[Note from editor: The “Mastermind Showcase” highlights companies and news from members of the GEM. Today’s showcase: Bluestreak IoT]
BlueStreak IoT optimizes operational processes for commercial business owners and facility managers by adding an intelligence layer to existing products and enabling smart and connected features. It sits at the center of information from sensors, devices, networks, and software that combine to deliver valuable, actionable data and automate functions across retail, hospitality, entertainment, health & fitness, real estate, and other commercial venues. Its services are uniquely positioned to enhance the efficiency and performance of services in commercial real estate, including ScentBridge’s ambient scent delivery, indoor air quality monitoring, clean air as a service, resource utilization, replenishment management and performance compliance.
It works with companies to explore “Smart Products as a Service” opportunities and offers a comprehensive range of services, which includes strategy and IP consulting, hardware and software design, as well as commercialization support.
What we like: Offering differentiated IoT solutions by adding a smart layer to existing operational tools that increases performance and uptime of “Product as a Service” tools while lowering operational costs.
Backpacking and camping are awesome frugal activities. It costs nothing to take a hike. It costs a bit more to camp overnight, but even that can be done inexpensively. While browsing the web for camping stuff, I stumbled upon a great list of frugal suggestions that were originally posted to the Usenet group rec.scouting on 03 December 1994!
According to the original poster:
These low-cost equipment/ideas/fixes for Scouting and camping in general [were] originally found on a F-Net Scouting board and [were] reposted on Fidonet on Nov 11/92 by Steve Simmons. The file evidently originated with BSA Troop 886 in the USA.
This list is HUGE. Here are my favorite ideas:
Channel lock pliers make good pot holders.
Nylon rope can be used as shoe laces.
Use a large zip lock plastic bag, filled with air, as a pillow.
A plastic bottle makes a good latrine for cold weather camping. (You don’t have to ‘go’ very far from your sleeping bag). Keep it just outside the tent flap.
Carry several pieces of lumber cut into two-inch squares to summer camp and use these to level platform, tent, and cot.
Old shower curtains make great ground tarps.
Waterproof matches by dipping them in nail polish.
Waterproof matches by dipping in melted paraffin.
Make fire starters by filling paper condiment cups with saw dust and pouring paraffin into the cup.
A length of chain and a piece of coat hanger bent into an S-shape will allow you to hang your lantern from a tree limb.
Keep batteries in prescription bottles.
Prescription bottles also make good match safes.
In fact, prescription bottles (or 35mm file containers) make good storage places for small items of all sorts.
A frisbee will add support to paper plates when the plate is placed inside the frisbee.
Laundry lint makes good tinder.
Keep the water in your canteen cooler by wrapping the canteen in foil.
When it comes time to pack up at the end of a camp, a wet toothbrush, face cloth and bar of soap wrapped in foil won’t dampen the other things in your kit.
To prevent batteries from wearing down if a flashlight is accidently nudged on while you’re traveling, put the flashlight batteries in backwards.
To protect your feet from blisters, smear soap on the inside of your inner sock at the heel and underneath the toes. Carry along a bar of soap and, when you feel your feet become tender, give it a try.
To keep mosquitoes away rub the inside of an orange peel on face, arms and legs.
Wrap fishing gear in foil to keep line from tangling and hooks from rusting. By lining the compartments of a tackle box with foil, you can prevent rust damage to plugs and other equipment.
To remove musty smell from canteen, put three teaspoons of baking soda into the canteen with a bit of water. Swish it around and let sit for an hour, then rinse out the canteen.
An empty plastic soda bottle, cut off to a convenient height, will work as a camp bowl. You may want to sandpaper the cut to smooth the edge.
Save inner cardboard tubes from kitchen and toilet rolls, stuff with waste paper and use as fire-lighters.
Use zip-lock bags for mixing foods, be sure it is closed tight and the top is held shut before shaking or kneading.
Duct tape can be used to repair most everything on a trip. Use it to patch tents, mend poles, hold up schedules, patch torn shoes, hold poles for mosquito nets to cots, etc.
Here’s a tip I cannot believe I’m sharing in public.
For years I’ve battled dandruff. I mean I’ve had it bad. Recently it’s reached nightmarish proportions — my scalp was like North Dakota in January.
I tried all sorts of remedies. I tried Selsun Blue. I tried Head and Shoulders. I tried Denorex. Nothing worked. I even tried not washing my hair at all. That didn’t help the dandruff and just created the added grossness of greasy hair.
Frustrated, I was ready to make a doctor’s appointment, ready to spend vast sums of money to defeat the dandruff. Then, on a whim, my wife bought me a bottle of baby shampoo. You know the stuff: “tearless”, etc. I was skeptical, but willing to try anything. You know what? It worked!
