Use These Tips to Save on Your Next Prescription

doctor When unexpected illness strikes, a visit to your doctor’s office may be the only thing that helps you feel back to normal. When a physician writes a prescription for a medication that relieves your symptoms or eases your pain, the effects can be significant on your health. The effectiveness, however, is dependent on the ability to take the medication as directed by the physician. Regardless of your health coverage, medications can add a significant cost to your expenses. Be sure to speak to your doctor about these five money-saving tips when you are looking to stretch your budget further.

1. Ask about medication-free options.

Some medications reduce the risk of certain conditions or stall the acceleration of symptoms associated with diseases. Many times, lifestyle changes can reduce the risks without having to take the prescribed medications. Changes in activities and diet can help reduce blood pressure and cholesterol and control diabetes. Be sure to discuss these options with your physician to see changes in your diet and exercise routine would be beneficial to your health. If lifestyle changes would help in your diagnosis, it is important to set goals with the help of your doctor. This will allow your physician to check on your progress and confirm that your changes are in fact benefiting you.

2. Discuss generic medication options.

Drug companies have very strict rules that they must abide by when producing a medication. They only have the right to market their drug exclusively for a specific period. After this time, other companies may begin to market generic options of the drug. Using a generic option can save you money.

While the newest drugs on the market may not have a generic option, there may be another drug that is similar or that can provide the similar results. For example, drugs for high blood pressure come in different classes and may help reduce blood pressure in a slightly different way. Your doctor may be able to provide you a less expensive medication in a similar class, saving you money.

3. Consider what a medication will cost in the long-term.

Sometimes a new medication will become a lifelong prescription. Asking your physician for a less expensive option now can save you money down the road. While a $30 a month prescription may not seem like too much now, understand that a year will cost you $360. If a similar prescription can be used costing $12 a month, you will save over $200 a year.

4. Free is not always better.

Pharmaceutical companies provide physicians with free samples to hand out to patients in hopes that the patients will purchase their product after the samples have run out. Unfortunately, these samples are for the newest medications on the market, meaning the prices will be premium once you have to start paying for them. Samples can be helpful when a patient only requires a limited amount of the medication. However, when beginning a new regiment that will span months or years, you should avoid samples. Ask your physician for a generic option that is similar to the offered sample.

5. Pharmacists can provide options as well.

After your doctor writes the prescription, you may think you are stuck with the medication. Your pharmacist can tell you if there are generic options available for purchase. Some pharmacies automatically dispense generic medications without being asked. Also remember that drug companies lose the ability to sell their exclusive product after so many years. Even if you have discussed generic options with your doctor or pharmacist in the past, ask again. There may now be generic medications available to save you money.

(Jessica Bosari writes about money-saving topics for LowIncomeApartmentFinder.com. The site helps those on tight budgets find apartments for rent that they can afford.)

photo by truthout.org

4 Things I Learned as a Grocery Bag Boy

grocery cart

I look back on my days as a grocery bag boy and a grin comes to my face. This grin has mixed emotion.  Working at a grocery store was one of those jobs where you did it because it was the only thing you could think of at the time.  I remember I was 16 and tired of being broke.  I was sick of asking my parents for money every week.  I wanted MORE.  So, this lead me to walking down to the nearest grocery store and getting a job as a bag boy.  Yes, you heard me, a bag boy.

If you look at the way a grocery store is structured, you’ll notice that the “bag boy” is at the bottom of the ladder.

I was the jack of all trades.  If there was a spill on aisle three, I was on it.  If there were missing carts out in the parking lot, I was chasing them down.  If a customer needed help out to their car, I was the guy for the job.  Sounds glamorous doesn’t it?  It actually wasn’t.  Looking back on all the jobs I had, it was definitely one of my least favorite.  However, this is the one job that had the greatest impact on my life. There are just some things you can’t learn working white collar jobs.  Here area few take-aways from working at my local grocery store.

If you want to move up, work harder than the person next to you

Working at a grocery store, actions speak louder than words.  I cannot tell you how many times I heard employees tell managers they were going to do something but never did.  It’s much more impressive to look the manager in the eye, and assure them it will be done immediately and then go carry out your task.  Also, as a Christian, I had a higher calling than simply trying to impress my boss.  God was my boss, and even though I didn’t enjoy waking up at 6AM to go to work, I was going to work my butt off that day.  The hard work paid off.  Within three years, I moved up two positions and ended up landing in the produce department 🙂

It’s the simple things that count

There was something special about helping old grandmother’s get a jar off the shelf or even offering customers help out to their car.  Even though I was just a bag boy, offering this extra “service” really made people’s days.  When I saw their expressions, it made a world of difference in my day too!

