Debt Dumpers - 2019

[DLgal]

I actually am a Costco member. I've been getting this medication for over a year now and it's always been the same $19 amount. I've never been given the option of any other price.

You have to enroll in the Costco Member Prescription Program. It's free to enroll. You use this in lieu of your insurance for medicines that are cheaper under this plan vs. insurance, like most OTC drugs that your doctor can write a script for. You can't enroll in this program if you have a federally funded insurance like Medicare or medicaid. Just ask your doctor to write a script for generic Xyzal, then take it to Costco and use this program instead of your insurance. The price for a 90 day supply is $12.64.

https://www.costco.com/member-prescription-program.html

 

[DisneyMandC]

You have to enroll in the Costco Member Prescription Program. It's free to enroll. You use this in lieu of your insurance for medicines that are cheaper under this plan vs. insurance, like most OTC drugs that your doctor can write a script for. You can't enroll in this program if you have a federally funded insurance like Medicare or medicaid. Just ask your doctor to write a script for generic Xyzal, then take it to Costco and use this program instead of your insurance. The price for a 90 day supply is $12.64.

https://www.costco.com/member-prescription-program.html

Well dang. It would be nice if they told you about these things!

 

[DLgal]

Well dang. It would be nice if they told you about these things!

There is usually a brochure/enrollment form sitting on the counter of the pharmacy. But yeah, they don't really push it. They should.

 

[barkley]

This is ONLY applicable online. Non members cannot shop at Costco and simply pay a surcharge. That's not allowed. Non members can only access the food court and pharmacy, using insurance benefits, or paying the full cash price for OTC meds. Only members can access the "member discount" on certain purchases at the pharmacy.

The ONE way non members can shop at Costco is if they are paying with a Costco Cash Card. However, only members can buy Costco Cash cards, so you would need someome to buy one for you.

i stand corrected-i just checked w/my local costco b/c i knew people who did it in the past but i learned they've discontinued the practice. however, i was directed to their website regarding non members purchasing and found that on costco's website regarding non members making purchases, and specifically medications-

• Non-members will be charged a 5% surcharge over the member's posted product prices (except for prescription drugs) when purchasing on Costco.com.

so i guess it would be worthwhile for a non member to see what kind of price they could get by filling their scrips on-line through costco because this reads like they would get the identical price the member gets on their scrips.

Do you have a link to a list of medication prices for Costco? Member and non-member?

hey, i just checked and there's a tool under the pharmacy f.a.q. section where you can do a drug price search (and i didn't sign in as a member and was able to access it).

 

[ruadisneyfan2]

BJ's sells generic Claritin for $17.00. For years it was only 15. It's a small bottle but they actually fill it to the tippy top. 365 pills. (1 yr supply)

 

[Birdie dog]

Hi all. I'm joining for the first time. I'm serious about dumping my debt and am following along to pick up inspiration and tips. I'm not going to lie, I've always felt ok carrying some debt and don't think it's the devil. I make a good living and we are comfortable. But, a few years back, we bought our final house which hadn't had anything done to it since the 80s. You know the story, I budgeted 80,000 and spent 110,000. Since then, I've been trying to pay off the extra and it's still hanging around. (BTW, the house was bought with a 15 year loan at 3% and has increased in value very well since we bought it). Starting before the beginning of the year, I stopped shopping for things I "want" and have only been buying things I "need". I've been selling some stuff on Mercari and locally also. Eating in more and choosing less expensive restaurants ( I live in Charleston so dining is fantastic). I think this will be zero fun but it needs to be done and I need to quit buying stuff. I'd like to be out of debt by 2021 with the exception of paying off the house. (It's worth about $375,000 I'd guess and we currently owe $160). One caveat is I won't give up traveling completely. I'll cut back but it's my final passion and I don't see how I could get by without a trip planned. So, that's my story. I'm hoping that with some motivation and self control I'll be celebrating my debt free life sooner rather than later.

 

[DisneyMandC]

BJ's sells generic Claritin for $17.00. For years it was only 15. It's a small bottle but they actually fill it to the tippy top. 365 pills. (1 yr supply)

I used to get the generic Zyrtec that Costco has in the bottle that size, but I built up a tolerance to it after a while and my allergies were off the charts. I’m hoping the xyzal works for me for a while longer.