I’ve been washing my hair with baby shampoo daily for the past two weeks. It hasn’t eliminated the dandruff completely, but it has reduced it dramatically. I mean by an order of magnitude. To levels of normality.
I cannot vouch that baby shampoo will work for everyone, but if you too have a dandruff problem, it cannot hurt to try. It’s an easy and cheap solution. And do me a favor: if you try this, post back here to say whether or not it worked for you.
In the United States, we value our cars. We’ve become a nation of drivers. It rarely occurs to us that walking might be an option, even for short journeys. One-quarter of all automobile trips in the U.S. are less than a mile in length; forty percent are less than two miles (one source of many). Looked at another way: of all trips less than a mile in length, eighty percent are made by car (source).
I know a man who drives to work, even though he lives half a mile from his office. Why does he drive? Because he may need the car for some errand during the day. How many errands did he run during the workday last week? None. The week before? None.
I have a family member who will spend time circling a parking lot, looking for the perfect space. In the time it takes her to find these utopic spots, she could usually have parked farther from the entrance and burned some calories by walking a few hundred feet to the store.
Another friend lives just over a mile from her brother. She never walks to see him, but always drives. Why? Because walking would take too long. (The drive takes five minutes because of the road layout; walking takes less than twenty minutes.)
Walking offers tremendous health benefits. According to the Mayo Clinic, walking can help:
Reduce your risk of heart attack.
Manage your blood pressure.
Reduce your risk of developing diabetes (or help you to manage an existing condition).
Manage your weight.
Manage stress and boost spirits.
(Read more in the Mayo Clinic’s Walking for Fitness guide.)
Many fitness programs encourage a regimen of 10,000 steps per day. When I’m sedentary, I get fewer than 2,000 steps per day. How do I know? I track my progress with a pedometer. They’re cheap and effective. I use this model, which costs less than five bucks. I covet this deluxe model, which costs less than twenty.
But walking doesn’t just help you stay fit. It can also help you achieve other goals:
The average cost of operating a vehicle is 52.2 cents. Walking is free.
A regular walking regimen can take less time than going to the gym. And there are no membership fees.
When I walk to the grocery store, I buy much less. A car effectively gives me unlimited carrying capacity. When I have to haul each item home by hand, I’m much more particular about what I purchase.
Walking helps you become more aware of your surroundings. I see a lot more of my neighborhood when I walk.
The only pollutant you produce when walking is sweat.
Perhaps, like me, you want to walk, but find it easy to rationalize driving. Or you’re procrastinating the start of a fitness program. Or you’re not even sure how to begin. Here are a few ways to make walking easier and more appealing:
Walk with a spouse or friend.
Walk your dog.
Listen to an audiobook.
Count your steps.
Observe the world around you: the plants, the birds, the beasts.
Greet every person you meet. (Yes, this sounds cheesy, but it’s surprisingly fun.)
Have a destination in mind: the coffee stand, the park, a friend’s house.
In time, you may even come to like walking. Perhaps you’ll begin taking the stairs instead of the elevator. Maybe you’ll park farther from the entrance to the mall, your office, the library.
Here’s an excellent guide to starting a walking program. For more on this subject, check Could you walk or bike to more places? at Money and Values.
I am fat, but I am not obese. I do not pause to catch my breath when climbing stairs. I do not avoid hikes or sports for fear of failure. But — no mistake — I am fat. I am far above my normal weight. I carry 205 pounds on a frame built for someone forty pounds lighter. [PDF: Body mass index and health, from the USDA.]
How does this relate to personal finance? Your health is your most important asset. Not your house. Not your car. Not your job. Not your retirement account. These are secondary. Your health is your most important asset. Even someone as young as I am (37) can face serious financial repercussions from being overweight.
According to the USDA, “overweight or obese people are more likely than those at normal weight to have medical problems such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol, stroke, diabetes, and heart disease.” Furthermore:
According to the Centers for Disease Prevention and Control, in 2003-2004, an estimated 66 percent of U.S. adults were overweight or obese, along with 17 percent of children and adolescents. The total annual cost of obesity was an estimated $117 billion in 2000.
Another USDA publication [PDF: “Health Insurance, Obesity, and Its Economic Costs”], breaks down the individual cost of being fat:
The lifetime medical costs related to diabetes, heart disease, high cholesterol, hypertension, and stroke among the obese are $10,000 higher than among the non-obese. Among the overweight, lifetime medical costs can be reduced by $2,200 to $5,300 following a 10-percent reduction in body weight.
