I hate posting this because I have never wanted to be one of those people. Something no one else here has mentioned is having a sick child. We live in MA in a blue collar town in a ranch with one bathroom. Apartments here cost just $300 less than our mortgage! So selling our house gets us pretty much nothing - maybe net $5k at the end and no place to live. My daughter has a rare growth condition and she does really well, but for example, Sept - Dec (3 months!) was $1100 in health insurance copays and medicine! Thankfully her most expensive med (20k a year!) is covered co mpletely, including the needles, alochol wipes, etc. Last week our two used cars (2002 minivan and 1999 truck) cost us $1500 (yep plastic - the meager $700 I had save got wiped on another car repair in Oct). I haven't had a true vacation in many years. WE did take the two kids to south america to meet my husband's parents two years ago before they died so no regrets but I shop at Walmart, use coupons, samples and discounts. I can't seem to catch a break and move forward. I work 60 hrs a week between the 2 jobs and barely make it work every month but I try really hard. My daughter needs to eat high calorie foods and the yogurt she eats for breakfast every day is high cal but organic and expensive. can't cut taht out, nor the milk (1/5 of our weekly grocery bill). Any ideas for me?

I hate to say this, but could you qualify for some state assistance like medicaid to cover the costs that your insurance is not paying and maybe a food card to help with the yogurt. Good Luck and God Bless!

Have you contacted the drug companies that make the medicines your DD needs to take? Explain your situation, maybe they will supply you with free meds. Contact the company that makes the yougurt, tell them you much you like their product and how it helps your DD, ask for coupons.

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When my daughter had open-heart surgery a few years ago, I remember the doctor and the hospital providing information on assistance (it was for California residents) -- perhaps your daughter's physician knows of some resources.

I also was going to recoomend to see if you can get medical assistance. I also saw a commercial with Montel Williams for a prescription plan that helps cover some of the expenses for medications (I forget the name of it- PPA or something)- I will try to see what the phone # is. It does not hurt to try to come up with ideas to help you and yours! Sometimes the hardest thing is to ask for help- don't let it think that you are "needy" (so to speak)- sometimes we just need a little assistance and it can help you out a lot! HTH!

Never be ashamed or embarrased to ask for help or advice here. Everyone is great and noone will think "--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

I hate posting this because I have never wanted to be one of those people." When I was 6 months pregnant with DS it was discovered he had severe medical problems. With 5 specalist before birth, 8 doctors in planned delivery room, and 3 weeks in NICU and 3 surgeries and a health insurance company that said since it was found before he was born it was "pre existing" so they covered 50% I understand where you are coming from. Money was tight and it was hard to meet daily expenses. I would start by talking to your family and friends in your area. The best advise sometimes is local. Is there someone who could watch your daughter for a weekend to allow you and DH to have a stay at home weekend. Granted it is not a vacation since you would be staying home but the benefit is no expenses and sometimes just having a day or 2 away from little ones is priceless.

Check with your church and see if they have a medical assistance program. Lots in our area will help cover out of pocket medical expenses. Check with your hospital to see if there is a family support group for parents with kids suffereing from the same problem. A lot of times other parents have found outlets for help in the community.

Something as small as joining a coupon train on here might help. Different people in different areas get coupons and it may be a way to help with food expenses. Do you have an angle food ministrie in your area? They have family food boxes for $25.00 http://www.angelfoodministries.com/ and it has a lot of staples in there. There is no income requirements and our area at least they are all really really nice.

I know for us I stepped back and said ok what can I live without. We did not have it at the time but cable, water delivery, magazine subscriptions, movie subscriptions, haircuts, eating out, just stuff like that. I hope I was at least a little help -- PM me on here if you ever just need to talk. What area are you in?

This probably going to seem like a huge cost saver, but every little bit helps. I bought a yogurt maker on Amazon.com for $13 and now make my own. It is a bit cheaper than buying the premade stuff from the store.

The other girls have some really good ideas. It seems there is always help out there, it's just knocking on the right door. Big hugs and prayers on the way.

definately contact the companies of the foods she eats they may have an assistance program my bro and sil did this for my niece she needs a special lotion and they were having a hard time affording it now the company sends them a free case a quarter thru there assitance program it does not hurt to ask you never know...

Hugs Hi, my son is not sick but is physically disabled. We had roughly 150,000 of hospital/medical bills after insurance when he was born (long NICU stay). We have also struggled and when he was younger I could only work PT, sometimes I could not work at all due to his needs. Insurance has not been covering all of what he needs either.

We rent (and I use that term very loosely) from my parents, which is a struggle but we have had to swallow our pride and just thank God that we have people willing to help in some way. People don't believe that now we both work 2 professional jobs and could still be so down-and-out. We aren't big spenders but life has not "gone our way" so to speak.

I can only suggest to you that you try the money saving ideas posted here and on other websites to really cut the expenses down in the areas where you do have some leeway. Then, for the things that you can't get cheaper, such as the yogurt and milk, I would ask the company that makes them (email or call) if they could send you a discount coupon. Lots of them. Tell them your situation.

The trouble is, if your income is high enough, at least in my area, you will not qualify for assistance, regardless of your bills, medical situation, whatever. At best, you may get directed to some agencies that help, only to be placed on a 50 year wait list. It doesn't hurt to ask though, your area may be different. If your child is in school, you could ask the school guidance counselor or social worker for assistance. I have a student with sickle cell and the guidance counselor was able to get some stores to give them boxes of groceries and the school gave them some clothing for all of the children. You could also ask about respite care. This isn't as great as a vacation, but it might give you some time to take a breather and regroup.

Please keep faith that you will make it through these difficult days. You are no doubt her mom b/c you have what it takes to care for her. I believe you will get the things that you need to provide for your family.

Is WIC an option? I'm told it's not income based, if you can show your expenses. Also, your insurance can cover a nutritionist, who can probably help you with some great ideas.

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