FREE and DISCOUNTED PRESCRIPTION DRUGS

We blogged to you about prescription drugs last June (http://cheapiosity.blogspot.com/2008/06/prescription-drugs.html) and we hope it helps you find the best price for drugs.

We were shocked to read a recent survey that showed 1 in 5 Americans skip dosages, split pills or go without medication due to high prices. Team CHEAPIOSITY can't stand idly by while consumers risk their health like this. There is help out there!

(We worry that many of the consumers most adversely affected might be older and not so computer-savvy as our readers. You may want to help out older neighbors, friends and family members. They probably won't come to you; you have to go to them. Armed with information and access to the internet, you may actually be able to save a life and you'll definitely help save money.)

A. Tell your doctor you need help. Your doctor may have access to samples and can tell you about drug assistance programs.

B. Your doctor can't help? You still have us. Check out these amazing resources:

Needy Meds at http://www.needymeds.org/ provides help getting more than 4,100 medicines, plus links to discount drug card and coupon programs, thousands of free or low-cost clinics around the country, programs offering medical equipment and supplies for specific diseases. You will also find a glossary of insurance and related terms, and a tool to see if you're eligible.

Partnership for Prescription Assistance at http://www.pparx.org./ links to every point for more than 475 different programs sponsored by pharmaceutical companies, government programs, health plans and charities.

Patient Advocate Foundation at http://www.patientadvocate.org/ is the most comprehensive patient assistance program available; they offer far more than help getting free or discount prescriptions. Provides help paying for surgery or large copayments for medical care, child care while patients are getting treatments, even transportation to treatments. Has specialized case managers who can help with a multitude of financial health care issues.

PatientAssistance.com at http://www.patientassistance.com/ has links to more than 1,000 prescription-assistance programs, free clinics and programs that help with copayments for treatment for cancer and rare and chronic diseases.

Rx Assist at http://www.rxassist.org/ links to state-run assistance programs and programs to help with drug copayments, a search by drug name for available help, and online patient education.

Rx Hope at http://www.rxhope.com/ offers online assistance applications, links to medical group, patient advocate and drug company sites.

You will find State assistance programs at www.ncsl.org/programs/health/drugaid.htm

For specific assistance with:

Heart medications, http://www.heartsupportofamerica.org/

HIV and AIDS drugs, http://www.atdn.org/

Kidney diseases, http://www.kidneyfund.org/

Lung medications, http://www.caringvoice.org/

Rare diseases, www.rarediseases.org/programs/medication

DRUG DISCOUNT CARDS
Together Rx Access, http://www.togetherrxaccess.com/. Offers free cards accepted at most pharmacies, in every state and Puerto Rico, that can get you prescription discounts of 25-40 percent. Has nearly 1.9 million members, who have saved more than $82 million since it began in 2005.

Pharmaceutical companies including Pfizer, Merck and GlaxoSmithKline offer discount cards.

Before applying, assemble the documents* you likely will need to get approval for a patient assistance program:

* Your last income tax return and, if you're employed, recent pay stubs.
* If you're unemployed, a letter or other document from your former employer stating you have been terminated and your health insurance has been stopped.
* Your last few months of bank statements.
* Statements covering any investments you have.
* Information on accumulated medical debt, which could affect eligibility.
* Make sure you include all requested information to avoid being turned down and having to reapply, which could significantly delay help.

Be Persistent:

Patients who have been through the process advise you not to accept rejection as final. Sometimes writing a letter detailing why a medication is so important, or applying to additional programs, brings success. A WARNING: Once you've gotten approval, you'll almost definitely have to reapply every year. That can cause a gap without the medicine, so don't wait until the last minute. Besides helping get medications free from a manufacturer or charity, assistance programs often help patients get qualified for Medicaid, which covers poor and disabled people, or other government health programs. The Patient Advocate Foundation will appeal denials to try to reverse them, help people get Social Security disability income or Medicaid coverage, and get preauthorization for expensive medical care. It does so using case managers trained in the ins and outs of specific issues.