Being fat costs money. It costs time. (Overweight people have shorter lifespans.) And it costs mental capital, too. I have experienced these costs in my own life.
Four years ago, I destroyed the ACL in my right knee while playing city-league soccer. I was out of shape and overweight, and my body betrayed me. I spent six months hobbling around, unaware of the injury’s extent. Ultimately, after several doctor’s visits, I had an MRI, surgery, and physical therapy. Even with insurance, this was expensive, especially considering I hadn’t yet wised-up financially. (Cost: roughly $2,000, and a loss of mobility in my right knee.)
Like many who are overweight, I suffer from sleep apnea. Last summer, I spent two nights in a sleep lab. I was given a prescription for a C-PAP machine. (Cost: $734.54, and that damned mask strapped to my face every night for the past year.)
When overweight, I suffer from mild depression. It afflicts my self-esteem and saps my will. (Cost: more mental than financial, thus far.)
Whenever I get heavy, I always join a gym. I pay for a year in advance, go for a couple weeks, and then gradually lose interest. Soon the guilt of having paid hundreds of dollars for a service I am not using becomes overwhelming, which makes matters worse. (Cost: Nothing out-of-pocket — paid by employer. I used to pay $300-$500/year.)
As I get bigger, I’m forced to buy new clothes. My wardrobe increases as I do. I tell myself that I’ll have lots of clothes when I lose the weight, but so far I’m only buying new. (Cost: about $200/year.)
Ultimately I spend more on food to subsidize my fat than I do when I eat healthfully. I’ve never examined the actual costs, but I’m sure all the candy and chips and soda are a steady drain on my funds.
In the past four years, I have paid $4500 because I am fat. And that doesn’t include food.
This post is not a pity party. It is a rallying cry for anyone who is out of shape, who has allowed their physical fitness to lapse. I know many adults who are at a healthy weight but who do not exercise. Just half an hour of exercise every day promotes better fitness. Regular physical activity reduces the risk of cancer and improves self-esteem. Just do it!
If you would like to pursue a course of fitness, here are some helpful tools.
Joe’s Goals, a free online goal tracker.
FitDay, a free web-based diet and weight loss journal. I’ve used this on-and-off for several years. I recommend it.
The book that helped me defeat the fat in 1997 is Realities of Nutrition. It’s fantastic. It doesn’t try to convince you one diet is better than another. It lays out the facts about nutrition. It describes what carbohydrates are, what fat is, what protein is, and explains how they work in concert to give the body energy.
The 29 healthiest foods on the planet
The world’s healthiest foods
When I stood on the scales on the evening of 07 May 1997, I was horrified. I weighed 200 pounds. I was 28 years old. How had I grown so heavy? I steeled my mind. Over the course of the next six months, I dedicated myself to eating healthy and exercising daily. I lost 42 pounds before falling off the wagon on Halloween night. Despite continued battles with food, for two years I remained fit. But then the weight came back.
I am ready to lose it again.
Extra Weight, Higher Costs
I’ve been working with Lauren Muney, a wellness coach (about which more later). This morning, Muney sent me a New York Times article by Damon Darlin which describes how extra weight leads to higher costs.
Being fat costs money — tens of thousands of dollars over a lifetime. Heavy people do not spend more than normal-size people on food, but their life insurance premiums are two to four times as large. They can expect higher medical expenses, and they tend to make less money and accumulate less wealth in their shortened lifetimes. They can have a harder time being hired, and then a harder time winning plum assignments and promotions.
Darlin’s article does a great job of summarizing the financial impact of being overweight. It’s these financial costs (resulting from health problems) that most worry me about being fat. Many find fat people unattractive, but I’m not one of them: I was raised in a family where fat was the norm, and it does not bother me. But the health risks and the associated costs do bother me.
For example, Darlin cites a study from the University of Wisconsin which demonstrated that by supersizing a fast-food order (at an average cost of 67 cents) leads to $6.64 in future medical costs for an obese man, and $3.46 in future medical costs for an obese woman. Super-sizing does not save money.
Many people do find the overweight unattractive, and consciously or not, they treat them differently. There is a social cost to being fat. (More here.) Studies have repeatedly demonstrated that “weight bias”, discrimination against the obese, is at least as strong as race bias. (The article points to Harvard University’s Implicit Association Test, where you can check your own internal biases.)
Studies have also demonstrated that there’s a direct correlation between obesity and net worth. The heavier the person, the less they earn. My initial reaction is that it’s impossible to determine which is the cause and which is the effect — does obesity lead to low net worth, or does low net worth lead to obesity? — but apparently this is a known problem with the research. Regardless, significant weight loss can lead to an increase in wealth.
