Save Money On Your Prescriptions, Independence Days Challenge, Just Like Grandma's

Save Money on Your Insurance Prescriptions-
I understand that some folks don't have insurance, so this may not be relevant for you. The main thing in this I want to stress is do your research. Many times your insurance prescription coverage will change, with no notice to you. Mine did at some point in the last 2 years. They changed some of the categories of what they call "maintenance" prescriptions. This may take a phone call to your insurance provider as mine did.  I use two very expensive medications that I could only get 1 month at a time, due to the high co-pay. My insurance allows for three month refills at a time, BUT not for some meds as far as the amount of the co-pay. Recently they changed it to a one month co-pay for three months worth of meds, a HUGE savings! In other words- previously I had paid $125.00 for one month refill. Now I pay $125.00 for a three month refill. They didn't allow this before for these 2 particular meds. Glad I called to ask, they never tell you about these changes :(  Review your insurance once in a while. You may save a ton of money.

Independence Days Challenge-

1. Plant Something- Done for now.Too hot!

2. Harvest Something- Blackberries, tomatoes, eggplants, herbs, kale, peppers, collard greens, green apples from tree trimming, eggs, compost, pine shavings from coop cleaning.

3. Preserve/Store Something- Made 7 Qts. applesauce from green apples on my outdoor canning set up. Adding various stuff to the freezer, will start making Choke Cherry jelly soon.

Outdoor canning station

4. Manage Reserves- Get a Good Deal/Barter/Stock Up/Prep- Stocked up on a few clothing items for work from thrift stores, or deeply discounted online. Bought several used cheap DVDs online, since our VHS player finally died. Only a DVD player now, sigh. Got lots from library!

5. Eat the Food- Try New Foods/Recipe- Made new spicy seafood pasta dish, as I am sick of chicken, pork and fish. Made a giant apple cobbler from some of the green apples.

6. Build Community Food Systems- Going to the farmer's market this weekend. More free rhubarb coming from neighbor.

7. Recycle/Re-Use- Got two free night stands,and a small cabinet, so we will use for camera equipment storage, etc. Needs paint job maybe. Got a rolling cooler for $3.00 from same sale. Picked up a nice designer blouse there for $2.00 :) . Hubby got a free tent from our rhubarb neighbor to give to our daughter who's starting to gather camping equipment on the cheap. Got donations ready to pass on. Put coop shavings into veggie garden.
                                   
                       Dave cleaning coop with thrifting shop vac after he shoveled most out

                                          clean coop, with some herbs thrown in

                                                         shavings in garden

8. Skill Up- I'm walking with no boot or crutch! I had to re-learn this. I've been watching shows about wedding dress shopping as my first girl to get married and we went dress shopping last night! I didn't cry! Learned to call my insurance company once a year.

9. Regenerate What is Lost/Salvage Something- Hubby scored 4 used, funky dining chairs from a co-worker headed for the dump. Daughter needs them so we're storing them til she moves after her wedding this fall. Will look at getting our dining chairs reupholstered. Too complicated for me with double edging.

Just Like Grandma's-

I rarely go into a Pier One store, too overpriced for me. I was by one the other day, and for some reason decided to go in. I wandered around for a few minutes, then BAM, a lightning bolt hit me. There in the table runners section was an almost exact copy of the place mats my Grandmother used for decades in her little kitchen dining area. We rarely used the formal dining room, except for holidays. Hers were woven by a weaver friend named Ray that we used to visit in Joshua Tree, in California. They are very reminiscent of rag rugs.  I spent many a year eating wonderful meals on those. These are actually made from used saris. I just couldn't believe what an almost exact match (except for size) it was. I had to buy it. Thanks for making me go in Grandma! Love it! I did some research and saw they actually have Chindi Placemats too!  I picked up four yesterday. Ah the memories....

                                                     Girls come running for a treat!