Even people with health insurance can sometimes find help, such as when they need medicines for cancer or other complex illnesses that can cost tens of thousands of dollars a year, or when they have special circumstances.

Bottom Line:
Be your own Advocate!
Don't take NO for an answer!
There's help out there!

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HOW TO MAKE YOUR COMPUTER LAST LONGER

There's a school of thought that the average laptop computer's life is about 4 years and desktop's life is 5-6 years. Who can afford to go to that school anymore? TEAM CHEAPIOSITY certainly can't. People want the newest and fastest, but in these tough economic times, let's make the best of what we've already got.

PC users couldn't wait for Microsoft's Vista operating system, which turned out to be a bomb with lots of problems. Most PC users we know are sticking with XP until something better comes along; like Windows 7 which is being tested now. However, a new operating system costs money, and we're all about keeping what you've got and making it better. It looks like XP will be supported by Microsoft until 2014.

Everybody's wallets closed? Good. Here are 2 articles about updating your computer that will help you keep your computer running and giving you some helpful bells and whistles.....FREE!

http://www.computerworld.com/action/article.do?command=viewArticleBasic&taxonomyName=Software&articleId=9129351&taxonomyId=18&pageNumber=1

and

http://www.cnn.com/2009/TECH/03/18/pirillo.budget.computers/index.html?section=cnn_latest

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HOW TO BUY A USED CAR

Last May, we told you all our tips on buying a new car (http://cheapiosity.blogspot.com/2008/05/buying-car.html). Because of the surplus of new cars these days, automakers are offering incredible deals, so continue to use our tips and save much more. Consider it yet another in a seemingly endless series of silver linings of the very very dark cloud hovering over all our heads.

Even with the great deals out there on new cars, many of us can't afford to buy new and need help with used car buying. (The sellers like to call them 'pre-owned.') Whatever you call it, someone else owned the car and you want to make sure you're not buying someone else's problems. Bear in mind that if you buy a used car from a new car dealership (their 'pre-owned' division), they're probably selling you a previously leased car that had a low residual value when the lease was up or at auction. Either way you can pretty much count on a $5000 profit margin to negotiate.

If you're not a car person yourself, you probably know one. We strongly advise you bring along an expert (or a relative approximation of one) for your test drive. Don't get fooled by a pretty paint job. And if you're not big on face to face negotiations, bring a friend who lives for this stuff. Used car dealers are masters at fleecing consumers. Don't be a chump.

CNN posted a great article on used car tips, and we want to share it with you: http://www.cnn.com/2009/LIVING/wayoflife/03/20/aa.tips.buy.new.cars/index.html?eref=ib_us.

As we always remind you, be an informed consumer so you get the very best deal. Be careful out there.

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CHEAP SPRING CLEANING

Spring is right around the corner. Before you run out and splurge on a lot of high-priced cleaning supplies, we'd like to offer some alternative suggestions. Our choices are CHEAP and ECO-FRIENDLY too. You've no doubt heard these ideas before somewhere; Heloise has been touting them for years, but hard times are the perfect time to cut back and save the planet in the bargain. After all, we are the change we've been waiting for, and Team CHEAPIOSITY wants you to save money (and the planet) not only this spring, but all year long.

Cleaning With Vinegar

White distilled vinegar is a great addition to your cleaning supplies. It works well for cutting grease and fighting odors. It's a wonderful laundry aid as it both softens water and fights odors; just add it to your rinse cycle or use as you would fabric softener. While vinegar has a strong smell, the smell dissipates fairly quickly so you don't have to worry about a residual smell. Mix white vinegar with water in a spray bottle, and use it for quick cleanups in the kitchen or as a maintenance spray in your bathroom. It's also effective for cleaning mildew. You can buy white vinegar at your local grocery store in the salad dressing section. Buy it by the gallon and don't be afraid to use it, it's a safe cleaner. Warning: Do not mix with chlorine bleach.