A baby boomer whose [Body Mass Index (B.M.I.)] drops from 27.5, the middle of the overweight category, to 21.7, the middle of the normal category, sees an increase in wealth of $4,085.
Since first writing about my weight problem in October, I’ve made tremendous progress. This is largely due to Muney, a reader of this site. She wrote that because I had helped her make progress on her wealth, she’d like to help me make progress on my health. After working with her for a month, the results have been outstanding. I’ve lost weight. But more than that I feel great: my physical and mental well-being are the best they’ve been in years.
I look forward to continued progress, and to removing myself from the risks and costs associated with obesity. Right now, I’m going for a walk!
Three months ago I wrote about the high cost of being fat. I had spent $4500 over four years because of my weight. The problem wasn’t just costing me money — it had caused sleep apnea, a torn ACL, and mild depression, three conditions which eroded my quality of life.
Then a reader issued a challenge. Lauren Muney wrote to provide her services as a wellness coach free for one month: “I’m offering this to you because I’ve been reading your blog daily and I want to give back,” she said. She continued:
Most people think that coaching is bull. It’s amazing how much money people will spend on diet books, fad equipment, diet pills, and the like — and never budge an inch. I just talk to my clients. They drop 10, 20, even more pounds of weight, plus they retain the weight loss and make life changes they never thought possible. But it is they who do the work and they who take the glory. I know you understand the value of getting rich slowly but carefully. It’s the same with fitness and lifestyle changes — the good stuff is slow, but it sticks.
For years I’ve complained about being fat. People are sympathetic, but nobody had ever laid it on the line like this before. It felt strange. Lauren was offering to help me, but only if I were willing to take responsibility for my actions. I was scared. I realized that an impartial third-party — an expert third party — was exactly the sort of motivation I needed to succeed. (I’ve always worked best under supervision.) I decided I’d be a fool to refuse her offer.
Lauren had me begin by keeping track of everything I ate. (This is similar to my admonition to track everything you spend.) I knew my diet was poor, but I never realized how poor until I began to keep a food journal: donuts for breakfast, candy bars for lunch, Safeway Chinese food for dinner. I recorded everything in gory detail. After Lauren looked at the data, we spent an hour by phone discussing my habits, exploring ways I could change them. Among other steps, she had me:
Eliminate excess sugar. It was clear that I’d become a sugar junkie. Eating donuts and candy bars and sucking down soda was giving me more refined sugar than my body could handle.
Reduce alcohol consumption. I’d been having a drink or two most nights. On Lauren’s advice, I cut back to almost nothing. (I still have a drink at parties or on special occasions.)
Reduce caffeine consumption. So long, soda. So long, tea. I used to be a Diet Pepsi junkie. I had a weakness lapsang souchong. Now caffeine is a rarity.
Eliminate processed foods. Most of my meals were from one of two food groups: canned or frozen. Canned soup, canned chili, canned pasta, canned vegetables. Frozen pizza, frozen lasagna, frozen chicken patties, frozen fish. Lauren had me purge processed foods from the house. (This was difficult for a frugal person like me — each discarded TV dinner was like throwing away money.)
Introduce whole foods into my diet. I’ve always struggled to eat enough fruits and vegetables. Even with this program, I’m not getting as much as I should, but I’ve gone from eating a couple a week to eating a couple a day. That’s a huge improvement.
Drink water. Humans are ugly bags of mostly water. I wasn’t getting enough of it. By drinking more water, my hunger subsided.
Eat balanced meals. Lauren emphasized the importance of having a protein, a carbohydrate, and a fat with every meal. I thought this change would be pointless, but have been surprised at how effective it has been at satisfying my hunger.
Exercise portion control. I have a natural tendency to eat huge portions. Lauren coached me to reduce my portion sizes so that I’m not overeating.
Lauren’s advice wasn’t all about food, though. She stressed the importance of physical activity. She had me do the following:
Obtain a complete physical. We were particularly curious if I showed signs of diabetes. (My addiction to sugar, and my reaction to it, are worrying.) I don’t. My cholesterol is borderline, but other than that things look fine.
Buy a pair of running shoes. I’d been walking and jogging in a pair of fashionable sneakers. Lauren had me actually get fitted for shoes that matched my stride.
Meet with a running expert. I made an appointment with the owner of the running store. He spent time demonstrating proper form, showing me how to improve my stride.
Practice mindfulness. A lot of my behavior was reflexive. I was just eating whatever I felt like, or whatever was in front of me. Lauren urged me to slow down, to question my actions.
