Ideas for Organizing Receipts

Hey Marlena~Congrats on unearthing your desk :-) What we do w/ the receipts is just have an envelope in the back of our bills that DH labels for every 1/4 of the year. So we ahve a 1st quarter receipts then in April he puts it away and makes 2nd quarter, etc. That works relatively well since I more or less know when I bought something if it needs to be returned. Honestly for things that I buy w/ cash theres times I don't keep the receipt - like if I just need milk once I open it and know its OK I throw the receipt away. Everything else tho that's "everyday" we save there more or less in date order. And like you said, big items receipts get stapled to the warranty paperwork or instruction booklet...Leslie

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Here is what I do: I have a 5x7 plastic index card file. I bought 5x7 dividers 1-31 (or you can buy blank ones). After recording receipts in my checkbook register, I put them behind the corresponding date. As I am putting receipts away, I shred old receipts (from the previous month) that I know I will not need. For the ones that I want to keep, I add dividers in the back of the card file for each store/category, and place them behind the corresponding divider. If I need the receipt for taxes, I place it with my current taxes.It makes keeping receipts easier and all in one place. So, I don't have to enter receipts every single day, I bought a Page-Up Paper Holder at Office Max. I saw it at the checkout and thought it would be handy. I place the receipts in the notch. When it gets full, I know that I have to enter receipts. See the attached link for a picture.
http://www.amazon. com/PAGE-UP-227C-iColor-Space-Saving-Document/dp/B00007E83V
I hope this helps.Louise

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Hi, I justwanted to drop a note on how I keep up with receipts. I put all my receipts in an envelope and when the credit card bill comes in, I check the bill to make sure it is correct. Then I discard all receiptsfor gas, eating out etc. I keep all Walmart, Target, etc receipts with the credit card bill in a manila folder in my filing cabinet. I keep a budget on my computer where I can keep track of all my purchases. The budget is where I list what I bought. I can go to the budget and find out when I purchased an item then locate the receipt in the credit card folder with thebill for that month. (As a side note, we pay off the credit card every month so that we only pay for the things we bought. We're not paying interest on our credit card.) Becky in Va

Free Counseling Resource

This is an excerpt from an email sent to me in response to me asking about financial help for medical bills, Soc.Sec. benefits from me not being able to work, etc. I'd like to post the reponses I got here at least temporarily until I have a chance to go through it and act on the information.