Cleaning With Alcohol
No, silly. Not the drinking kind, the rubbing kind...although we used to have a cleaning lady who swore by the hard stuff. While she was very happy, she tended to leave scorch marks when she ironed the shirts. Isopropyl Alcohol, also known as rubbing alcohol, is effective in many cleaning projects. Put it in a small spray bottle and it works well for cleaning and shining chrome faucets. It also can be helpful when trying to remove ink stains from fabric and upholstery. Always pretest the alcohol in an inconspicuous spot before using on a stain. Isopropyl Alcohol can be purchased in the grocery store or the drug store. It's usually in the first aid aisle. Look for sales and save.

Cleaning With Salt
Believe it or not, salt makes a wonderful and eco-friendly cleaner. A paste of salt and vinegar will help clean tarnished brass or copper. If you spill wine or grape juice on your carpet, simply cover the stain with salt to absorb much of the stain. Soaking washable fabrics in salt water will help remove many stubborn stains. Salt can be purchased in the spice section of your grocery store. Buy in bulk and save. For cleaning purposes use plain salt, not iodized salt.

Cleaning With Baking Soda
Baking soda is one of the most versatile substances you can have in your home. It makes a wonderful mild abrasive for surfaces that you want to be careful not to scratch. Just make a paste of baking soda with water. You can use it instead of Comet or other abrasive cleaners for cleaning bathroom fixtures. It works well for cleaning spots off chrome and stainless steel. It can be added to your laundry as a booster (1/2 cup should work) to help clean really dirty clothing or fight odors. Baking soda can be purchased in the baking section at your grocery store. Look for two pound boxes or bags at big box stores to save money and have plenty of it around. (Leave an open box in your refrigerator to absorb odors.)

Cleaning With Borax
Borax is an effective ingredient in many cleaning recipes and also is a good laundry booster. Anyone but us old enough to remember when Ronald Reagan hosted Death Valley Dayssponsored by BORAX? We used to have nightmares of that miniaturized 20 Mule Team running across our desk. Add one tablespoon of Borax to 1 quart of water and use it as a safe all-purpose cleaner. Dissolve 1/2 cup of Borax in a sink full of water to clean delicate dishes like fine china. Follow the directions on the box to use it as a laundry booster. If you do construction or landscaping work and have really dirty work clothes, adding Borax to your laundry helps a lot. Borax can be purchased in the laundry section at your local grocery store. Sweeten musty basement floors by sprinkling Borax around on the concrete. Just let it sit for a while, then sweep it up.

Cleaning With Washing Soda
Washing soda is often confused with baking soda but it's quite different. For starters, you don't bake with it! It's not edible. It is great as a laundry additive, to boost the cleaning of your detergent . You can make an effective scouring powder out of washing soda and baking soda. Mix 1/4 cup washing soda with 1 cup baking soda and use it as you would Comet or Ajax scouring powder. Washing soda can be purchased in the laundry aisle of your local grocery store.

Cleaning With Hydrogen Peroxide
Hydrogen Peroxide works well for cleaning cuts, so it should be no surprise that it is effective for blood stains. It can have a bleaching effect so you will want to pretest it before applying it to a fabric stain. Keep a spray bottle of peroxide handy to tackle tough blood stains, even dried ones. For blood stains on carpet, pour peroxide directly on the stain and blot with clean cloth. Pretest this solution on a remnant. Hydrogen peroxide can be purchased in the first aid section of your local drug store or grocery store. Always keep a bottle on hand.

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STOP OVERSPENDING - 10 QUICK FIXES

As things continue to go precipitously downhill, TEAM CHEAPIOSITY reminds you not to overspend. Some ideas are new, some recycled, but we offer this sound advice intended to save you plenty of dosh.