Over the course of one month Lauren and I spoke weekly about my progress. During each session she praised my success and helped me to learn from my failures. After each conversation, she drafted an e-mail that summarized the goals we’d set for the coming week. This process worked wonders.
Lauren helped me see the barriers I had created: “I can’t eat breakfast because I don’t have time”, “I need to eat all of the leftovers”, “It’s too cold and wet to exercise”. These barriers still exist, but now I recognize them for what they are. And I’ve learned something: 80% of wellness is mental. Just as with personal finance, physical fitness is about overcoming mental barriers.
I learned not to bring temptations into the house. I’m good about saying “no” to the big things — a package of cookies at the grocery store — but I’m terrible at saying “no” to the little things. A single cookie at home becomes two, which becomes three, which becomes an entire plate. I have the discipline to resist an entire package of cookies, but not to resist them individually, so I keep them out of the house completely.
I’ve stuck to the plan for three months now. I had a ten-day lapse around Christmas — all the cookies from friends were too much to resist — and I need to ramp up my exercise, but things are going well. I’ve lost thirteen pounds. I have more energy. I’m not foggy-headed from sugar. Best of all, I’m no longer suffering from the depression that has dogged me for the past two years.
I couldn’t have done this without the help of a wellness coach. Because Lauren exists outside my daily life, outside my family, outside my circle of friends, she’s able to point out problems without the baggage of other relationships. There’s still a lot of work to be done. In early March, when spring begins to peek its head through the Oregon rain, I’ll contact Lauren to set up another month of coaching, but this time as a paying customer!
As the proprietor of Physical Mind, Lauren Muney specializes in lifestyle improvement and increasing human performance for personal, professional, and business endeavors. She’s also a crack whip artist! And a fire-eater!
This is a guest post by Mehdi, author of StrongLifts.com. If you enjoy this post, check out his site.
Eating healthy is important.
Eating healthy:
Lowers disease risks
Increases productivity
Gives you more energy
Makes you stronger
You probably think eating healthy is expensive. I’ll be honest — it is. But there are tricks to spare your savings account and keep it low cost. Here are sixteen ways to eat more healthy while keeping it cheap.
What is Healthy Food? Before we start, let’s define healthy food. It consists of:
Protein. The building blocks of muscles, needed for strength.
Fat. A balanced intake of omega 3, 6 & 9.
Veggies. All kinds, especially green fibrous veggies.
Fruit. Full of vitamins.
Water. 1 liter per 1000 calories you expend.
Whole grain food. Oats, rice, pasta, breads, …
On with the tips.
1. Switch to Water. I drank huge amounts of soda daily for more than 15 years. Then I started Strength Training and switched to water:
It’s healthier
It’s cheaper
Quit the soda & drink water. Take a bottle wherever you go.
2. Consume Tap Water. Check the price of water on your tap water bill. Now check the price of bottled water. Quit a difference, isn’t it? So why are you buying bottled water?
Cleaner? Not necessarily.
Better taste? No, simply a matter of Adaptation.
Bottled water companies get their supply from the same source you do: municipal water systems. It’s like selling ice to Eskimos. If you don’t trust the quality of tap water, filter it yourself. I use a Brita Pitcher. One $7 filter cleans 40 gallons water.
3. Eat Eggs. I always have eggs at breakfast:
Full of vitamins
High in proteins
Low in price
Don’t believe the Eggs & Cholesterol myth. Dietary cholesterol is not bound to blood cholesterol. Want to make it cheaper? Buy a chicken.
4. Eat Fatty Meats. Fatty meats are cheaper & more tasty than lean meats. You think it’s not healthy? Check the Fat Myths:
Fat doesn’t make you fat, excess calories do
You need a balanced intake of fats: omega 3, 6 & 9
I’m on the Anabolic Diet, I buy beef chuck instead of sirloin.
5. Get Whey. The cheapest source of protein. 70$ for a 10lbs bag lasting 4 months. Nothing beats that. Use whey in your Post Workout Shake to help recovery.
6. Tuna Cans. Canned tuna is cheap & contains as much protein as meat. Alternate tuna with eggs, meat & whey. You’ll easily get to your daily amount of protein.
7. Buy Frozen Veggies. I mostly buy frozen veggies:
Take less time to prepare
You don’t waste money if not eaten in time
Can be bought in bulk for discounts & stored in your freezer
If you can afford fresh veggies, then do it. I go frozen.
8. Use a Multivitamin. Pesticides lower the vitamin levels of your fruits & veggies. Two solutions:
Buy organic food. Expensive.
Use a multivitamin. $10 a month.
Choose what fits your wallet best. I take the multivitamin.
