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end of week and preparing for next

November 12th, 2005 at 01:59 pm

IT has been QUITE a week. The dog's illness, meds, tests, and cardiologist (ACK) have set back our Savings for the week, and I'm trying to figure out how to compensate in the upcoming weeks.

MD and I started doing a "weekly saving" initiative, where every Sunday we agree to do some new specific thing to tackle an area of expenses. No idea what I will come up with for tomorrow. We skipped last week, so many crises that I don't think we even thought of it.

The week before was really good. Insurance doesn't cover our prescriptions, which are running 2K a month. When we signed up for our self-insurance, we didn't anticipate all these medical things.

Anyway, I made a spreadsheet of all the meds we use, the amount/number pills, etc. per month, and then did columns for prices with and without our prescription discount card at the grocery/pharmacy we usually use, several internet sources, and costco. It turned out that without the discount card, Costco was the cheapest by 20%, and 200% on certain meds! So, contacted our physicians and had them send new prescription orders directly to costco after I set up a Pharmacy account, and transferred some old scripts.

Also upgraded our Costco card to Executive Member. The increase in membership fee is more than made up for in the 2% back on the meds. Also signed up for their free AmEx card, where we will get an additional 1% back on all purchases.

I also pulled all the offers from the net, Flonase, Zyrtec, etc., that are regular monthly discounts, and started sending them in. Total Rx costs should drop from $2K a month to just over 1.1K. Whew!

The other thing I looked at was Biotene. MD has to use 2 bottles a week because of the cancer. It's not available here, but at drugstore.com I can get it, buy enough to get the free shipping, get 5% back from them in credit, get 5% cash back by going to their site through eBates, and get 5% back from the credit card. Not perfect, but it is something. Drugstore.com sent free gifts that I don't need, but maybe stocking stuffers or donations to the local woman's shelter.

Now, how AM I going to top this next week?

2 Responses to “end of week and preparing for next”

  1. Anonymous Says:
    1131915946

    Excellent job on lowering prescription costs--that's amazing!

  2. Anonymous Says:
    1132004198

    I'm just embarrassed I didn't realize the savings sooner!

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