Afternoon snacks. Instead of impulsively spending 2 or 3 bucks on that candy bar, energy bar, or a bag of chips, satisfy that hunger with some pre-planning. Buy your treats in bulk or at the grocery store and bring them along with you. No shame in brownbagging it. Not with the big bad wolf banging at recession's door. And while you're economizing, don't forget healthier (and cheaper) alternatives like an apple, orange, cheese sticks, carrots…..you get the picture. We're not your mother. Nag, nag, nag.

Bottled water. Yes. It’s important to drink a lot of water (and certainly better for you than soda) but buying bottles of water is a colossal waste of your hard-earned money. Not to mention, the news is filled with health concerns about toxic plastics leeching into your system. If your workplace provides you with filtered water, then bring a cup to work and fill it there; if you still want your bottle, you can refill it as long as you periodically and thoroughly wash the reused container. At home, it's worth investing in a water filter system, either built-in or portable (Brita and Pur for example). Bottled water companies are unregulated, and you just may be paying a premium for fancily packaged municipal water right from the tap. Do what the bottled water companies do; filter it yourself. Stay hydrated; don't get soaked.

A caffeine fix. Direct from our Department of Redundancy Department, a reminder to read last year's post on coffee: http://cheapiosity.blogspot.com/2008/05/koffee-talk_01.html. We can't say it any better. We're just that good.

Favorite tunes. Don’t rush out and buy the latest CD; download it from iTunes or other web providers. Downloading music is cheaper, faster and convenient. All this convenience can cost you. Be careful not to make lots of impulse buys you might regret later. And if you're good at bargain hunting, consider buying used CD's at local purveyors or online through eBay or Amazon Marketplace. Make sure to figure in shipping costs and quality assurances before making any purchases.

A night at the movies. Going to the movies has become a mighty expensive proposition. Yes, we know -- nothing quite replaces the big screen experience, but this just might be a time to cut some corners. What with gas, babysitters, skyrocketing admission prices, parking, and overpriced treats, date night at the multiplex can run up quite a tab. Think about joining Netflix or Blockbuster online. Oh sure, you may not feel on top of every hotbutton water cooler conversation, but you can catch all the trailers for free online and stay on top of the zeitgeist. Besides, most films are released on DVD only three months after their bigscreen runs. For considerably less than the cost of going to the movies, you can rent (or even own) the DVD and watch it multiple times with friends and family. If you only see a movie once a month, consider using On Demand from your cable or satellite company; most current features cost $3.99 or less. If you're a teenager, nothing we tell you will make any difference. Go. Spend. Hang out. It's only money, and you're only young once. See Watchmen six times. See what we care.

Fresh flowers. Buying flowers from a florist gets expensive. Try flowering plants that last longer or buy flowers from your grocery store, Trader Joe’s (if you're lucky enough to have one in your area) or your local flower mart. You’d be surprised at the drastic price difference.

Fruits and veggies. Everybody likes the idea and ease of pre-cut fruits and veggies, but the convenience adds a lot onto the cost. Go back to the old fashioned way. Cut them yourself and save money. They taste better too.

Credit-card fees. Every month, your friendly credit card company rips you off with finance charges and fees. Take a long hard look at what your credit is costing you; reevaluate whether or not you are overpaying. Make sure you’re using the card that’s right and cheapest for you. Many websites will do credit card fee comparisions (http://www.creditcards.com/, http://www.creditcardguide.com/, etc.) As we’ve mentioned before, your finance charge percentage is negotiable. Negotiate. Come on. Make the call. Advocate for yourself. Be smart.

ATM fees. Another rip-off from your bank. Be sure to use ‘in network’ ATMs and save those fees. They add up to real money. Use your debit card at grocery stores and get cashback without a fee.