9. Fish Oil. Omega-3 is found in fish oil. Benefits of omega-3 consumption include:
Lowered cholesterol levels
Decreased body fat
Reduced inflammation
You need to eat fatty fish 3 times a week to get these benefits. Time consuming & expensive, I know. Try Carlson‘s Liquid Fish Oil with Lemon flavor. One teaspoon daily. You’ll be ok.
10. Buy Generic Food. The box might be less attractive, it’s certainly more attractive to your wallet. Brand-name food will always be more expensive. You’re paying for the name. Get real. Food is food. Go generic.
11. Buy in Bulk. Think long-term. Buying in bulk is more expensive at the cashier, but cheaper in the long run:
Gets you discounts
Saves time
Saves car fuel
Invest in a big freezer. Buy meats & veggies in bulk and freeze them.
12. Go to One Grocery Store. This grocery store is cheaper for meat, that grocery store is cheaper for veggies, the other grocery store is cheaper for fish… How many grocery stores are you going to, trying to find the cheapest food? Think!
Time is money. Stop losing a day shopping.
Cars don’t run on water. Lower your fuel expenses.
I get all my food in a big grocery store near my place. It hasn’t the cheapest price for all foods, but it saves me time & fuel.
13. Make a Plan. A classic, but worth repeating. Everything starts with a plan.
Make a list of what you need
Eat a solid meal, don’t go hungry
Go the grocery, get what’s on your list & get out
No need to take your partner or kids with you. This is not a recreational activity. Just get your food & get back home.
14. Take Food To Work. Ever counted how much money you throw away buying food at work daily? Start preparing your food for the day on waking up:
Get up earlier
Eat a solid breakfast (like Scrambled Eggs)
Prepare your food for work in the meanwhile
Total time 30 minutes. No stress during the day about what you’ll be eating & you get healthy food while sparing money.
15. Eat Less. This one is obvious. The less you eat, the lower your grocery bill. If you’re overweight, get on a diet. Your health & bank account will thank you.
16. Don’t Buy Junk Food. The last one. Stop buying anything that comes out of a box, it’s:
Unhealthy
Expensive
If you actually find junk food that is cheaper than whole food, think long-term. Health implications.
Mehdi is author of StrongLifts.com , a blog about Strength Training, nutrition, lifestyle & attitude. His articles include the Anabolic Diet & the Beginner Strength Training Program. Join him at StrongLifts.com for the fascinating journey toward more strength, bigger muscles, low body fat & a better health.
Inside: Looking for the best care packages for college students? Look no further! This guide will teach you everything you need to know about choosing the right gifts and packing a care package that will make your student feel at home during their time away.
It’s that time of year again! Time to send your college student a care package. But what should you include?
We’ve got you covered with this comprehensive list of the best care packages for college students.
From food and snacks to study aids and dorm decor, we’ve got ideas for every type of student.
This year, I seem to know so many parents sending off their college students.
So whether your child is homesick or just needs a little pick-me-up, check out our list of the best care packages for college students.
What is a Care Package?
A care package is a heartfelt bundle filled with handpicked items, designed to uplift the spirits of the recipient.
A care package for a college student is a curated box filled with various items such as food, products, or novelty items, tailored to their interests, to remind them they’re loved and provide them with needed or desired items while they’re away from home.
Nonetheless, a care package can be a wonderful surprise!
What goes in a care package for a college student?
Who says that college life has to be tough?
Show your college-bound kid you’re thinking of them with an amazing care package! Here’s how:
Pamper them with toiletries like soap, body scrub, or dry shampoo. It’s practicality meeting indulgence.
Include favorite snacks like popcorn, pretzels, candies, chips, or nuts—because nothing beats study stress like mouthfuls of favorite munchies!
Throw in souvenirs from your hometown because nostalgia is a comfort blanket away from home.
Don’t forget a gift card or two. It’s the little ticket to a happy spree when the budget runs low.
And finally, a heartfelt, handwritten note to remind them they’re loved, even from miles away.
In every box, you’re not just bringing joy to your college kid, you’re sending them love and comfort!
Why Send A Care Package To A College Student?
1. A Gift of Sustenance and Comfort 2. A Way to Express Love and Support 3. A Means to Introduce New Things 4. A Way to Help College Students Cope with Stress 5. A Resource for Essential Kitchen Items 6. A Means to Stay Connected 7. A Way to Provide a Mood Booster 8. A Tool to Help College Students Transition into Life Indoors 9. A Way to Give Money 10. A Gift That Can Help College Students Get Ahead
What are some care package ideas?
Care packages are personalized boxes filled with essentials, comforting items, or little luxuries that can offer solace, promote self-care, or give a delightful surprise.