The customer never sleeps

There was always a steady stream of customers coming into the grocery I worked at.  During the first few weeks, it was overwhelming but I ended up getting used to it.  With the thousands of customers coming in on a daily basis, I could never let my guard down.  This taught me a sense of personal responsibility to keep my “A game” on at all time during the eight hours of work.  A customer wanted not just a product but a shopping experience.  It was my job to provide this for them.  This has carried over into my professional life in the construction industry.  Now, it’s more like the “owner” never sleeps.  While at work, it’s critical to be on top of your game and provide a superior end product.

Boring, repetitive tasks build your work ethic

I had moved up to the dairy department and one of my duties was to stock the entire dairy aisle.  This included everything from butter to milk to eggs.  It’s probably one of the more monotonous jobs I’ve had in my life.  It taught me discipline and instilled the drive to get things done faster and more efficiently.  I remember stocking shelves one time and found a faster way to unstack milk cases to stock the cold refrigerators.  Not only did this make my job easier, but it became a challenge.  That has stuck with me to this day.  Always be looking for areas of improvement so you can work more efficiently.

All in all, the grocery store treated me well.  I still remember that good feeling of getting a 20 cent raise. Even though it was small, it made my day.  I hope you can take these lessons I learned and apply them to your life.

Comment below and share with us some of your work experiences!

(This is a re-post that I wrote for ChristianPF.com)

photo by polycart

Get the Most Energy Out of Your Food

When shopping at the grocery store, there are a couple of things you instinctively do. You are prone to purchase certain items because of their location in the store and lighting surrounding them. You are advertised to by the use of clever design and packaging corporations use on their products. You even buy things you might eventually throw away such as produce, bread, and meat because you are wired to purchase them like a dog is wired to chase its tail. These behaviors can lead us to taking out  title loans in order to pay for our food bills.

One of the things we almost never consider when purchasing food is the energy content and nutrients we get out of it. Things like oatmeal are replaced by Frosted Flakes, real chicken replaced by frozen strips, and real fresh produce for the canned versions. Not only does this practice impact our health, it also takes money right out of our wallets.

In order to know which foods contain the most energy, it is vital to inspect the food label before purchasing. Just because all-natural granola products contain more calories than junk-food cereals, doesn’t mean we shouldn’t purchase them. By carefully analyzing the serving size, fat content, and protein information, you can get more bang out of your food buck.

Taking a look at the cost per-ounce❠on the retailers sales tag is also a good way to find out how much food you are getting. Instead of using the box or original packaging to gauge how much you are getting, this is an objective way to compare prices and pick out the most affordable product.

The Institute of Medicine is lobbying the government to introduce a food labeling system which is similar to the Energy Star program. Clear packaging on the front of products will tell shoppers which foods contain the most energy, nutrients, and health benefits. While purchasing food shouldn’t be as sterile as buying a washer and dryer, it shouldn’t be a completely whimsical experience based on fantasy and cartoon marketing characters.

By shopping smarter, doing research, and purchasing more wholesome food you can save money at the grocery store. Not only will your wallet be fuller, your stomach and energy reserves will appreciate it more throughout the day.

10 Biggest Moving Mistakes

moving truck

Moving an office or a home is a huge job. There is a lot to do and it can be very tempting to cut corners just to get everything done, but unfortunately mistakes can and do happen. Some are very common and most are avoidable with the right precautions. Here are our top 10 moving and storage mistakes, so you can make sure you’re not surprised!

 

1. Buying sight-unseen.

Whatever you do, never buy (or sign a rental agreement for) and house or apartment you’ve never seen. Looking at pictures is never the same as the real thing and the descriptions on real estate websites should always be taken with a pinch of salt. Their idea of a spacious kitchen might be very different from yours and there will always be things that aren’t mentioned. Unwary buyers can be caught out be strange smells, faulty wiring, noisy neighbors, busy roads, and a lack of nearby amenities.

 

2. Handing irreplaceable valuables to packers and movers.

A good moving company can be trusted to deliver goods safely to a new home, but some things travel better with you. Small, highly portable electronic devices like iPads and netbooks, any kind of valuable jewellery, and important documents can go missing. Keep these with you at all times.

 

3. Leaving packing too late.

It’s important to be ready when the movers arrive. Empty your cabinets, check under beds and in bathrooms, and make sure everything you won’t need before moving is packed up well in advance.


4. Not being there when movers arrive at the new home.

Even if they have a key, make sure to get to your new house or apartment well before the moving trucks do. They’ll need guidance on what goes where and you are by far the best person to provide that.