 

[jen7233]

Hi all. I'm joining for the first time. I'm serious about dumping my debt and am following along to pick up inspiration and tips. I'm not going to lie, I've always felt ok carrying some debt and don't think it's the devil. I make a good living and we are comfortable. But, a few years back, we bought our final house which hadn't had anything done to it since the 80s. You know the story, I budgeted 80,000 and spent 110,000. Since then, I've been trying to pay off the extra and it's still hanging around. (BTW, the house was bought with a 15 year loan at 3% and has increased in value very well since we bought it). Starting before the beginning of the year, I stopped shopping for things I "want" and have only been buying things I "need". I've been selling some stuff on Mercari and locally also. Eating in more and choosing less expensive restaurants ( I live in Charleston so dining is fantastic). I think this will be zero fun but it needs to be done and I need to quit buying stuff. I'd like to be out of debt by 2021 with the exception of paying off the house. (It's worth about $375,000 I'd guess and we currently owe $160). One caveat is I won't give up traveling completely. I'll cut back but it's my final passion and I don't see how I could get by without a trip planned. So, that's my story. I'm hoping that with some motivation and self control I'll be celebrating my debt free life sooner rather than later.

Yes, I know how it goes to budget one thing but spend more. Though we currently rent, we have owned before twice and I know there's always something that needs to be done, in our last case we put in the sprinkler system, fenced yard, contract landscaping, all window treatments, bathroom cabinetry, etc. You live in Charleston, that is one place that is on my bucket list, and I will go there one day! I bet the food really is fantastic.

 

[barkley]

Hi all. I'm joining for the first time. I'm serious about dumping my debt and am following along to pick up inspiration and tips. I'm not going to lie, I've always felt ok carrying some debt and don't think it's the devil. I make a good living and we are comfortable. But, a few years back, we bought our final house which hadn't had anything done to it since the 80s. You know the story, I budgeted 80,000 and spent 110,000. Since then, I've been trying to pay off the extra and it's still hanging around. (BTW, the house was bought with a 15 year loan at 3% and has increased in value very well since we bought it). Starting before the beginning of the year, I stopped shopping for things I "want" and have only been buying things I "need". I've been selling some stuff on Mercari and locally also. Eating in more and choosing less expensive restaurants ( I live in Charleston so dining is fantastic). I think this will be zero fun but it needs to be done and I need to quit buying stuff. I'd like to be out of debt by 2021 with the exception of paying off the house. (It's worth about $375,000 I'd guess and we currently owe $160). One caveat is I won't give up traveling completely. I'll cut back but it's my final passion and I don't see how I could get by without a trip planned. So, that's my story. I'm hoping that with some motivation and self control I'll be celebrating my debt free life sooner rather than later.

Yes, I know how it goes to budget one thing but spend more. Though we currently rent, we have owned before twice and I know there's always something that needs to be done, in our last case we put in the sprinkler system, fenced yard, contract landscaping, all window treatments, bathroom cabinetry, etc. You live in Charleston, that is one place that is on my bucket list, and I will go there one day! I bet the food really is fantastic.

and it's not limited to older homes.

we bought our house new-but it was a spec build so we had no voice in the finishes. over the dozen years we've had it we've spent on upgrading carpet, counters and appliances, landscaping, interior and exterior paint....but it's also our final house and we made it a one project per year endeavor (except when something major would go out and have to be dealt with, in which case we at least bit the bullet and replaced it with an upgrade if that was our intent down the line anyway). we figure if we get enjoyment out of it then it's no different than if we enjoyed traveling more and spent our expendable income on that.

stick to your plan, and when you get the urge to buy a want just remember the time and effort you've put into selling/getting rid of stuff.

 

[Tygerlilly]

Welcome to the group! After getting rid of our debt and completely cash flowing our wedding this year, our next adventure is buying our forever home. We also cut out expensive eating out and limit to 1 nicer meal out and one fast food stop a paycheck. It's been a big adjustment, but we're doing much better and actually look forward to our planned eat outs more now.
Travel is super important to me and we do schedule trips in while we eliminate debt, but we make sure we can pay for it all up front before we go.


On a personal note, I did my grocery shopping for the 2 weeks today. My budget is usually $250 per check (includes diapers and personal items). I'm super excited to say I spent $200, including the pull ups, and I scored a 20lb brisket for $30! It was originally $58. I split it 6 times so I managed to get us 6 brisket dinners for about $5.50 each! Finally getting a good handle on this grocery budget.

 

[DnA2010]

Basement project clicking along, rooms are all framed and most of the drywall is up, only a bit more to do today, the electrician has done most of the wiring, and the plumber has the tub in and all the lines ready for the sink water, toilet, etc. The sprinkler guy is here today to drain the system (we have to have sprinklers for insurance purposes due to proximity to a fire hall) and tomorrow to install the two extra we need (that was a cost I hadn't budgeted for but had the contingency for), DH is ordering the doors today, the mud/tape guys may start tomorrow! We may be mostly done next week other than finishing, but will; see. So far I think we are under budget (and I have the $ sitting in the account) and have been paying off the material costs as them come in on the credit cards so that there are no outstanding balances

 

[jen7233]

we bought our house new-but it was a spec build so we had no voice in the finishes. over the dozen years we've had it we've spent on upgrading carpet, counters and appliances, landscaping, interior and exterior paint....but it's also our final house and we made it a one project per year endeavor (except when something major would go out and have to be dealt with, in which case we at least bit the bullet and replaced it with an upgrade if that was our intent down the line anyway). we figure if we get enjoyment out of it then it's no different than if we enjoyed traveling more and spent our expendable income on that.

