SO we got past our mortgage crisis and we got past our tuition fee crisis. NOW we find out we need a new roof. So I put a plan into action. I was going to use our tax refund to pay off some debt so I put it way. DARN GOOD thing I did. We figured that we could combine our tax return and the economic stimulus refund to buy the shingles we need and my family all agreed to help dh do the work.
Well a few minor things came up that chipped away at a little of our refund. NOW what was left will have to go to pay for dd's fractured arm!:surprise: I'm glade we had the money but now what our we suppose to do about our roof.

We have insurance but the type of plan it is doesn't pay anything until we meet the deductible. It was 129.00 just to have her pediatrician look at it and then send us to have the x-rays. Anyone know what 4 x-rays cost? I'm about to get a bill for that. And tomorrow I have to take her to the (bone doctor ?) in the morning. Anyone know what a cast cost? I'm about to get a bill for that too.
Now our EF will be totally drained. I swear as soon as we get one step ahead something comes up from behind.

Yeah, I'm worried about money , yeah I am worried about a roof but my dd's arm was priority and I couldn't do nothing.

I'm just having such a hard time making ends meet and it's getting to me.
Oh well, I didn't want to eat next week anyways.

even though it's frustrating now
can you IMAGINE how stressed you'd have been had you not even been one step ahead
it boggles the mind just thinking about it

Would your roof be covered under insurance ?
About the roof, call around, you can find people who are business owners who will work with you but first check to make sure the price of your roof is a reasonable one.

I dont know about your area but in my area ( I live in the south) roof damage can be from winds and the insurance company comes out to look... you pay the deductible and get a check to have the work done.
You may want to check your homeowners insurance.

The roof is just plain old! We have been nursing it along. Besides even if I could claim it I wouldn't want to because then they would either up my premium or cancel me. In Florida they cancel you for anything they can and it's next to impossible to get a policy right now.

how about calling around to see if someone will fix it and let you make payments?

Maybe there is someone at your church or someone who knows someone with a roof company?

a long time ago, I was in a jam with my vehicle.. it didn't run and transmission was out. I called around and found someone to fix it and they told me to pay them when I could ( I was very surprised because I didnt know them and they didn't know me)
6 months later I got the money and went to pay them in full.
The guy said he knew I would... and I did.
Maybe you will find something like this too if you look...
you have to do something, so why not try to find a company that will do it for you and let you make payments?

It never hurts to ask :)

Sorry things are so, well hectic!!! I'm also sorry to hear your daughter broke her arm! Did she by chance break it somewhere other than at home? The reason I'm asking is if she broke it elsewhere their property insurance should cover the costs.

As far as the roof goes, could you figure a couple of bundles of shingles into your budget each pay period? That's what my daughter & her hubby did, they just bought a bundle when they had the cash & saved them up until they had enough to do the job.

I found a few good contractors doing online searches, there is also the newspaper.

One guy was an electrician... his ad said
'I'll do it right the first time'. I thought that would be a nice change and called him.
Guess what... ????
he did it right the first time ! I was pleased and his prices were VERY reasonable !!!

I feel for you we need a new roof (leaks) and the money just isn't there. Hope everything goes well with your dd's arm. Things will work out for both of us I'm sure.:hug2:

I know the can't make ends meet challenge.
How do you make a budget when there isnt even enough money to pay the bills you have? I am at my wits end!

My thoughts and prayers are with you and your family. I pray that you find a way to get your roof done and everything goes well with your daughter's arm

Ann I am sorry to hear about your roof and your daughter. Is she is much pain?? Poor bugger.

Not sure how much xrays but hopefully under 200.00.

DH hurt his back a few weeks ago and had 4 xrays at urgent care. 4 xrays plus the office visit was $120 total.

We use urgent care (CareNow is what it is called) for emergencies and have found that they are MUCH cheaper than the ER at the hospital. Plus they handle non-life threatening stuff like stitches and broken bones. My son got 10 stitches in his leg last year and it was $90 and about 30 minutes to fix him up. When my other son got stitches a few years ago and I took him to the ER, he got 4 stitches and it was over $500 AND we were there for 5 hours!

I'm so sorry you're getting broadsided with all this!! How'd you little girl hurt her arm? I hope it heals really quickly! Poor kiddo! :shake:

Keep your chin up...this too shall pass. :hugz: Just be proud of yourself for having so many frugal plans up and running! :D

Ann,

I am so sorry things are happening to you and all at once, I say first off TAKE A DEEP BREATH!

2nd, things will get paid off, dont worry, you are a smart and thrifty person and i am sure your plan will come into play and all your worries will be gone. :)

3rd, I know what you mean about things coming all at once, believe me. Sometimes I think that these things happen for a reason and even though we worry everything always turns out fine and you will look back and say "Well things were bad in 3/2008 and we got through this, we can get through tough times again!"

Keep your chin up and ask around at local churches for help, even if it's to cut your food bill by going to the local food pantry or cutting out a few things for a month or so to save up some extra money. Have you tried selling some things on your local craigslist or cheapcycle?

PLEASE let us know how things turn out and hugs to you :hugz:

Sorry for all the troubles!!! Hey, just a thought....I'd pay payments to everyone concerned on dd's arm...usually this is interest free and takes a lump sum burden off thus keeping the extra cash...and in this case you could pay for the shingles/roof supplies. You've probably already thought of this, but I just wanted to put it out there!!!Just thinking of ya all!!!Hugs and take care!!!Katy

I would pay payments on everything else as well and put a roof on. Then I would go through my budget line by line and look for any leaks. I used to think that my budget couldn't get any tighter and then I did this and found an extra 50.00 a month. Now every month I go through the budget line by line and question if I can cut back somehow.
Lastly I would look for ways to bring in extra income. Anything will do, giving plasma for cash (my sister did this and paid for her son's broken leg), an extra parttime job, a garage sale anything to help.
Calm yourself it will be ok, you have been through alot and you do have it in you to do this as well.
Hugs and prayers for you and let us know how you are doing please.

Sorry to hear things have been so stressful. I don't know what kind of insurance you have. But if you don't have any when the bills come check and see if the hospital has any type of assistance with paying the bills. You might qualify depending of the income levels and type of insurance you have. Don't be afraid to set up payment plans with the doctors. Also can tell them your situation maybe they will say ok this amount if paid in full by __ date.

Good luck and wishing you the best.

ah yes.... giving plasma. I forgot about that.
I did it a few times but it was a long time ago.

Helps if you have a rare blood type too, more $$$

My DS broke his arm a couple of years ago. He did a real number on it...broke both the radius and ulna. He had to be taken to the operating room so they could manually put it back in place and he had to be asleep to do that. Our bill was over $1500. That's not including all the orthopedist visits we had to go to. Luckily we had insurance that covered all of it. I think the final price will depend on how badly your DD broke her arm. Simple hairline fractures don't require nearly as much care. One simple thing to remember is hospitals usually will work with you through payment plans. HTH!

Stephanie

Well a house has gotta have a roof so I hope a solution presents its self to you soon!

Lots of hugs going out to you. :hugz:


--Michelle

Oh gosh!

I am sorry you are stuck in this mess!

Hope it gets better ASAP!