 

5. Being caught unprepared on the first night.

Every family member should pack the things they’ll need for the first night into a single box and label it clearly. That way you won’t have to cause chaos but hunting through dozens of boxes to find toothbrushes, towels, favourite teddy bears, and clean clothing.

 

6. Not keeping the right phone numbers handy.

Write down telephone numbers for the moving company, the local police department in your new town, a local doctor, and anything else you might need in a hurry if something goes wrong. Keep the paper somewhere safe, like in your wallet.

 

7. Trying to fit large furniture into a small space.

Always remember that your new house may not be as big as the old one, and check that large wardrobes and beds will fit in their destination rooms. They’ll also have to fit through doorways and stairwells.

 

8. Forgetting to redirect post.

Make sure to register a change of address with your bank, cell phone provider, and let any newspapers or magazines you subscribe to know before you move.

 

9. Trying to carry heavy boxes alone.

Be careful when you lift a heavy box. A slipped disc is the last thing you need when moving. Either leave the heavy lifting to the movers or be very careful what you pick up and how.

 

10. Not labelling boxes clearly.

The right labels will make unpacking much easier and it will also give the moving company useful information on what is inside the box. Make sure to note down all the necessary details like the destination room, the type of contents, and whether or not the box contains breakables or unusually heavy items.

(This guest post was provided by FlatRate movers. These NYC movers can help you with residential and long distance moving, providing an up-front all-inclusive price.)

4 Things I Learned as a Grocery Bag Boy

grocery cart

I look back on my days as a grocery bag boy and a grin comes to my face. This grin has mixed emotion.  Working at a grocery store was one of those jobs where you did it because it was the only thing you could think of at the time.  I remember I was 16 and tired of being broke.  I was sick of asking my parents for money every week.  I wanted MORE.  So, this lead me to walking down to the nearest grocery store and getting a job as a bag boy.  Yes, you heard me, a bag boy.

If you look at the way a grocery store is structured, you’ll notice that the “bag boy” is at the bottom of the ladder.

I was the jack of all trades.  If there was a spill on aisle three, I was on it.  If there were missing carts out in the parking lot, I was chasing them down.  If a customer needed help out to their car, I was the guy for the job.  Sounds glamorous doesn’t it?  It actually wasn’t.  Looking back on all the jobs I had, it was definitely one of my least favorite.  However, this is the one job that had the greatest impact on my life. There are just some things you can’t learn working white collar jobs.  Here area few take-aways from working at my local grocery store.

If you want to move up, work harder than the person next to you

Working at a grocery store, actions speak louder than words.  I cannot tell you how many times I heard employees tell managers they were going to do something but never did.  It’s much more impressive to look the manager in the eye, and assure them it will be done immediately and then go carry out your task.  Also, as a Christian, I had a higher calling than simply trying to impress my boss.  God was my boss, and even though I didn’t enjoy waking up at 6AM to go to work, I was going to work my butt off that day.  The hard work paid off.  Within three years, I moved up two positions and ended up landing in the produce department 🙂

It’s the simple things that count

There was something special about helping old grandmother’s get a jar off the shelf or even offering customers help out to their car.  Even though I was just a bag boy, offering this extra “service” really made people’s days.  When I saw their expressions, it made a world of difference in my day too!

The customer never sleeps

There was always a steady stream of customers coming into the grocery I worked at.  During the first few weeks, it was overwhelming but I ended up getting used to it.  With the thousands of customers coming in on a daily basis, I could never let my guard down.  This taught me a sense of personal responsibility to keep my “A game” on at all time during the eight hours of work.  A customer wanted not just a product but a shopping experience.  It was my job to provide this for them.  This has carried over into my professional life in the construction industry.  Now, it’s more like the “owner” never sleeps.  While at work, it’s critical to be on top of your game and provide a superior end product.

Boring, repetitive tasks build your work ethic

I had moved up to the dairy department and one of my duties was to stock the entire dairy aisle.  This included everything from butter to milk to eggs.  It’s probably one of the more  monotonous jobs I’ve had in my life.  It taught me discipline and instilled the drive to get things done faster and more efficiently.  I remember stocking shelves one time and found a faster way to unstack milk cases to stock the cold refrigerators.  Not only did this make my job easier, but it became a challenge.  That has stuck with me to this day.  Always be looking for areas of improvement so you can work more efficiently.

All in all, the grocery store treated me well.  I still remember that good feeling of getting a 20 cent raise. Even though it was small, it made my day.  I hope you can take these lessons I learned and apply them to your life.

Comment below and share with us some of your work experiences!