FAX and mail services. If you don't have internet, you're not reading this so we don't have to hold your hand. Instead of paying your local mailbox store $1.49 to FAX a page, sign up to send free FAXes from an online provider such as faxZero or K7.net or http://www.j2.com/.
If you don't have access to a FAX machine, you can always scan and attach your documents to an email.
As far as sending mail or packages, the US Postal Service is still the cheapest way to send a letter. However, when it comes to packages, it’s a slightly different story. If you use a USPS Priority Mail flat rate container and the contents are heavy, then that’s your next best buy. After that, think ground as in FedEx or UPS. We have found that FedEx usually beats out UPS price-wise. Ground service takes about 5 business days for the farthest location and much less if your destination is closer. If your package is traveling within your State, ground service can take 1 day to arrive without paying expensive overnight rate. All carriers will give you price and transit time estimates, so shop around.

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HOW TO DEAL WITH CREDITORS

This is not fun. Debt is no laughing matter, and procrastion and positive thinking won't make it go away no matter how hard you try both approaches. TEAM CHEAPIOSITY has some important practical advice to share with you. Let's get serious.

Don't wait for your creditors to call you about unpaid bills. Instead, contact them to explain your situation, suggests University of Illinois Extension consumer and family economics educator Lois Smith. "Rather than begin expensive collection procedures, most creditors would prefer to receive smaller payments on a regular basis," Smith said. She noted that creditors will be more cooperative if you've paid your bills on time in the past. To begin, do your homework before calling or writing. "Know who you owe, how much you owe, and how you plan to pay them. Make sure you'll be able to follow through on your agreement and that your repayment plan is acceptable both to you and your creditor," she explained. To help you with this process, read the factsheets on which bills to pay first and establishing a spending plan at U of I Extension's http://www.toughtimes.illinois.edu/. Once you know how much money you can afford to repay, contact each creditor, explain your family's situation, and ask their assistance in working out a solution.

Be prepared to explain: - The reason you can't pay - Your current income and prospects for future income - Other obligations (bills) that you have - Your plans to bring this debt up-to-date and keep it current, including the amount you'll be able to pay each month

"If possible, visit local creditors in person--the loan officer at your bank or credit union, the credit manager of local stores, and the budget counselor at the utility company," Smith said. "Contact out-of-town creditors by phone or letter, writing down the name and title of the person you talked to. Follow the conversation with a letter summarizing the agreement and keep copies of your correspondence as well as any reply." Smith advises using the sample letter to creditors at www.toughtimes.illinois.edu as an outline when talking to creditors. At the website, first click on "Managing Your Finances," then "Talking with Creditors," she said. "As you negotiate with each of your creditors, don't agree to any plan simply to get off the hook," she said.

Here are some alternatives to consider when you are negotiating: - Reduce the monthly payment. - Refinance the loan. - Defer a payment for a short time if you expect your income to increase soon. - Pay only interest on the loan until you can resume making monthly payments. - Voluntarily surrender or give back an item purchased on credit. - Sell the item and use the cash to pay, or partially pay, the debt (you are still responsible for any remaining balance).

Tell your creditors about any changes that may affect your payment agreement. If you fail to follow the plan, they'll be less willing to work with you in the future and you'll hurt your chances of getting future credit. "But if you owe a large amount of money, and your creditors won't accept reduced payments, you may have to consider more extreme alternatives, such as filing bankruptcy," Smith explained. If you miss a payment, eventually your bills may be turned over to a collection agency. The Fair Debt Collections Practices Act prohibits collection agency callers from using abusive language, they can't call you at unusual hours or threaten criminal prosecution, and they can't discuss your financial situation with others, she said. If you receive a call from a creditor or collection agency: - Ask the caller's name. Get the name of the creditor and the name, address, and telephone number of the collection agency. Note the exact amount they say is due. And write down the date and time of each call. - Stay calm. Explain your financial situation and how much of the bill you are able to pay, according to your repayment plan. - Dispute debts in writing. If you believe you don't owe the amount claimed or otherwise disagree, make your reasons known promptly in writing to both the creditor and the collection agency. -Request a written statement of your account and always keep copies of your correspondence for future reference.