Yes, that's what our last house was a new one, but it was already built and done (some construction still though going up) if that makes sense. It was on a street with all new builds already done. We had nothing to do with any finishes. So, there was no landscaping at all, needed to be done and some other things as well. The down side is we bought in a warm market, and left in a cool market do to some drawdowns in the area. I don't know where our final house will be, that's up in the air, and I've seen so many people do double, triple retirement changes of mind and I mean some of these went out of the country to another and back to the U.S., or across the country, that I already say we are going to have probably two moves after my husband retires, I expect it.

*I just bought reading glasses, now with buyer's remorse so to speak thinking I should have went with progressive lenses my eye doctor recommended but said I didn't have to use yet. Having some issues with night time vision, and it's a dark time of the year also feel like without proper light filtering in my eyes strain harder to work. I've had LASIK twice years ago, over time the results didn't stay but it was a good long run. Not even trying to consider a third LASIK round and well, now need glasses for certain with reading so there's that. Anyway, pricing the progressive lenses which is why I didn't want to take the plunge in the first place, they are starting at $195 plus the frames cost where I've looked, yikes.

 

[Jen and Ashwin]

Basement project clicking along, rooms are all framed and most of the drywall is up, only a bit more to do today, the electrician has done most of the wiring, and the plumber has the tub in and all the lines ready for the sink water, toilet, etc. The sprinkler guy is here today to drain the system (we have to have sprinklers for insurance purposes due to proximity to a fire hall) and tomorrow to install the two extra we need (that was a cost I hadn't budgeted for but had the contingency for), DH is ordering the doors today, the mud/tape guys may start tomorrow! We may be mostly done next week other than finishing, but will; see. So far I think we are under budget (and I have the $ sitting in the account) and have been paying off the material costs as them come in on the credit cards so that there are no outstanding balances

Glad to hear that everything is moving along for you. We had a one week delay in work because the township inspector was on vacation and work couldn't progress until he approved the electrical. They have now started on the drywall. In the meantime, DH and I have some ceiling insulation to install over the weekend. I want it to help with sound between the floors and keeping everything warm. We decided to install it ourselves to save on the labor costs. My mom is coming over the weekend and will be watching DD while we get things done.

And happily, there haven't been any additional unexpected expenses so we are looking good budgetwise. The 0% balance transfer for my credit card finally fully processed, so we have 15 months for that. And DH applied for his own card today. He got another $7k that we can use when we make the next payment to the builder. And I will probably do a balance transfer from my Capitol One card which only charges a 2% transaction fee. I have requested a credit line increase, so we will see what comes of that in a few days. Anything to avoid giving my money to the banks is my goal.

 

[DnA2010]

Glad to hear that everything is moving along for you. We had a one week delay in work because the township inspector was on vacation and work couldn't progress until he approved the electrical. They have now started on the drywall. In the meantime, DH and I have some ceiling insulation to install over the weekend. I want it to help with sound between the floors and keeping everything warm. We decided to install it ourselves to save on the labor costs. My mom is coming over the weekend and will be watching DD while we get things done.

And happily, there haven't been any additional unexpected expenses so we are looking good budgetwise. The 0% balance transfer for my credit card finally fully processed, so we have 15 months for that. And DH applied for his own card today. He got another $7k that we can use when we make the next payment to the builder. And I will probably do a balance transfer from my Capitol One card which only charges a 2% transaction fee. I have requested a credit line increase, so we will see what comes of that in a few days. Anything to avoid giving my money to the banks is my goal.

Nice that yours is ticking along too! What are you doing in the end? Ours was basically a big open space- there was the plumbing roughed for the toilet drain, and basic electrical- some outlets and some ceiling lights all on one switch, and the concrete floor- we are turning it into a bathroom, 2 bedrooms with closets, a storage room, storage under the stairs, and then a big open playroom/tv area. So excited! Will see where we finish when all said and done, but I would assume we are saving by buying and bringing everything ourselves, DH is doing the cleanup at night, and we provided the lumber for the framing as DH's parents have a small custom sawmill.

 

[jen7233]

I think I will switch over to progressive lenses, after speaking about it with the clinic, I'm within the timeframe to do so. Just have to bring the frame back, and pay the difference which will be under what a new set/frame and lenses would be so I'll go ahead. At least that's not $195 plus frames I suppose. My hesitation in the first place was considering if it would be a migraine trigger for me with constant refocusing on short/long distance with the progressive lenses, and I don't need to add on to the list. However, going to go ahead with it.

