma.ca) How Are You Overcoming Your Fibromyalgia? (ohmyaches&pains.info) Musician with Fibromyalgia Donates Album Proceeds to NFA (fightingfatigue.org) … [Read more...]

Want to Get Organized?

get-organized

Do you ever feel disorganized but can't seem to find the right system that works with your lack of energy, budget & habits (like dumping the daily mail on the counter)? It's a constant source of struggle around here! So many times we have to prioritize exactly where to spend our energy &, unlike a healthy person, sometimes doing the dishes or taking something to another room to put it away is just not the best use of that energy we have. Check out Get Organized Now! The web site literally has thous&s of tips from hundreds of organizing articles. They also boast 60,000+ current posts on. . . Organizing Forum Reader Tips Organizing Clinics Checklists Newsletters Challenges Blog Quick Tips Web Polls Slide … [Read more...]

Eat Out for a Fraction of the Cost

restaurant-coupons

Wanting to have a nice dinner for a special occasion but just can't justify the expense? Lisa has used a great service called Restaurant.com . You go in & browse the restaurants listed in your area & then you buy a "gift certificate" online that you present at the restaurant. Only the certificate isn't full price! You can buy a $25 gift certificate for just $10. Be sure to read if any restrictions apply (some expire a certain number of days after your print out your coupon, etc.) They also send constant discounts on the certificates. They send out coupons frequently so you can get $25 Gift Certificates for only $5. It sounds too good to be true, but Lisa (RM Founder) has used it at about 5 different restaurants. Related articles … [Read more...]

Have a Space to Rent? Great Way to Make Some Extra Money

tape meausre

Do you have an extra room in your house that you would love to be able to make some cash from but you don't want to have a roommate? Here's a website we ran across & although we can't recommend it from personal use, we thought we would pass the information on. The website is called Sparefoot & it allows individuals as well as companies or organizations to rent out anything from an extra room to a parking place or workspace. If you have an extra garage space, or a free bedroom where boxes could be put, & if you are needing some extra funds to get you through a difficult financial time, this would be worth looking into. If you are looking to rent out a storage unit at an affordable price, it can also be a great place to start. You can … [Read more...]

Christian Financial Resources to Get Organized in the New Year

christian-financial-resources

If tax season has you concerned about what is going on with your finances, help is here! We found a web site that is packed full of the Top 50 Christian Business & Finance Blogs that will help you underst& how to organize your own personal finances, get out of debt, set up college funds, save for retirement, invest, underst& legalese of financial issues & much more. Some of these resources include: ChristianPF.com: This site gives advice on everything from credit card tips, building personal wealth to banking tips. Also be sure to check out the "Money in the Bible" category to help you see your priorities more clearly. Gather by Little: Use simple Bible tips to help you increase your personal wealth, "little by little." Why … [Read more...]

AWSOM Powered