Re: I have a question
Posted by: "Zona" http://us.f374.mail.yahoo.com/ym/Compose?To=zonaszone@shaw.ca&Subj=annnmouse
Tue Nov 20, 2007 12:20 am (PST)
>If all this is for real...and I know it is...what is the next >step? I mean my insurance refuses to pay for anything for me it >seems. I've been paying for my doctor appointments, my supplements, >air cleaners, masks, and chelation, etc. out of pocket. I've only >been able to work sporadically over the past few decades and usually >don't stay employed for more than a year at a time. I don't know >anything about the "system".Marlena this is something i really understand. I was pregnant when i got ill, had three other kids, had just gone to university a couple years before and had NO insurance. That was 28 yrs ago and all those years I had no insurance. I always had to pay out of pocket. But i learned from my friends who did that it didn't help a lot because insurance typically only covers standard type treatments and doctors and those kind did me, with mcs, no good at all. I can't take any meds and didn't need or want surgery! Now that I'm in canada with universal health care it still does me little good. I've been here almost 10 yrs and have only seen an md. maybe four times and never for cfs or fm or mcs as they don't dx cfs or mcs here in my city and what i need isn't covered. I do on occasion go to a chiropractor when i can afford it> God has been faithful to provide, but I'm wondering how do I find > out what resources are available legally to me...or is that an area > I'd be better off avoiding?if you worked enough prior to illness you might be able to get SSDI. Or, if your family is under a certain income level you might be able to get SSI. I do know people who have gotten either or those with cfs and fm dx but don't know anyone who had just mcs though someone here might.> I'm struggling emotionally with being a financial drain on my > family. I want to work. I've applied to a few places that I knew > were desperate to hire holiday help...and they decided not to hire > me..I'm thinking because I told them I cannot use disinfectant > sprays without becoming very ill. It puts them in fear of being > liable if anything were to happen to me while I'm working for them. But> yet if I don't say anything, then I become too ill to be able to > function to work.Most of us are unable to work a 40 hr week, and some of us can't work at all. We have too many limitations. I can't get any kind of disability and so i have always worked from home doing my own businesses. Currently I have a computer service and repair business and do graphic arts etc too. Even so I can't work enough to support myself and doing this from home against competition in a town with many same kind of businesses who have storefronts when you have no contacts to speak of isn't easy either. Prior to moving here I did architectural design and drafting but lived in a small town where i didn't need to do any advertising to get known.I know it doesn't help the finances to say this but maybe it needs to be said anyway? And that is - we DO work even when it isn't for a paycheck! And we do have worth and value to our families! It is especially urksome to me that we live in a day and age when homemaking and childcare is so devalued that it isn't consider a job or work and when it comes to needing ssdi for instance, we don't count ? Ok that's my soapbox LOL. But seriously even if all one can do is verbally support a spouse and/or child or even a friend for those who aren't married, still that has worth. Some are prayer warriors, some speak uplifting words to those who are hurting. NO ONE i know of who is ill, no matter how ill, has no value! Everyone does.This is one of the hardest things to get across to oneself and accept when you first come to terms with being ill. One of my best friends who is a pastor's wife and I talked about this once upon a time. Even she struggled with feeling like she did nothing, felt guilty about it. She said one of the hardest things for her to learn, even tho she knew it in her head, was that God loves us, not for what we DO ie work, but just because He loves us. Period. !>> The next step I'm thinking of taking is to apply to work for a > home health service. As usual, I'll do what I can until I just > can't anymore and I'll quit. Is there a better way? I mean, how > do other people with disabilities get the help they need? If I > were to need to be a client instead of an employee of the home > health care, how do I get there? There is so much I cannot afford > out of pocket, that I do without, and what we can't do without, we > put on credit until I can get well enough to work to pay it > off. Right now we are $15,000 in the hole and I need a job to pay > it off. How have some of you found help/assistance?>> MarlenaWell be carefull not to push yourself too far! Too many of us here did that, pushed until we dropped flat on our face. Not a good thing to do. (working).We are a 'two of us ill" family. Neither dh or I can hold down a job. He gets a very small disability pension and I get nothing. It is very difficult... and worrisome. I'm sure others here could share stories of struggles too. Unfortunately it's common. I'm too tired at the moment to add some ideas ...but i do know others here can tell you about disability assistance etc too.zona
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10b.
Re: I have a question
Posted by: "writerabc7777" http://us.f374.mail.yahoo.com/ym/Compose?To=writerabc7777@yahoo.com&Subj=writerabc7777
Tue Nov 20, 2007 6:32 am (PST)
Hi Marlena..so very very sorry for all your difficulties.many of us have been faced with similar issues.I have been on government disability since the late 80's.Do you know about Share, Care, Prayer? It is a Christian group thatgives free counseling (over the phone as well) to people withenvironmental illness.Here is their website:http://www.sharecareprayer.org/and here is their address:Share, Care and Prayer, Inc.P. O. Box 2080Frazier Park, CA 93225Perhaps they could give you some guidance.I had to learn a lot of new coping skills and ways of looking at myproblems. I did many things. I did a lot of research, kept askingquestions, etc. etc. etc. until I started getting the information andanswers that I needed.As far as work goes, maybe there are some professional resources thatdescribe various kinds of work from home jobs. I have also heard aboutmedical transcription. I think there is legal transcription as well.Some people have set up businesses through Ebay. I understand thereare various kinds of opportunities. ..As far as navigating the world of medical bills, I think there areways to make progress in that area as well.best of luck to youtake careJon--- In http://us.f374.mail.yahoo.com/ym/Compose?To=CMCS-EI%40yahoogroups.com, M Taylor wrote:>> If all this is for real...and I know it is...what is the next step?I mean my insurance refuses to pay for anything for me it seems. I've been paying for my doctor appointments, my supplements, aircleaners, masks, and chelation, etc. out of pocket. I've only beenable to work sporadically over the past few decades and usually don'tstay employed for more than a year at a time. I don't know anythingabout the "system". God has been faithful to provide, but I'mwondering how do I find out what resources are available legally tome...or is that an area I'd be better off avoiding? I'm strugglingemotionally with being a financial drain on my family. I want towork. I've applied to a few places that I knew were desperate to hireholiday help...and they decided not to hire me..I'm thinking because Itold them I cannot use disinfectant sprays without becoming very ill.It puts them in fear of being liable if anything were to happen to mewhile I'm working for them. But> yet if I don't say anything, then I become too ill to be able tofunction to work. > > The next step I'm thinking of taking is to apply to work for ahome health service. As usual, I'll do what I can until I just can'tanymore and I'll quit. Is there a better way? I mean, how do otherpeople with disabilities get the help they need? If I were to need tobe a client instead of an employee of the home health care, how do Iget there? There is so much I cannot afford out of pocket, that I dowithout, and what we can't do without, we put on credit until I canget well enough to work to pay it off. Right now we are $15,000 inthe hole and I need a job to pay it off. How have some of you foundhelp/assistance? > > Marlena> > > > "And whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not tomen" Colossians 3:23

