The Daily Rave

[frugal-one]

We’ve been to many national parks too. Very few compare to Glacier National Park IMO.

[Klunick]

I wasn't sure if I was going to put this in the Rave or Rant thread but I am going to give myself "the win" for resisting the temptation. I spent the past two weeks decluttering seasonal and holiday decor. I decorate for every season and holiday and while I don't have a lot for each season/holiday, it ended up being a lot collectively. Now I find myself looking online for things to replace what is gone. Telling myself things like I don't have much for the mantle now. But... the whole point of decluttering the decor was because I had TOO MUCH before on the mantle. That was truly the catalyst for doing the declutter. But I keep telling myself that less is better. I knew I had a seasonal decor addiction but I see that it is worse than I thought. I almost feel like I am now going through withdrawals and I got rid of too much. I know I didn't because I literally got rid of only the excess. Those things that made a space look overwhelming. I am proud of myself for not buying new stuff. I am glad I got rid of so much and am looking forward to the calmness of the upcoming seasons and holidays without so much stuff on display.

[KayLR]

Good for you, Klunick! I need to do the same. Since we've moved to a smaller home, much of the Christmas and holiday decor I used at the old place came with us, and I really don't have room to display it. So come fall I will post it on Freecycle, or I'll take it to Value Village. Someone will want it.

[happystuff]

Good for you, Klunick!

[Tybee]

Klunick that's inspiring--maybe I will go through my Christmas boxes and think about jettisoning some of the stuff. Maybe. It's so tempting to just leave it in the attic, but I like your method of looking at it as a whole.

[Klunick]

Klunick that's inspiring--maybe I will go through my Christmas boxes and think about jettisoning some of the stuff. Maybe. It's so tempting to just leave it in the attic, but I like your method of looking at it as a whole.

I am very thankful for taking pictures each month of how my living room looked decorated for that season or holiday. While I did declutter some that I used in the kitchen, most was used in the living room. Seeing it as an outsider gave me a different perspective. I saw the trouble areas and it was easier than I thought to decide what needed to go.

[SiouzQ.]

I finally have the health insurance stuff figured out after many weeks of going 'round and 'round with the state Medicaid office and the ACA Health Insurance exchange in New Mexico. The crux of the issue was that when I applied for health insurance earlier in the month right after K. got laid off, our income was very low because it took a few weeks for him to get his unemployment benefits. So they put me on the Family Planning Medicaid which literally didn't help me at all but then they said I was eligible for regular Medicaid on August 1st. But I kept telling them that when K. started getting his benefits our income would be too high for me to get Medicaid. I was finally able to report his income last week which did get me kicked me off the regular Medicaid before I even had the chance to use. I got the final denial letter yesterday which I needed in order to be eligible to apply for BeWell New Mexico (my state's version of the ACA). I was also able to get a $775 per month subsidy so my final monthly cost will be $368.62 for a BCBS plan.

I'm just glad this debacle is finally over and that I have coverage once again. Another good thing is that I was waiting on a possbile bill for the EMG test that I got on the same day he got laid off (our insurance ended two days later). It looks like our former BCBS plan actually did pay for that test and that I will not get a bill for it which is HUGE because I just looked up how much that test would have cost out of pocket and it was over $2500!

However, I am keenly aware that healthcare subsidies will probably get reduced and monthly payments will go up next year due to the Trump administration's strangling of healthcare. I think I will be eligible to get on early Medicare due to being on SSDI; I need to go to our local SSA office and find out more about that. So all of this is sort of a temporary situation to get through until I can get my Medicare. I'll be 64 in October so I am getting pretty close.

[catherine]

I'm glad things are working out for you! Your monthly cost seems very reasonable. DH and I each pay about the same amount for Medicare. Hopefully you won't have to jump through hoops to keep it.

[Tybee]

I think we are each paying $449 for regular medicare part B and a supplement, Plan G.

[happystuff]

Glad it has worked out, SiouzQ