BellaOnline Forums Money Frugal Living Need help working on my plan for living

Okay, I decided to see about making a plan for living. This might take a few posts! Currently I have no regular income, live in my RV, have a small beater car, less than $1000 saved for emergenices, have two dogs and a cat, and have a storage shed or two filled with household items that I could sell off.

I am looking at the FoodStamps (SNAP) and am eligible for around $200+ for food, but only for three months. After that you have to apparently have a job? Not sure how that works. Is it worth going to all the trouble to sign up for only three months of help?

Here is the SNAP link - SNAP info

There are also food banks and other food options, but what do people do for the majority of their food after the three months are up?

How does one sign up for Medicare or health care assistance? Does anyone know how this works? My current health insurance costs $145 a month and I really can't afford that.

Are there inexpensive dental options? Eye care?

I need to find also vet clinics to get shots for my pets, would like to get their teeth cleaned and was wondering how one might get help with buying pet food (some shelters offer that, i think)?

I am also looking at places to either pay to live in my RV (there are options on craigslist in my state that cost from $175 to $500), or to live for free in the national public lands (in which case I need a generator, new batteries and a small solar array, plus propane in my tanks). My water heater needs servicing if I choose this option.

I have not decided which is a better option yet - to find a pay-for place, or to get myself set up for boondocking.

I also need to somehow get my things out of storage in CA so I won't have to pay $109 a month for that.

Other than those things, I need ~$69 a month for cell phone service and around the same for my aircard so i can be online. I think these are what I pay - I need to look at my bank account and check this.

Other expenses: car insurance and maint, RV insurance and maint, an occasional haircut (have not had one in a year i think), taxes on some land I own (really, very small amounts each year), gas for driving the car and RV. Laundry money.

I also owe money to student loans but there is no way I can pay that.

California should have a Medicaid program but I don't think adults without children are eligble. If a person is disabled there is SSA or SSI. A person in that situation should get out of the state of California. Our town isn't suffering from the recession. Things are much cheaper and there are jobs. (Huron South Dakota)

It is worth signing up for the program, suppliment anyway you can food banks and such. I have helped a lot of people through this procedure.

No there isn't anything for dental unless CA has something now that I didn't learn about in college. Eye care talk with the Lions Club.

I am in AZ.

Go to your local library and look up edible wild plants- you'll trim your grocery bills that way. Also, keep a sharp lookout on the Internet for Church Suppers in your area: most require a small fee but if you bring something ( like Crabapple punch:-mix equal amount with a storebrand cherry/berry soda)you'll get in for free: Email ahead. Most suppers I go to ALWAYS have leftovers, and the ladies are kind enough to let me take some.

I'd say come park at our house Jilly, but we are under a winter storm watch heavy snow and or ice tomorrow. You'd freeze your buns off being from AZ lol. There are many people that get free places to stay in their RV by being camps hosts. I have thought about that option over the years. But, this no walking thing kinda messed that idea up. Look into it though. I thought it would be cool to spend so many months here and there. Love to travel - swear I was part gypsy. I have moved back and forth across the US so many times, I should of bought stock in moving companies.

Seriously though, with dental bartering works pretty well. I have exchanged newsletters, brochures ect. I also find and write grants for non-profits. I have always found ways to get by. yell, if I can be of service Jilly.

Thank you, Diana. You are so sweet, and I really appreciate the advice. Ouch that you are getting snow already. Brrrrrr.

What info do i need to bring in to the SNAP place to get all my forms filled out? Do I need to prove stuff or do I just list things and they take my word for it?

Dental bartering. Hmmm. I will think on that.

I bet I could trade something for haircuts.

Cindy, the church suppers idea sounds neat. I will have to take a look around whatever community i settle in this winter. Thanks for the thought!

You have to be 65 to qualify for Medicare but you might be able to get Medicaid. (don't know how old you are) There is a place called Supercuts that cut hair very cheap (10.00 or maybe cheaper) Also beautician schools rates are cheaper. Some dental schools have clinics, is there one near you. $145.00 for healthcare is cheap. I am currently unemployed myself and my medical is 309.00 and dental is 20.00 a month. Even the NYS health plans are higher than your 145.00. You can knock down your cell phone and Internet charges also. I have Frontiernet for internet and landline and it cost 59.00 together. My cell phone is a cheap plan I still have from work so that is only 20.00 plus tax. (I only use my cell phone for emergenies so I have held onto this plan otherwise it would be more if I switched for more minutes) These is tracphone that has DMFL (double minutes for life) You buy what you need and cost is .10 minute or less.

A way to save on catfood: A vet friend told me long ago that if you must buy a lowcost catfood, get kittenchow- its easier to digest and has more nutrition.

Jilly, you can vaccinate your own pets, just check out the Jeffer's catalog, www.jefferspet.com. Get a single serve vaccine for each pet and a couple of syringes for the dog's vaccine. The cat vaccine doesn't even need to be injected. Be careful if you are getting Leptospirosis vac. if your dogs are very small or very young. If you get all 3 vaccines at the same time shipped it will probably cost you less than one vaccine visit to the vet. I'll be writing an article soon as a how-to.