Creditors can take several kinds of legal action against you. They may file a complaint, initiating a lawsuit, in which case you'll receive a summons. The case may be settled in small claims court, depending how much is owed. If you don't respond or lose the case, the court will issue a judgment against you for the amount you owe plus court costs and attorney fees. Other actions creditors can take against you include: - Acceleration--the entire debt is payable at once if you miss a payment. The courts can force you to pay by seizing your property and selling it. - Repossession--the creditor can seize the item you bought or the property you used as collateral for the loan. If its sale brings less than you owe, you must pay the difference. - Wage garnishment--a court order requires your employer to withhold part of your wages and pay your creditor. - Foreclosure--If you fail to make your mortgage payment, the taxes or insurance on your house or other property, the lender can force the sale of your home/business to pay off the loan. You are responsible for the legal fees of foreclosure and the difference between the selling price and the amount owed on the loan. "Be proactive to head off these drastic measures by communicating with your creditors at the first sign of a problem," Smith advised.

One last item. Take a look at this article from Smart Money regarding Debt Settlement firms and reasons why not to use them. As always, we're all about saving you money by doing it yourself: http://www.smartmoney.com/Spending/Rip-offs/Reasons-Hiring-a-Debt-Settlement-Firm-Is-not-Always-Worth-It/

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LIFE INSURANCE SHOPPING

Yeah. We know. Puppies have nothing to do with Life Insurance. Puppies are cute and cuddly, and people love them.

Life insurance….yuck. Just the words send people scurrying for cover. Everyone hates talking about Life Insurance. Except Insurance agents. They probably even find it interesting. After all, they chose it as a career. Takes all kinds. Can't all be ballerinas and firefighters, we suppose.

Life insurance is one of those boring adult responsibilities. Like repaying college loans and paying taxes. (We're talking to you, Mr. Daschle.) If you have dependents, you probably want to leave them with a little nest egg to remember you by. Face it. Life insurance is a necessary evil unless you’re very rich and your portfolio is still worth something. If, say, you never heard the name Bernie Madoff before he hit the news. Sigh.

As with anything else you purchase, shopping around can yield significant savings. We know. Shopping around for life insurance probably sounds like a trip to the second circle of Dante's Inferno. But face some facts: Life insurance is a commodity product -- there is not much difference between one policy and the next. It's not like you can buy the nicer policy made of silk and leave the cheaper nylon one on the rack. If you are healthy and want to be insured for $500,000, it would seem reasonable to expect that comparable policies from any of the hundreds of companies willing to insure healthy people, should be priced similarly. So how do you begin?

Start by shopping online. One site we looked at was: http://www.efinancial.com/. Unfortunately, even though they say they’ll give you a quote at the end of the questionnaire, you are being solicited by an Insurance Agent. You will get some quotes online, but be ready for a call from a pushy person. They will try to sell you more than what you want. Be firm. Explain that you’ve done your research and you know what you want and you want a comparison quote….THAT’S IT. They’ll give it to you, reluctantly.

Independent Agents are usually a better choice to talk to (as opposed to company-based agents who only sell products from their particular insurance company). The highest quotes will probably come from large financial companies who don't specialize in life insurance. From the independent brokers, you will likely hear the same numbers again and again. The independent brokers are the easiest to work with; they don't tend to ask as many invasive questions as company-affiliated brokers, and for the most part they don’t use hard-sell techniques. One helpful broker might point out that different companies have different weight cut-offs for the lowest premiums. So, for example, if you could lose a manageable three pounds, you would fall into a better health category and save a few dollars on your annual premium. In our experience, independent brokers also seem to know the business very well.

Shopping around does make a difference though; premiums can vary. After you get several quotes and they’re in the same ballpark, you then know you’re paying what you should be.

(By the way, the same holds true for car insurance. Shop around every few years; you’ll be surprised how much you can save. We suggest http://www.insurance.com/default.aspx is a good place to start.)

Also make sure the company is highly rated (http://www.ambest.com/) and ask about customer service if you need to use it.

For more information, we recommend you take a look at this article: http://www.walletpop.com/insurance/10-tips-no-one-else-will-tell-you..

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