Environmental Allergies

Allergy/Sensitivity Symptoms


Hay fever, rashes, hives and anaphylactic shock are generally recognized as allergic reactions. However, allergic/sensitive people can have reactions which affect any organ system and which can affect more than one organ system at a time. Thus, they can have a wide variety of ongoing symptoms, and symptoms which come and go. Dr. Theron Randolph taught that the more symptoms a person had, the more likely they had Multiple Chemical Sensitivity.

Most people would connect allergic respiratory symptoms with an inhaled allergen, allergic skin symptoms with a contact allergen, and allergic digestive symptoms with ingested allergens. However, people with injured immune systems can react in any area of the body to an inhaled, touched or ingested allergen. Therefore, a person could touch something and get a digestive problem, or breathe something and get a neurological problem, or eat something and get an eye problem. And everyone is different.

In his book, "Dr. Mandell's 5-Day Allergy Relief System," Marshall Mandell, M.D., lists the following symptoms reproduced in his patients during allergy testing. We recommend that you print this sheet and take some time to read the symptoms. Highlight or underline those that you experience as you read. Then date this sheet and keep it to compare at a later time.
1.
Skin: Itching, burning, flushing, hot flashes, warmth, coldness, tingling, sweating behind neck, hives, blisters, blotches, red spots, pimples.
2.
Ear, nose, throat: Nasal obstruction, sneezing, nasal itching, runny nose, post nasal drip; sore, dry or tickling throat, clearing throat, itching palate, hoarseness, and hacking cough; fullness, ringing or popping of ears, itching deep within ears, earache with red or normal eardrums, intermittent deafness, loss of some tones, sounds much louder, fluid accumulation in middle ear, dizziness, vertigo, and imbalance.
3.
Eye: Blurring, double, or temporary loss of vision; spots before eyes, pain in or behind eyes, watery eyes, excessive tear secretion, crossing of eyes, glare hurts eyes, colors look brighter; eyelids twitching, drooping or swollen; redness and swelling of lids.
4.
Respiratory: Shortness of breath, tightness in chest, not enough air to lungs, wheezing cough, mucus formation in bronchial tubes, rattling sounds and vibration in the chest.
5.
Cardiovascular: Pounding heart, increased heart rate, skipped beats, flushing, hot flashes, pallor; warmth, coldness, tingling, redness or blueness of hands; faintness; pain in front of heart; pain in left arm, shoulder, neck, and jaw traveling down to wrist (pseudo-heart attack pain).
6.
Gastrointestinal: Dryness of mouth, hunger, thirst, increased salivation, canker sores, metallic taste in mouth, stinging tongue, toothache, burping, retasting foods, ulcer symptoms, heartburn, indigestion, infantile colic, nausea, vomiting, swallowing difficulty, abdominal rumbling, constipation, abdominal pain, spastic colitis, "emotional colitis," gall bladder colic, cramps, diarrhea, passing gas, mucus or blood through rectum, itching or burning of rectum or anus.
7.
Genitourinary: Frequent, urgent or painful urination; inability to control bladder; bedwetting; vaginal discharge; itching, swelling, redness or pain in genitals; painful intercourse.
8.
Musculoskeletal: Fatigue, generalized muscle weakness or pain, joint pain, or swelling with local redness, stiffness, joint deformity; arthritis soreness, chest pain, backache, neck muscle spasm, shoulder muscle spasm, generalized spasticity, limping gait, limitation of motion.
9.
Nervous system: Headache, migraine, compulsively sleepy, drowsy, groggy, confused, dizzy, imbalance, staggering gait, slow, sluggish, dull, lack of concentration, depressed, crying; tense, angry, irritable, anxious, panic, stimulated, aggressive, overactive, frightened, restless, manic, hyperactive with learning disability, jittery, convulsions, head feels full or enlarged, floating sensation, poor memory, misreading or reading without comprehension, variation in penmanship legibility, feeling separate or apart from others, amnesia for words, numbers, names; hallucinations, delusions, paranoia, stammering or stuttering; claustrophobia, paralysis, catatonic state, perceptual dysfunction, typical symptoms of mental retardation.

