Surrounding you is a bubble of inflation, high unemployment, rising gas prices and skyrocketing prices of groceries and essentials that you need every single day.
No matter how much you earn, every day needs of food and other essential items take up a significant portion of your salary. Discount coupons are a blessing in disguise if you want to save some money on your daily expenses.
Statistical facts:
The US Consumer Packaged Goods marketers distribute coupons valuing almost $470 billion for daily use products like food, beverages, tobacco, clothing and other household items. Surprisingly only about 1% of these coupons are redeemed by consumers. These figures show that almost $465 billion worth of coupons go waste every year!
Reasons people give for not using coupons:
It is embarrassing
Too lazy or disorganized or busy to make efforts to save coupons and use them appropriately
But why should anyone leave an opportunity to save some money?Using coupons efficiently and intelligently is the best way for you to save some serious amount of money on things of everyday use.
Let’s have a look at the coupons toothpaste example:
Let’s take a simple item which is essential to each household- toothpaste. Now a tube of toothpaste will generally last a single person for, let’s say, a month.
You spend somewhere between $2 to $6 on your tube of toothpaste every month.
So for a whole year, you can spend almost $6×12 = $72.
Now, do you think your toothpaste costs you too much?
If you use general product promotional coupons toothpaste and even get about $1 off, you get a direct discount of $12 per year. Combine it with sales and discounts at the store from where you make your purchases, and you can literally buy your $6 tube for less than $2, which will bring down your yearly coupons toothpaste cost to $24.
You can cut your grocery bill by more than 50% if you use coupon efficiently!
Here are a few tips on how you can become a pro at using coupons smartly:
Collect the ads for every store you shop at in your local area. These are usually delivered to your home via newspaper or email. You can also check out some of the websites which give out free coupons. Once in a while stop by a store you frequent, to pick up their ad.
Make an initial shopping list for each store, all in one sitting. While this can be time-consuming, it ends up making a huge difference in the amount of time you eventually spend shopping and save more.
Keep a tab on your current inventory of groceries and household products, so that you spend less time on this step.
Know what is on sale. So, if your favorite Ken’s Steakhouse Ranch Dressing costs $3.29 for a 16 oz bottle and goes on sale for $1.65 per bottle, you can use your $1 coupon and get it for $0.65 a pop. Always try to combine two big deals at once and walk away with 80% savings multiple times.
Buy branded products for better deals as generic products do not have a lot of scope of providing you discounts. With branded products, you get great deals if you use your coupons wisely and spend way less than on generic products. Remember the coupons toothpaste example. You will always get more coupons for your $6 toothpaste than the $2 toothpaste.
Even if you are single or a family of four, try out the coupon shopping tricks for a few months and see for yourself the difference it makes to your budget!
Seeking original Medicare insurance to cover healthcare requirements is imperative for each individual. But at the same time, one also has the option of choosing Medicare Advantage, which is a private insurance alternative. Both types have their own benefits that may or may not work for you. So before picking one over the other, here are a few factors to determine whether the federal-run or private insurance program is more beneficial.
Out-of-network coverage
If you pick original Medicare, you need to follow the premium guidelines set by the federal government. These include deductibles and coinsurance amounts for Part A (hospitalizations) and Part B (physician and outpatient services). Furthermore, the government sets maximum deductible rates for Part D prescription programs (premiums and copays may differ based on the plan). You should also bear in mind that several beneficiaries of original Medicare usually purchase a supplemental (or Medigap) policy to ease their out-of-pocket costs, which have no annual cap.
If you pick a Medicare Advantage plan, you will still need to pay the Part B premium set by the federal government. You may also need to pay an additional premium for the Medicare Advantage plan. However, most of these plans have fixed copay amounts from the expenses associated with physician visits, which could result in lower out-of-pocket costs in comparison to original Medicare.
Costs
When you subscribe to original Medicare for Part B-covered services, you usually have to pay 20% of the Medicare-approved amount after you meet the deductible, known as the coinsurance. You may also have to pay a monthly premium for Part B and a standalone amount for a Medicare prescription plan (Part D). Furthermore, there is no yearly cap on what you pay out-of-pocket. However, you may incur additional costs for supplemental coverage like Medigap.
As for Medicare Advantage, the out-of-pocket cost may vary. Some plans may require you to pay more for certain healthcare expenses, while others may require less. Therefore, you must check each insurance offer before signing up for it. Under Medicare Advantage, members need to pay the plan’s premium while paying the monthly Part B premium. A few plans may have a $0 premium charge and could help cover part or all of your Part B premiums. Most MA plans include Medicare prescription coverage (Part D). Moreover, the plans come with a yearly cap on how much you pay out of pocket for services covered by Medicare Part A and Part B. Once the plan’s limit is reached, you do not have to pay for services Part A, while Part B will cover amounts accrued through the rest of the year.
Coverage
Original Medicare covers most healthcare-oriented services and supplies in doctors, hospitals, offices, and other healthcare facilities. One should note that this federal program may not cover benefits, including dental care, eye exams, and routine exams. You also have the option of joining a Medicare prescription plan to receive benefits under Part D. One should also note that most healthcare situations do not require advance approval of service or supply.
Those who pick a Medicare Advantage plan typically receive all healthcare-related services that original Medicare covers. The insurance may also offer additional benefits not covered by Medicare, such as vision, dental, and hearing services. MA plans may also include coverage for Medicare Part D. Once an individual signs up for Medicare Advantage, they may not be able to join a separate Medicare prescription plan. And unlike original Medicare, they may need to get a service or supply approved ahead of time so that the respective plan can cover it.
Coverage in the country
If you sign up for original Medicare, you will get access to health care anywhere in the country. This is applicable as long as the provider accepts the federal program. So this could work for those who travel between states a lot.
Medicare Advantage plans are based around networks of providers, usually self-contained in a specific geographic area. Therefore, healthcare might not be covered if you visit out-of-network providers. You may also have to pay more for care.
Foreign travel
Both original Medicare and Medicare Advantage generally do not cover healthcare requirements outside the country. Those who pick the first choice may be able to buy a Medicare Supplement Insurance (Medigap) policy to cover emergency care outside the country. One could also look at supplemental benefits that take care of urgent and emergency services under Medicare Advantage while traveling outside the country.
Eligibility and signing up
To qualify for original Medicare (Part A and Part B), one has to be age 65 or older. The plan is also accessible to certain younger people with disabilities and other individuals with End-Stage Renal Disease. Most qualifying people get Part A for free, but some may have to pay a premium for the coverage. People who already receive Social Security or RRB benefits at least four months before being eligible for Medicare and residing in the country are automatically enrolled in premium-free Part A and Part B. They also have the choice to keep or refuse Part B coverage following enrollment.
People who have original Medicare are eligible for a Medicare Advantage plan. Furthermore, those under 65 due to disabilities and who have Medicare also qualify for the program. You may sign up for a Medicare Advantage policy if you reside in the chosen plan’s service area. If you enroll in a MA plan, you have to pay its monthly premium in addition to your Medicare Part B premium.
Teeth staining and erosion are common occurrences, and the food one eats is a major determining factor. Foods and beverages like ice, tea, coffee, sugar, and starches can cause enamel erosion and gum problems. Although whitening treatments and other dental procedures can help improve one’s smile, consuming certain foods promotes good oral health. Here are 16 foods to include in one’s daily nutrition plan for healthy white teeth and gums: