Week of 7/16/2008

Real Useful Information

With the fall college term just around the corner and with tuitions on the rise, you might want to check out 50 Ways To Save Money In College.

In this age of inflation, believe it or not the wise thing to do is Spend Money To Save Money.

Are you afraid to cut your spending too much for fear of losing status? Here are ways to Save Money Without Sacrificing Style.

Need a change in your wardrobe. You might want to try a Fashion Swap to save money and clear your closet.

Getting married has become so expensive -- short of eloping -- that many couples have decided not to mortgage their future and have a Do-It-Yourself Wedding.

Is there travel in your future? You might want to download 101 Tips For Travelling On A Budget.

Week of 7/23/2008Watch Your Wallet

Credit card thieves are getting smarter and smarter all the time. Used to be if you were going to your health club you could lock your wallet up in a locker until health club locker rooms became hotbeds of thievery. The best solution was to lock it up in the car. Not any more.

Thieves have discovered that cars parked at health clubs, gyms, soccer fields, parks and other recreational facilities are great targets. They unlock the car, steal only one or two credit cards, lock the car back up again, and go on their merry way to a spending spree. Because only one or two cards are missing, you may not even realize it until days later.

So what can you do to protect yourself from credit card theft?

1. Don't keep valuables in your car.
2. Don't be lulled into a false sense of security by throwing a jacket or towel over them.
3. Instead of your signature on the back of a credit card, write "Ask for ID" instead.

For more ways to minimize your risk of identity theft, visit the Federal Trade Commission web site.

Week of 7/30/2008

Relieve The Pain of Prescription Drugs

The high cost of prescription drugs can be a burden on any family budget. Here are some ways to save at the pharmacy.

Split Tablets.  Drugs are often sold in a range of dosages -- 20mg pills, 40mg pills, 80mg pills, etc. Rarely is the 40mg pill twice as expensive as the 20mg pill, and in some cases, the price is exactly the same. Ask your doctor if he can prescribe a half-tablet dosage of pills twice as strong as you need. You can buy a pill splitter for under $3.00. Caution: Some pills cannot be split. Consult your doctor and pharmacist before you take this route.

Apply to a pharmaceutical company's patient-assistance program. Most major pharmaceutical companies will supply their drugs free to patients who are unable to afford them. These programs are not very well known. Families making as much as $70,000 a year may qualify for the most liberal programs. Others cap family incomes at $40,000 a year, but many times exceptions are made. It can't hurt to apply. Look for details on a pharmaceutical's web site or call their 800 number. Attention veterans. Anyone who has been honorably discharged from the military after active service can obtain prescription drugs for $8 per month per perscription through the US Dept. of Veterans Affairs Health Care System (877-222-8387, www.va.gov).

Stay away from advertised drugs. Pharmaceuticals now market directly to the consumer. You've seen the ads for Lipitor, Lunesta, Vitorin and others. These drugs are outrageously expensive. Save yourself big dollars and don't ask your doctor to prescribe them. Most of the time, there is a less expensive drug that does the same thing, and there may even be a generic drug that Walmart and Target now sell for $4.00 for 30 pills.

Don't use insurance for very low-cost drugs. Speaking of Wal-Mart and Target, just because you have prescription drug coverage on your health plan doesn't mean you have to use it. In most cases you have to make a copayment which will wipe out any savings.
 

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