Here are some ideas to get the creative juices flowing!
Imagine delivering a box packed with their favorite homemade goodies, essential school supplies, novel books, or even a themed package for that upcoming stressful finals week or just because!
Unbox this opportunity and read on to discover unique ideas for designing amazing care packages. Excite a college student today with this heartfelt gesture!
This post may contain affiliate links, which helps us to continue providing relevant content and we receive a small commission at no cost to you. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. Please read the full disclosure here.
What item should every care package include?
Creating a care package can be a delightful way to demonstrate your care and thoughtfulness. It combines a mixture of practical items, fun surprises, and often much-needed essentials.
What goes into each package can vary greatly, but a gift card is always a must!
Care Packages Themes for College Students
Choosing a theme for a care package can help streamline the process and reduce the stress of deciding what to include.
Themes could be traditional, humorous, or catered towards particular interests or events, such as a holiday-themed box, an orange-colored items package to signify the end of exams or a coffee-themed care package for those who love a good brew.
Regardless of the theme, here are a few items that should ideally be included in every care package:
Self-Care Items: These can include items like face masks or beauty products, scented candles, and relaxing bath products, among others. They offer the recipient the luxury of self-pampering.
Comfort Items: Usually, soft items such as socks, blankets, or even simple things like their favorite tea or coffee can provide comfort.
Snacks & Treats: These are a must-have. Include their favorite bites or homemade goods if possible.
Drinks: Depending on the recipient’s preference, you can include a variety of drinks, like coffee, tea, or hot chocolate.
Fun Things: Small games, coloring books, or novels can serve to reduce stress and provide entertainment.
Personal Care: Essential items such as toiletries or grooming products are always useful.
Cleaning Supplies: Especially for those away from home, cleaning supplies can be handy.
School Supplies or Work Essentials: Depending on the recipient’s needs, this could include notebooks, pens, sticky notes, etc.
Personal Safety Devices: Consider adding items like a mini first aid kit, a personal alarm, or a safety whistle.
Other Useful Things: Depending on the recipient’s interests, you could add items like a new book, a special photo, study aids, or sports gear.
Regardless of what you choose to include, the most important aspect of a care package is that it conveys love and care to the recipient.
Make sure you time sending your package well, and learn what time do Amazon packages arrive.
Best Care Packages for College Students
College students, often away from home for the first time, can sometimes struggle with homesickness or stress.
One of the most cherished remedies for these feelings is a thoughtful care package from home. It is an amazing way to remind them they’re loved and missed, bridging the gap between home and school.
But what really makes the best care package?
One that aligns with their interests, meets their fundamental needs and contains a surprise or two for fun.
A care package can boost their morale, make them feel less homesick, and get them through challenging times. It’s not just about what’s in the package, it’s about the thought and care that goes into it.
Here is a list to fill your care package with:
Food & Drinks:
1. Snacks: College students need fuel for their late-night study sessions. A variety of healthy snacks can give them that energy boost they need.
2. Instant coffee or tea bags: For caffeinated moments without needing to leave their dorm room.
3. Homemade Cookies or Baked Goods: Nothing says ‘care’ like homemade treats.
4. Specialty Coffees: For the coffee-lover student. Because it serves as an essential tool for late-night study sessions, helping students remain awake and energized.
5. Spirulina Powder: A superfood that’s great for a health boost.
6. Granola Bars or Oatmeal: Quick and easy to make, these are ideal for those mornings when students are running late for their classes.
7. Sugar-free chewing gum: Helps to maintain focus while studying.
8. Recipe Books: For the college student who needs help learning to cook. Even better create your own digital recipe book to pass along your family favorites!
9. Water Bottle: A reusable water bottle serves both as a health and environment-friendly gift.
10. English Breakfast Tea: This can provide a comforting, hot beverage that is easy to make in a dorm room. This electric tea kettle would be a special treat!
11. Hot Sauce: A versatile condiment like hot sauce can spice up drab, repetitive cafeteria meals.
12. Snacks & Munchies: Items like popcorn and pretzels are perfect for late-night cravings or for sharing with roommates.
13. Treats: Candies, chips, cookies, marshmallows, and nuts give students a sweet or savory option for a quick snack between classes.
14. Healthy items: Vitamins are great to keep students healthy, especially during finals when stress levels are high and sleep is compromised.
15. Fondue Set: A fun treat and a good reason to invite friends over.
Besides these food items, it would also be wonderful to include a few gift cards for local eateries or popular chains like Starbucks to give students the chance to have a meal or two outside the college cafeteria.
