Last Tuesday I was supposed to have my tonsils and uvula removed. I took all the time to go in, get the blood work done, fill out all of the forms, get Steve to take the day off from work, and fast... you know all of that fun stuff.... and after getting me there, they were unable to get my blood pressure low enough to do the surgeries. So sent me home, sicker than a dog. They gave me copies of the EKGs and told me to take them to my family doctor and have her get me in to see a cardiologist. Well, all of last week was in the 100 degree range outside, and rather than risk getting myself sicker, I exercised caution and stayed indoors. Here it is Thursday of this week, and I still haven't managed to get out of the house. I have no excuse other than laziness, although in my defense, money is really tight right now, and I've been hanging around the house in case the electric man comes to shut off the electricity, that I could somehow persuade him to leave it on. If you're not home and they come, they just shut it off, and then you have to pay the whole bill, and a deposit before they will turn you back on. Also I've been conserving on the gasoline that I use.
For many of you out there that actually know me, you are probably thinking how in the hell did you get so far behind? Well, I get less than $1000/month of which a third goes to the car payment, a third goes to the house payment, and a third should go to the electricy, however the budget should also include the telephone, water/sewer, trash collection, insurance, gasoline, food, medicine, doctor bills, clothing, and I'm probably forgetting something but you get the point. There is simply not enough to go 'round.
Here in Jefferson City, the electric and (natural) gas are tied together in the same bill, so the heating and cooling bill runs about $330/month all year long. The water and sewer are only about $40/month, and the trash collection is mandatory in the city limits runs about $46 every 3 months. Now because of my health issues, I have to keep a telephone. Here, they bundle the telephone, cell phone, cable, and internet all on the same bill. After mom's passing I had the cable shut off, and I can no longer afford the cell phone, so it's gone, too. I tried to keep the cell and get rid of the landline, but they would not let me. As far as the internet goes, it only accounts for about $25/month of my telephone bill, and it is basically my only entertainment, so I guess it justifies itself as my one guilty pleasure. That was probably more information that anybody out there wants to know, but I needed to get it off my chest.
Some say I could get rid of the car, but some of my doctors are in Columbia, 1/2 hour away, and my primary family doctor is in Holt Summit, 15 minutes away, so there's 2 places that the bus doesn't go. Plus what family I have left is either in St. Louis, 2 hours away, or in Austin, TX, 13 hours away. Also I hate feeling like I can't get out and go, if I should need to.
Last September, Mom and Steve and I decided that we should get newer, more reliable cars because winter was coming and the ones we had weren't up to snuff. So we bought a used Prius, and an FJ Cruiser (Toyota's jeep) to get us through the snow and ice. They cost almost $900/month not to mention the insurance. I had to trade them in for a Buick Lucerne ($340/month), to cut another corner. Before anybody gives me grief over the Buick, it was one of the only things on the lot of the place that bought the other 2 cars. When you are handicapped, you begin to look for cars that are easiest to get in and out of, and the seat is cushy enough when you had your backside operated on....
I've also got 3 cats and a dog, that have to be fed, and see the vet and stuff like that. Thank Goodness they are inside so there aren't too many reasons to have to visit the vet other than check-ups.
One of my biggest expenses lately is Wal-Mart. It seems I cannot leave the store without giving them $100-or more! The price of food has REALLY went up lately, and I'm in the middle of the country where a lot of it is produced! It has been suggested that I start couponing, and I used to do that regularly. For some reason, I just can't seem to get interested in it again... and I know I should, for God's sake it like free money. I guess I can chalk it up to Laziness, too.
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