 

[Jen and Ashwin]

Nice that yours is ticking along too! What are you doing in the end? Ours was basically a big open space- there was the plumbing roughed for the toilet drain, and basic electrical- some outlets and some ceiling lights all on one switch, and the concrete floor- we are turning it into a bathroom, 2 bedrooms with closets, a storage room, storage under the stairs, and then a big open playroom/tv area. So excited! Will see where we finish when all said and done, but I would assume we are saving by buying and bringing everything ourselves, DH is doing the cleanup at night, and we provided the lumber for the framing as DH's parents have a small custom sawmill.

Ours was basically like yours, just an empty space. Once it is all finished, we will have a bedroom with closet and connecting full bath, a theatre room, an exercise room, a big open playroom and an unfinished storage room with storage space under the stairs. I wish we could have done more ourselves to save money, but after trying for almost a year to get contractor quotes with little luck, it just felt like it would never happen without a general contractor. I am glad that we finally got this all started. Probably will have usable basement in the next month or so. The limiting factors will be how long it takes DH and I to paint everything.

 

[barkley]

Glad to hear that everything is moving along for you. We had a one week delay in work because the township inspector was on vacation and work couldn't progress until he approved the electrical. They have now started on the drywall. In the meantime, DH and I have some ceiling insulation to install over the weekend. I want it to help with sound between the floors and keeping everything warm. We decided to install it ourselves to save on the labor costs. My mom is coming over the weekend and will be watching DD while we get things done.

And happily, there haven't been any additional unexpected expenses so we are looking good budgetwise. The 0% balance transfer for my credit card finally fully processed, so we have 15 months for that. And DH applied for his own card today. He got another $7k that we can use when we make the next payment to the builder. And I will probably do a balance transfer from my Capitol One card which only charges a 2% transaction fee. I have requested a credit line increase, so we will see what comes of that in a few days. Anything to avoid giving my money to the banks is my goal.

Nice that yours is ticking along too! What are you doing in the end? Ours was basically a big open space- there was the plumbing roughed for the toilet drain, and basic electrical- some outlets and some ceiling lights all on one switch, and the concrete floor- we are turning it into a bathroom, 2 bedrooms with closets, a storage room, storage under the stairs, and then a big open playroom/tv area. So excited! Will see where we finish when all said and done, but I would assume we are saving by buying and bringing everything ourselves, DH is doing the cleanup at night, and we provided the lumber for the framing as DH's parents have a small custom sawmill.

just curious-will your property taxes increase much w/the finished basements (and esp. adding actual 'bedrooms')? we've never had a basement but know that around here people that have them will do everything they can to get them to what they want for usable space but at just below what's considered legally 'finished' to avoid triggering a new assessment of the property's value (and if they can't avoid that they purposely don't put in closets so instead of bedrooms the rooms are designated as craft or hobby rooms which have a lower property value).

 

[DnA2010]

Ours was basically like yours, just an empty space. Once it is all finished, we will have a bedroom with closet and connecting full bath, a theatre room, an exercise room, a big open playroom and an unfinished storage room with storage space under the stairs. I wish we could have done more ourselves to save money, but after trying for almost a year to get contractor quotes with little luck, it just felt like it would never happen without a general contractor. I am glad that we finally got this all started. Probably will have usable basement in the next month or so. The limiting factors will be how long it takes DH and I to paint everything.

Yes, I remember your struggles for sure. Our builder lives right behind us, and his wife is my friend he also did the basement of one of our other friends and did a really nice job. We told him last fall to fit us in anytime, just give us a week or two to pack. We are lucky that everything seems to have ticket along smoothly so far. We should be nearly done end of next week...should...
Sounds like similar projects for sure, although our tv/theatre area isn't closed off, just a section of the basement.

 

[DnA2010]

just curious-will your property taxes increase much w/the finished basements (and esp. adding actual 'bedrooms')? we've never had a basement but know that around here people that have them will do everything they can to get them to what they want for usable space but at just below what's considered legally 'finished' to avoid triggering a new assessment of the property's value (and if they can't avoid that they purposely don't put in closets so instead of bedrooms the rooms are designated as craft or hobby rooms which have a lower property value).

Well mine won't, as my assessment already shows a fully finished basement, so I've actually been paying higher taxes than I should really.

 

[DLgal]

just curious-will your property taxes increase much w/the finished basements (and esp. adding actual 'bedrooms')? we've never had a basement but know that around here people that have them will do everything they can to get them to what they want for usable space but at just below what's considered legally 'finished' to avoid triggering a new assessment of the property's value (and if they can't avoid that they purposely don't put in closets so instead of bedrooms the rooms are designated as craft or hobby rooms which have a lower property value).

Unless the bedroom in the basement has an egress large enough to fit through to get outside in case of fire, (i.e. a door or full sized window, not a basement window up high), it cannot legally be called a bedroom. So, that is how a lot of people get around that.