With costs skyrocketing in the health field, I am going to be upping not only my health insurance plan but definitely my prescription insurance plan — and if I have to cut back, it is going to be elsewhere. An upcoming out-of-this-world trip was filled one year ago, and not knowing of the recession coming, we paid in full last January to get the accommodations we wanted. It could be our “last splurge” of this sort - who knows - but what is done is done . . . and particularly after this long campaign season, I want to go far far away from civilization to enjoy and re-group! My prediction as far as money goes though: we’re all going to be down the tube for a long time.

Overall need to reign it in and jot down every item/expense to become more aware of where it’s going. The last week has been $$$$ which could have been better spent.

Are you reading my mind? Last weekend, I helped 11 seniors and/or disabled individuals design a budget, spending about 8 weeks with each one to obtain the figures needed for each of their plans. My own expenses are quite fixed, with an average put away for vehicle, home, and self maintenance; a great change from my professional days when I could quite easily spend my “self” line with freedom. Thus, the only changes I foresee right now are being more observant to locally purchased produce, dairy, etc. (most of my intake it fresh foods other than heaps of frozen berries) — thus far my chemistry is faring very well, so my nutrition is important to my overall health status. I’d hate to have to go on prescriptions; in fact, I’m not sure I could get myself to take them, anyway - I’ve had too many years of “chemo” to flirt with more drugs in my aging body. Due to my vision, or genetic deficiencies thereof, and “the polio” it’s becoming more obvious that some changes need to be made in my access plan; right now that entails deciding what is for comfort, and what is necessary — I so want to go wireless, and have my music via my CPU with my speaker system - music is food for my soul, along with water - water anywhere. Due to the “economy,” I canceled plans to sell and relocate, so I’m back to blooming where I’m planted — that’s going to require a lot more creative fantasy-building. Frankly, I’m just so relieved that this era is moving forward, with a new president whom we can respect and admire, that my only “gotta do it” is standing by to assist if I can and may. I have 3 trips planned, and readied through February, and they will remain as such.

The One Thing I Won’t Give Up: My monthly appointments with my hairdresser. The I-Couldn’t-Name-Just-One-Thing that I Will Give (or have) Given Up: Car washes. I do it myself. Car detailing. Once a year, I run my own Q-tip around. My gardener. No need now. I have replaced my lawn with pebble rock and a few potted plants. Private Pilates classes. Coffee out. I make my own. Bottled water. I installed a filter. My former out of control magazine consumption. Buying books at the book stores (now only through Amazon). As many dinners out. I cook way more often. When out to dinner - no more second glass of wine. Buying wine in a market (now only Trader Joe’s or Costco). House cleaning service. I do it myself, and it’s a two-story. Running errands in the car whenever I felt like it. Running the washing machine with only a few items in it. Meat (not all, but cut way down). Manicures. I do my own. I pop in a cd, sip a glass of wine, and the polish looks great for two weeks. And I don’t have to drive there, or tip. High end department stores (not so much anyway). Hello Loehmann’s. High end food markets. Weekly movies out. Monthly sanity therapy sessions with my psych. As many purchases of beauty products, lingerie, fragrance, and shoes. Christmas and birthday shopping (other than per budget).

sometimes it’s nice to eat out, but maybe i can get it down to once a month. my car sits in its space now that i would rather net surf than spend gas money. if i go to my occasional job, i stop at the store on the way home. but there’s only so much thermostat lowering that’s acceptable to a north american. i keep my home around 64 degrees.

Joan! I meant to give you this link, as you embark on health/drug insurance changes - it is written by someone I know, and trust; he does an excellent job trying to wake-up his constituents. For the latest on the drug plans, click on “November” - the others newsletters on the opening URL are excellent, too. https://www.umchealthsystem.com/seniorsarespecial/

I hope we will all cut back where possible………… We must spend when we can afford to………. If everyone stops everthing……….Our economy will really bottom out.

I will not give up my storage unit. In NYC it is cheaper to pay an extra $150 a month for storage than to have an apartment that will fit all the essentials. (It was cathartic going through possessions, throwing out stuff I had forgotten about, giving things to the Salvation Army, etc., knowing I was storing only art and books I really want to keep but have no room for.) Other than that, I live within my means. I have never had cable (I have seen it when we go on vacation—no big whoop). I have no cellphone contract; I buy minutes when I need them. My big extravagance this year was an Apple 16 gig nano (purple!), which I use at work to help me concentrate and block out distractions. I am a vegetarian and need to know what is in my meals (no spices—I have stomach ulcers)—so, for the most part—I make my own meals. I could give up my membership at the Met, but NO. I would sooner give up electricity.

It seems that an overall slow down in spending has hit my home. Spouse retirement combined with the economy problems all developed at the same time. When it comes to equipment for my business, I buy used rather than new. The one thing that has not changed is the care my animals get. I understand many stories of shelters getting many more pets as people are giving up animals. I would give up so very much before they would have any cutbacks. Ask me this question in a couple of months when my first grandson is born. It is very difficult to not give babies things they really do not need!

Nothing much else that I can cut out of daily living, now that the garden is sleeping,otherwise I would have to cut down on plants. Christmas is going to be bare but full of love as we all gather together. What I will NOT give up is the internet.

Like others we have elected to drastically reduce the cost of Christmas this year, although I will not give up buying my dear grandchildren the perfect gift, whatever that may be. And, I will not give up my internet….how could I speak out on WOWoWOW?