How can I manage $80 with shopping for household needs?

Question

I can't use cheap toiletries because I have sensitive skin. I need Charmin tissue since I have hemmrhoids, Dove soap, shampoo & conditioner, toothpaste, mouthwash, floss, sanitary napkins, dish detergent, tooth brush, food, household cleaning products & co-pay for my prescriptions. I'm afraid I won't be able to afford everything I need since this is my 1st electricity bill, & it's almost $200 to get the service on. I'm afraid to go without electricity because I'll get an eviction from my apartment. & I'm on a fixed income. I also need to do laundry.

I'm at one of those unfortunate moments where I ran out of everything at the same time.

Answer 1

Ask your local church if they can help you out financially this one time. They may have a food pantry which might help you with some items; check to see what brands they have available at the moment. If your church doesn't have a food pantry, find out where one is in your area. This will at least help you out with the food items.

If you get cheap, generic toiletries from a pantry or store that you can't use due to your sensitive skin, ask a (very) good friend if she'd be willing to trade the brand-name stuff she has for the generic goods--just this once.

Kirk's castile soap is very mild, and I believe it's cheaper than Dove (at Meijer; it's more expensive at the health food store, at least in my area). Liquid castile soap (usually found at a health food store) is also a healthy and gentle product to use.

If you have a toothpaste tube that seems empty, cut it open with scissors and use the rest of what's inside, scraping it out with your toothbrush. This will make it go farther than you thought it could.

For substitute mouthwash, you could use saltwater or hydrogen peroxide (read the bottle, and don't swallow it!). Yucky tasting but will do in a pinch. Or just swish some water around in your mouth. Mouthwash is nice to have but if you have to cut something out, this is one of the purchases that can wait until next time.

If you usually use the laundromat, again, ask a good friend if you can use her washer and dryer--but just this once! You don't want to overdo the favors you ask of her. If not, maybe even ask at the church if there is anyone who would let you use their washer/dryer this once to help you out.

If you have to use the laundromat, don't pay to use the dryer; take the wet laundry home and hang it up on a clothesline or drying rack. Or you could make a clothes rod by drilling a hole in each end of an old broom handle and, using pieces of cut-up clothes hangers through the holes, hang it from hooks in the wall or ceiling above your bathtub, so you can hang the wet clothes on hangers to drip-dry over your tub.

For household cleaning products, use the basics, which are the healthiest both for you and for the environment, and are wonderfully cheap as well: baking soda, club soda, salt, distilled white vinegar, hydrogen peroxide, vodka, washing soda, borax, bluing. Go to your local library and check out a few books on green cleaning formulas. As an example, straight club soda in a spray bottle can be used to clean mirrors and glass.

If you want something stronger with bleach, don't pay for the expensive, special kitchen cleaner with bleach. Just get a spray bottle and mix 1 part bleach with 10 parts water. This is good for sanitizing kitchen counters, etc. For bad problems of mold, make the mixture about half and half.

For other household items you might need to purchase, shop at second-hand, consignment, and thrift stores, and garage sales. Some churches and community organizations also have "free stores" where people in need can get free items.

Sign up for your local Freecycle group, where members (it's free) offer free items to some one willing to pick them up. http://www.freecycle.org/

Ask the electric company if you might qualify for any low-income assistance program available through them. It can't hurt to ask! Also check with your local dept. of job and family services to see what resources they can recommend to you. Food stamps?

Other money-saving ideas can be found at:
http://www.miserlymoms.com/
http://www.debtproofliving.com/

Don't forget your local library is a resource of free music, movies and books, sometimes even video games. Check out some books on thrifty recipes and frugality (ask a reference librarian for suggestions). One such book is "The Complete Tightwad Gazette" by Amy Dacyczyn.

Answer 2

I hate running out of everything at the same time. The only thing you can do for some things is get small sizes and the cheap brands. This isn't the best way to do things but it does make your money go faster when you are short. Don't skimp on your toiletries because of your sensitive skin, but you can get cheap dish soap and cleaning products.

I can't understand why you still have a co-pay for your prescriptions. I know you said you have Medicare/ Medicaid. Do you have the prescription plan through Medicare? If so the Medicaid should pick up the co-pay on the prescriptions. When you are on programs such as Medicare and Medicaid, it is ridiculous for you to have a co-pay. You are already on a fixed income.

Good luck, I wish I was in a position to help you.

Answer 3

Maybe something is different in Kansas City from here. Here with a $105000 loan you will also have property taxes and homeowners insurance to pay. On a thirty year loan we can roughly estimate that the entire monthly payment including those two items in and escrow account would be roughly 1% of the $150000. That would be about half your monthly income. That seems very high to me. They may qualify you for that much payment but I think it would be hard to make. Either you taxes and insurance are a huge amount lower or you are putting a lot down and your loan balance is much less than $105000 or you have a spouse that will also be adding another $2000 a month to your family income. By the time I make that payment and the heating and water and cable and phone and various repairs that come up and food and other things- I don't think I could make it.

Answer 4

You may just have to go cheap at the Dollar store this one time. Most of WalMart's store brand generics (Equate and Sam's Choice) are very similar to the name brands they follow and I've found their prices on the name brand stuff pretty decent compared to the grocery stores. I actually like their raisin bran better than Kellogg's or Post's. As far as the prescriptions, WalMart has a program for people on fixed income's where the co-pay is only $4. Suave shampoos and conditioners are good prices, lots of variety, and decent quality.
I'm guessing since you mentioned needing to do laundry that you have to go to a laundromat. Unless you have a disability, I'd suggest handwashing in the bathtub and hanging things on hangers from the shower curtain rod. We did that a lot when we were kids (5 of us) and the paycheck ran out before the bills did. Wring out extra water for faster drying and less stretch by rolling each item in a bathtowel, then wring or press it to force the water into the towel, then hang the wet towel on the rod with everything else. That's a trick my grandma taught me and then I saw it on Martha Stewart for prepping sweaters for flat drying.

Answer 5

you need to make more money, see if you can do some babysitting or just get a small part time job. something to gt threw the month. The dollar stores are getting better at carrying some of the bigger name brands so check it out, also call your utility and get on a budget plan. good luck to you.

Answer 6

Buy concentrated, non-toxic products like I do. Eco-friendly and cost-effective. Jennifer