Four Rules for Success

You’ve heard that good manners are better than a good education—so how can you incorporate good etiquette into homeschooling?

As your kids begin their first job or venture to college, it is important that they know how to treat other people, and while these principles are pretty simple, they will help your child be successful at work and at college as well. The principles are simple table and social manners.

4 Rules for Success:
1. Say please and thank you
2. Be on time
3. Keep your word
4. Complete what you start.

I believe these take up Jesus’ Golden Rule, “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.”

The third principle is an obvious one, but I think we can all agree that it is important to remember, and that is to keep our word. Failing to keep our word is kind of like lying, but keeping our word is a sign of integrity. Many times we have good intentions when we make promises but as time goes by, it’s easy to change our minds and try to wiggle our way out of it.
In Proverbs 12:22, the Bibles tells us that “Lying lips are an abomination to the Lord, but those who deal truthfully are his delight.” We should keep our word even if it becomes difficult. An exception would be if what we’ve promised to do conflicts with an emergency or it was wrong to begin with. Then we must make the appropriate appeals to be released. By keeping our promises we demonstrate that we have godly character. Matthew 5:37 says, “Let your yes be yes, and your no be no.”
Those of us who seem to get ourselves into situations where we find we’ve broken our word over and over again, need to recognize this is an issue we need to take to the Lord. But if we keep our word and do what we’ve promised, our kids will see a small but profound difference in their interactions with other people.

Entertaining

Here is an idea for entertaining visiting children indoors:

"I did want to share something I've done that has worked with havingchildren over. Here in Colorado we have lots of too windy, too coldto play outside days, but we still want to have people and children over. To help with this, I keep gallon size zip-lock bags with craftsinside for the kids to grab if they get bored or too loud.

Each bag has instructions for a craft and most of the supplies needed forseveral children to do the craft (they just grab scissors, glue,whatever, from our craft bins). You can then replenish the suppliesas you run low on full bags, reusing the bag and instruction sheets. I keep them in a milk crate on the play area shelf along with an oldplastic mat or shower curtain for the floor .

Ideas: decoupage lightswitch, stained glass tissue pictures, cotton ball animal pictures,bracelets, pipecleaner and bead stars or trees, paper cup maraccas,foam holiday frames or magnets, paper bowl turtles, noodle mosaics,hanging spinning paper snakes. If you order from Oriental TradingCompany at all, you can often pick up a craft kit for 8-10 for verylittle and add this to your bags.

I've found that even the boys often enjoy sitting around a craft for a while, and if it does get messyit's a localized mess that they can easily clean up when done. Usually a craft plus exploring the toys my children have that theydon't have can keep everyone content for several hours."

Bobbi from Heart-N-HomeBooknook@yahoogroups.com

Manners

We were at the table this evening with guests and I realized my children don't have table manners. I aopologized for never teaching them, because I don't have them myself. My idea is to learn one manner a week. I have to research and learn them myself first...so as I learn, I will list them here.

Oxygen Source Without Perscription

Source of Inhaled Oxygen
Posted by: "writerabc7777" writerabc7777@yahoo.com writerabc7777
Fri Nov 16, 2007 12:49 pm (PST)
Source of Inhaled Oxygen without prescription.Don't know exactly if it is MCS safe, but I found the site and thoughtI would share ithttp://www.faceetc. com/SearchResult s.asp?Search= O+%2B+stick& Search.x= 0&Search. y=0

Enzymes

I realize this is an advertisement. I've read a book on enzymes to understand the role they play, and my experience with Reliv lets me know that supplementing with them is beneficial to me. This is a resource recommended in my www.douglasreport.com newsletter. I'll be looking for other sources. I'm already paying approx $12/month for probiotics. This has probiotics included...

Even if you’re taking the very best supplements,
YOUR BODY ISN’T GETTING ALL THE NUTRIENTS IT NEEDS...
That’s right. If you’re not taking a digestive aid with your supplements, you’re throwing away a good portion of your hard-earned money. Because supplements won’t do a lick of good unless they’re absorbed! You need a combination of enzymes, probiotics and prebiotics to help your gut down your supplements and speed them into your bloodstream, where they can go to work. That’s why I developed Ultimate Digestive Support. Not just for growling guts and angry bowels, but for everyone who wants to get the most out of every meal and every nutrient that goes into...and out of...your body. Sound intriguing? Click here to find out more... http://www1.youreletters.com/t/1394154/18043632/834951/1082/