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Interesting Statistic

If one looks at real prices for items--2000 vs. 2024, we would find that the real inflation rate for those 24 years is 146%. Now what about the COLAs for that time period. Well, for the same 24 year period, Social Security recipients have received COLAs amounting to 81%. Therefore, over the 24 years from 2000 to 2024, we've lost 64.8%. Ask pretty much any Social Security recipient and they will tell you that things just get worse and worse. Maybe those folks didn't have the % figured to the tenth of a percent, but they do have personal recollections of what they were paying for a loaf of bread, a gallon of gas or heating fuel, or a month's rent. They would all tell you that there is no more fat to cut from their budgets. 

I personally would be so grateful if I could get back to a "zero based budget". In reality I am in a negative position every stinking month. If it were not for God's promises of provision, my mental and emotional state would be absolutely awful  All those expenses that I pay for every month are coming out of a small and ever dwindling savings account...........

What is a "zero based budget"? It is a system in which one looks at all the expenses one is likely to encounter over the period and either pays them or saves for them. For example, one pays the electric bill. But, I own a vehicle. I have 2 newish tires and 2 that are very old. The probability that I will need to replace a tire in 2025 is very high. As best I can tell, I could expect to spend around $180 on a tire. Therefore, I "should" be saving monthly about $15 so that when that tire dies, I can buy a new tire without panic. In essence I should be saving for every potential expense I could encounter. My previous HVAC system lasted 23 years. In a perfect world, I would be saving, monthly, enough to replace the "new" system in about 5 years. I desperately need a haircut, but if I just go out and get one, even the cheapest will have to come out of the money I have left in my tiny stash of cash to spend on groceries a few years from now because I am currently unable to fund that out of savings, even though I've known for some time that I will eventually HAVE to breakdown and get a haircut. 

I don't know if all that makes sense. I just know that I've done everything I know to do to slow the outflow of money. Dave Ramsey would say if you can't afford your mortgage payment, move. I've looked at that. I have a basic disagreement with the concept of rent. But, I've looked online. I've been in my house a long time so compared to the cost to rent an apartment these days, my mortgage payment is cheaper. Dave's answer to that would be "move to a cheaper area of the country". Well, I could move to some small town in Arkansas or Alabama, but I am concerned that the touch of arthritis that flares up from time to time would be much worse in those humid climates..........

 

Well, I did it........

I told you in my last post about the pain I am dealing with. I also told you I thought there was something out there, a cushion, that would help. However, I was having trouble with the price. I've been eyeballing this thing for months. So, I'm very familiar with prices and terms. It was supposedly up to 40% off a regular price of $85. It would ship on a business day and could be expected to arrive in 2 -5 business days thereafter.  So, the asking (sale) price was $66. On top of that would be tax and shipping. Previously, the "regular" price was shown as $72. I didn't like that they were playing games with the "regular" price in order to make the "sale" price look better. 

Lo and behold I found the cushion (same manufacturer/same cushion) on Amazon in the color I'd hoped for for $58 with free shipping overnight. So, by the time I am awake, it is supposed to be here, meaning we can begin to see if it's going to help right away. And that little miracle is part of the free shipping. Not to mention the additional savings on the purchase price. Whoopie! Now, let's pray it brings relief. 

UPDATE: GAME CHANGER! Oh, Glory Be! It was on my front porch, waiting for me when I got up. It was a tussle getting it open and unwrapped. I've been sitting on it for about 45 minutes now and I have NO pain! As long as it doesn't fall apart tomorrow, I'm going to be happy, very happy with this purchase!

When I was in the third grade, 8 years old, a kid from my class was practicing his baseball swing. (His name was Richard Stith--trust me, I'll remember it forever.) When he got to full extension on that swing, that baseball bat hit me smack on the tailbone. It broke, but my parents with no medical training at all decided there was nothing that could be done. So, no doctor. It's never been comfortable for me to sit for long periods of time. BUT, it's WAY worse now. At the spot where it broke, there's a good sized "knob" on the bone and so, when I sit, I'm sitting on that knob. The part below that moves from side to side, particularly when I am in the act of sitting. It moves and the muscle around it spasms and I stifle a scream. It's a fun game..........To make it even a bit more fun, it swells all around the bone and I walk around feeling like I have the world's biggest wedgie. Can you imagine? About the only thing I can do for it, short of taking a handful of ibuprofen and risking my liver, is to lie down for long enough for the swelling and spasms to subside. Problem with that? I can't figure how to lie down without sitting first.............

It's acting up something fierce tonight. I've had to bend over to pick some things up this evening. And, let me tell you it's a really painful experience. That's something new to me. Prior to this the pain has been as I try to sit. I'm working on a technique to make it less painful, but I can't right now think of a different way to bend over. And, take my word for it, these knees are not going to stand up to the challenge of squats. I think for the rest of tonight, I'm gonna risk the liver with a large dose of ibuprofen. 

So, there is a cushion on the market that really looks like it might help. It's split in the back where the problem is, relieving the pressure on what has become a very sensitive area.. I've been looking at it online for months. I just haven't wanted to spend the money. However, I think I'm gonna push the button on this thing. This pain is becoming prohibitive and really interfering with my life. If I can't bend over to pick things up or to tie my shoes, this place is gonna be a mess. If it's on the floor and I can't pick it up, I have no choice other than to leave it there and, potentially, eventually, walk on it. That's unacceptable to me. 

They are advertising a 40% sale. I think they've just raised the "regular price" and the "sale price" is really about 5% lower than regular. But, 5% is still something. I'll take it.

I just called my medical insurance plan and it turned out to be a pretty decent experience. Of course, the "advocate" was not a native English speaker, so I can only hope I got it right. Only one item, Urgent Care is going up. The copay is going up from $10 to $20. The Emergency Room on the other hand is going down from a copay of $135 to $40. I'm not sure on one of my medications. I have a hunch the guy was multiplying in his head and may have made an error, but if he actually got it right, the medication for which I pay the most is going down $10 for a 3 month supply. I have, however, found out that Good Rx has a coupon to save approx $50 on a 3-month supply of the generic. The last time I checked, my plan has no agreement with the co that makes the generic so without insurance it is over $800. I think though that in order to switch to the generic, I have to get a new prescription. And you know how I hate going to the doctor...........

Next, I guess I have to call Progressive. I've gone on-line and gotten a quote from them. However, the quote does not include my usual amount of Uninsured Motorist coverage. I specified what I wanted and their system converted it to the minimum. I can't therefore, compare apples and oranges. Besides, Uninsured Motorist is for me. If I'm hurt in an accident with someone who has no insurance, Uninsured Motorist pays the bills for medical care up to the amount in the contract. My thinking is that given the struggle folks are having paying for groceries, there are probably a lot more uninsured motorists out there, not to mention illegal aliens driving without a license..........I really don't want to compromise on this element if I don't have to.......

Well, that's it from me for now. Be blessed y'all.