(This is a re-post that I wrote for ChristianPF.com)

photo by polycart

 

Never Too Late to Save Money for Winter

I know it’s the back end of summer at the moment, but before you know it we’ll be keeping ourselves warm for the winter. For many households, winter can be the most expensive time of the year, with boiler breakdowns, car repairs and Christmas combining to put a real strain on budgets. For this reason, it’s essential to look at every way possible of saving a bit of money â“ and there are a number of things you can try.

As strange as it may sound, one of the best ways to save money could be to spend it more wisely and potentially devote more of your budget to certain things. For example, insulating your home or getting boiler insurance may require an initial outlay, but you’re like to see the savings in the coming months and years.   Here’s a guide to how these things could, help along with a few other top tips for good measure.

Insulation
Quite simply, the more you insulate, the more efficient your home will be. So look at lofts and cavity walls â“ these are among the places where the biggest savings will be seen. Then also consider insulating your pipes and water tanks â“ this will come in especially useful when the temperatures go sub-zero. In many cases, you’ll recoup your outlay within a few months or years.

Arrange boiler insurance
Each passing winter seems to break the record for the lowest temperatures ever recorded. So it’s no surprise that the nation’s boilers have taken a battering in recent years, with record numbers of breakdowns recorded by home emergency specialists. With boiler cover in place, you can rest assured that you’ll be able to call on a fully qualified Gas Safe Register approved engineer to carry out the work â“ and the cost is only likely to be your excess, rather than a repair bill running into hundreds of pounds.

Repair windows and doors
If your outside doors have seen better days and you’ve got small chips or cracks in your windows, then it’s best to get these fixed before winter sets in.  Not only could the adverse weather damage them further, but could also make your property increasingly inefficient.

Don’t ignore your garden
If you’ve been tending to your plants and lawn in recent weeks and months, don’t let the harsh winter weather undo all your hard work. Protect particularly vulnerable plants by moving them into containers and putting them in the shed or conservatory. Cover anything that’s vulnerable but can’t come out of the ground with sheeting. And if you keep fish in a pond, put a tennis ball in the water which can be removed to let oxygen circulate when the pond freezes over.

Putting in a little time and effort ahead of the winter could really help you reap the rewards â“ so don’t delay and get cracking as soon as possible.

Top Tips to Recycle Unwanted Gifts

You have heard of white elephants and we all have them, but the real question is how to recycle them. Throwing an unwanted gift away is not just plain bad manners; it is downright wrong. The landfills are overflowing with legitimate trash but the gift is not trash; it is simply not something you desire. Cycle unwanted gifts back into the gift pool. Be creative, have fun and recycle your gifts this season.

Re-gifting Party
Have a re-gifting party this holiday season. Everyone must bring one gift, wrapped and identified as a gender neutral, male or female gift. Further separate into other categories such as kitchen items, bath items, jewelry and so on. Collect the gifts as the guests arrive and place on a table. Each guest will later choose one gift. A great party game is to have each guest guess what it might be and from whom. The stories here can get pretty outlandish. Great fun and no one spends any money.

Have a Black Friday Sale
Place ads in the local paper or online for a Black Friday Sale. Plan this event way in advance to assure plenty of opportunity for shoppers to include your special sale on their shopping agendas. Collect all the new and unwanted gifts you have been storing in the hall closet for the last several years. Plan to be up early, serve coffee and be prepared. The economy has shoppers looking for the best deals. Don’t be shy about publicizing your sale; put some super deal details in your ad and think like the large retailers. Market your sale for maximum traffic. One family, who was moving shortly after the holidays, planned a Black Friday Yard Sale. They were well organized and very well attended. They sold not only their unwanted gifts but also new and nearly new household and clothing items, including books and DVDs. They netted over $2,100 in less than six hours. However, that is not the half of it. The items they didn’t have to pack saved them another $550 on the moving company’s overall bill. Twelve hours of planning, pricing and organizing netted one family $2,650.

Clothing Exchange
A clothing exchange party gives a whole new meaning to shopping in your girlfriend’s closet. It’s a great way to get your girlfriends together and have fun. Set the mood for your event, choose a great music CD, have fun finger food and several bottles of wine or sparkling cider. Set up a clothing rack in your living room and as each guest arrives she places her new and nearly new unwanted clothing gifts on the rack. A little mood music, a little bargain basement shopping and voila, an instant fashion show. Each guest has to model at least one newly acquired item!

Sell your unwanted CDs online

Another idea to find a new purpose for your unwelcome gifts comes from the services of  Music Magpie. All you have to do is enter or scan the barcode of your CDs, DVD or even games and proceed to the check out. A nice and simple way to get rid of those annoying tunes while make that extra money that you need.