Tag Archives: transportation

Four Strategies that Will Reduce Car Costs

When you budget your auto-related and transportation costs, are you including everything? There is the cost of the car itself, the monthly loan or lease payment, plus insurance, maintenance costs, and gas of course. Here are four strategies that you can use, covering each of those areas, to lower these costs, from beginning to end. Saving on Car Payments If you are considering the purchase or lease of a new car, review your options carefully. This is where you can save the bulk of your money. Really think about saving up to purchase a car with cash, if you can. … Continue reading →

Our Son Has Epilepsy So What

SO our son is three and on daily medication to control seizures, but he is alive and otherwise healthy. We were adjusting to the new normal life that we were going to have. WE did not know if or when he would outgrow this disorder but we could make it through. The response we got in the beginning from people we told was rather surprising. When people found out that he had seizures we stopped getting calls for play dates, sleepovers and outings. I do not know if people were scared of him having a seizure or what they may … Continue reading →

In the Last Thirty Years of Prescription Medications…

I have to admit — I’m spoiled by modern technology and comforts. It’s hard to imagine what life was like without prescription medications… but just three decades ago, they were far less advanced than they are now. According to the National Institutes of Health, just thirty years ago very little was known about predicting drug interactions and/or serious side effects. Doctors, researchers, and pharmacists had no way to anticipate these problems until drugs started clinical studies — or were widely used by consumers in some cases. Potential toxicity was determined by the effects of a medication on animals — if … Continue reading →

Antibiotics and Side Effects

I’m about halfway through my ten days of antibiotics after a recent cat bite (from my work at the cats-only boarding facility) got infected. When I picked up my prescriptions — two different antibiotics for one little cat bite, sheesh — the pharmacist warned me that I might experience some photosensitivity. Did I ever! The first few days were rough, and I relied heavily on my prescription sunglasses and long sleeved shirts. The drive home from work in the afternoon was enough to leave me with the beginnings of a sunburn. Thankfully, the photosensitivity has eased off as I’ve gotten … Continue reading →

Penicillin Allergy

A penicillin allergy is an allergic reaction to penicillin antibiotics. Basically, your body’s immune system overreacts to the drug. A penicillin allergy is the most common type of drug allergy. Some people who are allergic to penicillin are also allergic to other similar or related antibiotics. (I have a penicillin allergy and can’t take other related antibiotics, either.) However, there are many people out there who think they have a penicillin allergy but don’t. Just like other types of allergies, you can outgrow the allergy or become less sensitive to penicillin. Some people may have had a bad reaction as … Continue reading →

Home Safety: Entertaining Holiday Guests

Safety. It may not be the first thing we think about when entertaining holiday guests. We’re busy getting things ready for the holidays, and preparing the guest room and other spaces to ensure that our guests are happy and comfortable throughout their stay. Whether guests are visiting for the day, or coming for an extended visit, there are a few important things to keep in mind. Dangers Lurking in Luggage Our guests may not have small children or pets in their homes and may not realize that their luggage could be an invitation for kids or pets to explore something … Continue reading →

Rental Cars—-What I Wish I Knew A Few Weeks Ago

I try very hard to learn from my mistakes. (Ideally, I would prefer to learn from other people’s mistakes, rather than go through the drama myself, but I digress.) A few weeks ago I had to rent a car while my four-wheeled wonder was getting serviced. Without getting into the details of the billing process (the car was supposedly covered by insurance, yada, yada) I ended up getting a crash course in Rental Car Hidden Costs 101. In the coming months many of you may be forced to rent a car at your holiday destination and for you I offer … Continue reading →

Segway Rolls On

Have you seen or ridden a Segway Human Transporter? (Click here to see a picture.) The two-wheeled invention has been on the market for four years, but it still remains a head-turner. When it debuted it made the rounds on the network morning shows and we all laughed watching the anchors glide around on them. (Actually, my job at a local television station afforded me the same opportunity–my one and only ride on a Segway–but I digress.) Back then; many regarded the Segway as the ultimate “Neiman-Marcus” gift idea. Meaning it was seen as a toy for the rich… or … Continue reading →

Save Money With Generics!

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Like everything else, the price of prescription (and over the counter) medicine has gone up. A recent study from the University of Minnesota found that while the costs of name brand drugs have gone up, the price for generic versions of the same drugs have stayed remarkably stable. In 2005 alone, the price for name brand drugs rose more than six percent while the price for generics rose less than one percent. One thing that was a big surprise to me was that medicine prices vary in different areas. I would never have known if I hadn’t moved from New … Continue reading →

Safely Save on Prescription Drugs, Part II

When it comes to purchasing prescription drugs, safety is every bit as important as savings. Do not Split Pills Never take it upon yourself to split pills. First, this is not a viable option when it comes to many time release medications, and it is also never wise to split pills in an attempt to make your medicine stretch further. Your doctor prescribes a particular dosage for a reason. Some resources advise you to ask your healthcare for larger dose pills because they can be split for a lower cost per dosage. You should only do this if there is … Continue reading →