I had a 30-gallon storage bin for the outside toys but it wasn't working, so I replaced it with a 40-gallon bin:
Garage Clean-Up
The garage seems like it is the place to put everything we don't want in the house. I now understand why people have so much stuff in their garage, it makes a great storage area! I had tons of stuff that we no longer needed that I wanted to get rid of or sell that was too good to just throw in the trash but I hadn't took the time to go through all of it and it just kind of piled up. I finally took about 4 hours yesterday and went through most of it. I have bins full of things now to sell on eBay or give away.
Out With the Old...
In with the new! We bought our first home 2 years ago and it is now 14, almost 15 years old. It seems like it is the time for things to need replacing. On one hand it was upsetting that the kitchen faucet was leaking and the hose had rips, but on the other hand, I'm glad it did because I love my new faucet LOL!!
Here is our white faucet before, which we found out upon trying to remove that it was severely corroded and installed incorrectly:
Here is our white faucet before, which we found out upon trying to remove that it was severely corroded and installed incorrectly:
This is the new one, which was very easy to install and is way better because I no longer have to reach to get the water stream, it is in the middle of the sink now:
Next thing that went bad was our master bathroom faucet and after finding we couldn't fix it, we replaced it. The new one has a cool LED light that is really fun to use in the dark - seriously, I never knew faucets would be so exciting. I don't like chrome, so I opted for the nickel-plated.
Helping the (True) Needy
Why are we supporting legislation to help women with child care costs when they should be raising their own children at home? We should only be helping women who are single or have husbands that can't work - you know, the ones who actually need it? How about being content with your husband's wages and raising your children, like everyone else does that makes it on one income? Put aside greed, your selfish desires, your "success" and follow after God's design for women - being a mother! Novel thought I know.
Save the food stamps, housing, child care costs, etc. for those who NEED it - the disabled and single. Quit stealing the working man and his family's money!!
That goes for school too - why do we support a socialism-based schooling system where everyone has to pay for it? Pay for your own! Leave the funded-school for those that NEED it.
If you keep milking the system and stealing from others - you will keep saying the same ole' rhetoric that you can't make it on one income. I've got a newsflash for you - God's way works and He blesses you for obedience!!
*Unfortunately the medical world and insurance companies have made it almost impossible for ANYBODY but a millionaire to afford the medical costs today. What needs to happen is the costs to go down and bring back affordable premiums and costs. Until then, we have Christian-sharing ministries to help afford the costs if your employer doesn't provide a low-cost plan.
Save the food stamps, housing, child care costs, etc. for those who NEED it - the disabled and single. Quit stealing the working man and his family's money!!
That goes for school too - why do we support a socialism-based schooling system where everyone has to pay for it? Pay for your own! Leave the funded-school for those that NEED it.
If you keep milking the system and stealing from others - you will keep saying the same ole' rhetoric that you can't make it on one income. I've got a newsflash for you - God's way works and He blesses you for obedience!!
*Unfortunately the medical world and insurance companies have made it almost impossible for ANYBODY but a millionaire to afford the medical costs today. What needs to happen is the costs to go down and bring back affordable premiums and costs. Until then, we have Christian-sharing ministries to help afford the costs if your employer doesn't provide a low-cost plan.
Preaching, Horses & My 1st Song!
My husband got assurance of his call to preach. He just had to be in the right place, and here we are in the right place, and he is preaching again. It is amazing how God moves and if you just follow Him, you WILL find that place! He preached for 5 years off and on from 2001-2006 but never could remember a place where God called him, he had just been told he was called. I'm glad that he was careful in seeking it out and only doing it when and where God wanted him to and now is the time!
My daughter has put flying planes aside for a while and started horse riding lessons. I can say that I actually preferred the flying over the horses LOL! I'm not an animal person, except for cats and I don't even have those anymore because I can't take the hair and smell. I sure can't stand horses and the smell of the barns. I'm glad that we can give her a chance to explore all of these interests and she's having the time of her life while doing so!
My son is a very precise little fellow. He likes things to be done at certain times, routines and he is gifted as I've mentioned before. He loves to help me cook and be by my side when I work. He is so tall! He made up and played his own song on the piano and amazed us all recently. Every week I'm amazed at something else he does.
I'm doing well and have come a long way. I just recorded my first song in a studio! It is going to be a bluegrass gospel album but the first song is contemporary gospel. It was at the urging of a friend that I did it and I was scared but I did it. The song was written about me, as the person that wrote it said God gave them the song about me. It was moving to read it earlier this year but even more moving to sing it! I cherish it because it is a comfort and I believe it will also help many others and that is my prayer!
Ohio is still beautiful and wonderful - it is fall now and the leaves are just beginning to change colors because we have been in the 90's up until the past week. Life here is blessed. We've come a long way and its the Lord that's brought us!!
My daughter has put flying planes aside for a while and started horse riding lessons. I can say that I actually preferred the flying over the horses LOL! I'm not an animal person, except for cats and I don't even have those anymore because I can't take the hair and smell. I sure can't stand horses and the smell of the barns. I'm glad that we can give her a chance to explore all of these interests and she's having the time of her life while doing so!
My son is a very precise little fellow. He likes things to be done at certain times, routines and he is gifted as I've mentioned before. He loves to help me cook and be by my side when I work. He is so tall! He made up and played his own song on the piano and amazed us all recently. Every week I'm amazed at something else he does.
I'm doing well and have come a long way. I just recorded my first song in a studio! It is going to be a bluegrass gospel album but the first song is contemporary gospel. It was at the urging of a friend that I did it and I was scared but I did it. The song was written about me, as the person that wrote it said God gave them the song about me. It was moving to read it earlier this year but even more moving to sing it! I cherish it because it is a comfort and I believe it will also help many others and that is my prayer!
Ohio is still beautiful and wonderful - it is fall now and the leaves are just beginning to change colors because we have been in the 90's up until the past week. Life here is blessed. We've come a long way and its the Lord that's brought us!!
How to Evaluate Health Insurance Plans
As a homemaker you manage your home, and I believe this includes the budgeting and researching for what is needed, such as health insurance. I wanted to help by showing you how I evaluate which plan overall would not only save the most, but in my opinion, be well worth the "risk."
Let's take 4 plans offered by a large employer. You have the highest plan known as the PPO generally, which has the highest premium but lowest deductible and offers copays along with coinsurance. Next, is the step-down plan, which costs a bit less in premiums but the deductible is higher. Then, there is usually a third plan that is the lowest premium but highest deductible. However, since Obamacare, a lot of employers have started offering high-deductible plans, which is the 4th one I'm going to share. This plan has a very low premium but a very high deductible.
- PPO Plan - $9,300/yr premium, $775/month; $2,000 deductible with copays ($30 doctor visit, etc.) and 20% coinsurance. Yearly family maximum is $12,500.
- Plan #2 - $6,200/yr premium, $517/month; $4,000 deductible with 20% coinsurance. Yearly family maximum is $7,000.
- Plan #3 - $4600/yr premium, $383/month; $6,000 deductible with 30% coinsurance. Yearly maximum is $9,000
- HDD Plan - $3,000/yr premium, $250/month; $10,000 deductible with 40% coinsurance. Yearly family maximum is $12,500.
Let's consider a medical emergency happens of $10,000 total for the year for this family. Here is what they will pay with each plan. I include the premiums in the total cost but that is exactly HOW you should calculate your costs - what is it really costing you all year?
- PPO Plan: $9,300 premium + $3,600 ($2,000 deductible + $1,600 (20% of $8,000)) = $12,900
- Plan #2: $6,200 premium + $6,200 ($4,000 deductible + $1,200 (20% of $6,000)) = $11,400
- Plan #3: $4,600 premium + $7,200 ($6,000 deductible + $1,200 (30% of 4,000)) = $11,800
- HDD Plan: $3,000 premium + $10K ($10,000 deductible +$0 (Nothing covered)) = $13,000
You can see the cheapest plan for a $10K emergency is Plan #2. But we aren't done evaluating yet! Most employers will give you money for medical bills in your HSA and it varies depending upon what plan you go with. The HDD plan gets the MOST money from your employer of any other plan as you will see here:
- PPO Plan: $12,900 yearly cost - NO employer HSA donation = $12,900
- Plan #2: $11,400 yearly cost - $400 Employer HSA donation = $11,000
- Plan #3: $11,800 yearly cost - $600 Employer HSA donation = $11,200
- HDD Plan: $13,000 yearly cost - $1,000 Employer HSA donation = $12,000
Those are your true numbers to compare! If you expect a $10,000 emergency, then go with the cheapest (Plan #2), however if you don't know what you will spend or if you will spend any at all, go with the HDD Plan as it is by far worth the risk. It won't cost too much more than the other plans in the event of $10,000 medical emergency and it will save you thousands of dollars if you don't end up having any medical costs because you are paying a low premium!!
Here is another comparison - take the yearly premium plus the family maximum for each to see worst-case scenarios:
- PPO Plan - $9,300 premium + $12,500 maximum = $21,800
- Plan #2 - $6,200 premium + $7,000 maximum - $400 HSA donation = $12,800
- Plan #3 - $4,600 premium + $9,000 maximum - $600 HSA donation = $13,000
- HDD Plan - $3,000 premium + $12,500 maximum - $1,000 HSA donation = $14,500
Clearly, the PPO plan is a joke and takes most of your money, yet it is the most commonly chosen plan - go figure! Plan #2, is your best worst-case scenario plan if you know surgery or something is coming up.
I hope that helped you all understand how health insurance works. I've found that a lot of homemakers don't even research this or leave it up to their husbands, who have a struggle to even find time to research things like this! Help him out and do it and save your family money and make sure you are with the right plan for your situation.
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