Self Care & Pampering:
16. Facial Masks: A fun and relaxing self-care item.
17. Natural Skin Care Products: To ensure their skin stays healthy too.
18. Cozy blanket: For those chilly nights in the dorm.
19. Candles: especially battery-powered ones, offer a relaxing ambiance without posing a potential fire hazard, making them ideal for dorms.
20. Spa Items: Think along the lines of bath bombs, Epsom salts, body lotion
21. Sheet Masks: this popular DIY spa at-home item is a must!
22. Essential Oils: These are needed as they offer a calming and uplifting aroma that can alleviate stress and contribute to an overall sense of well-being, especially in high-stress environments like colleges or workplaces.
23. Nail Care Kit: specifically items to do gel manicures at home. This is something I love to do myself!
24. Sleep Mask: To ensure a good night’s sleep.
25. Cute or neutral cozy socks: Socks provide warmth and comfort, helping individuals relax after a long day of classes or studying.
26. Shower Massager: A shower massager can provide much-needed stress relief after a day filled with classes, activities, and studying.
27. Scalp Massager: This can be an excellent tool for relaxation and stress relief, making it a perfect inclusion for a college beginning or the exam period.
28. Mini First Aid Kit: Every student should have a basic first aid kit.
To Get Moving (Health & Fitness):
29. Sports Equipment: For some physical activity.
30. Bluetooth Speaker: For listening to music or watching movies with friends.
31. Yoga Mat: It’s crucial to note that a yoga mat plays a significant role in providing comfort, reducing injury, and enhancing concentration during workouts.
32. Running Shoes: Running is one of the easiest ways to stay active. Or maybe to replace an old set of shoes.
33. Fitness resistance bands: These bands are perfect for incorporating into a student’s fitness routine, keeping them in shape even with their busy schedule.
Artsy Or Creative:
34. Coloring Book and Colored Pencils: A relaxing way to take study breaks. Or try this backward coloring book.
35. Colored Pencils: These complement the coloring books perfectly.
36. Notebooks and Stationary: Artists and writers would appreciate sets of beautiful stationery.
37. Origami Paper: tap into their creativity by providing a relaxing and enjoyable pastime that can help alleviate the stresses of academic life.
38. DIY Crafts: Handmade items for a personal touch.
39. Art Supplies: If they have an artistic side, new supplies can help fuel their creativity.
Mindfulness:
40. Stress Balls: Perfect for stressful exam periods. These are my favorite item on my desk!
41. Letters or Notes of Encouragement: Personal notes to show your love and support.
42. A Self-Care Journal: Helps to promote mindfulness and wellbeing.
43. An Inspirational Book: Can provide motivation and comfort.
44. Fidget Toy: Great for stress relief and concentration.
45. A calming lavender scented candle: This can help create a soothing environment, perfect for stress relief after a long day of lectures.
46. Zen Garden: This mini-sandbox can foster a bit of creativity and provide a mindless distraction from overwhelming studies.
47. Meditation guidebook: This can introduce a beginner to effective meditation techniques and potential benefits for mindfulness.
48. Affirmation cards: Daily positivity prompts can boost mood, and encourage a positive mindset.
49. White noise machine: This can provide calming background noise, assisting in good quality sleep and fostering mental well-being.
50. Weighted blanket: Proven to stimulate serotonin production, this blanket can increase feelings of calm and aid in better sleep.
51. Gratitude journal: This promotes the daily practice of noting down things one is grateful for, fostering a positive mindset, and reducing stress.
52. Mini Buddha Board: With this, they can paint with water and watch it slowly evaporate, reminding them of the impermanence of life’s stressors.
For School:
53. Portable Charger: No student wants to run out of battery while on the go.
54. Noise-Canceling Headphones: A fantastic tool that can help students study in peace, even in a noisy dorm.
55. iPhone/Android Charging Cord: An extra charging cord can be a lifesaver for busy students.
56. Planner: Helps students keep track of their assignments and plans. Don’t forget these planner stickers.
57. USB Flash Drive: For backing up important assignments and projects.
58. Study Supplies: Flashcards, highlighters, sticky notes, and more.
59. Stickers: These can be used to decorate their laptops, notebooks, or other personal items, adding a fun and creative element.
For Fun:
60. Birthday decorations: For a surprise birthday celebration.
61. Flying Butterflies out of the Box: This is one of my favorites! The butterflies fly out of the box when opened! Very easy to set up too.
62. Movie Night Pack: A collection of films, popcorn, and candy for a sweet night in.
63. Mini Board Games: Something fun they can do during their free time.
64. Board Game or Playing Cards: Fun games to play with friends during downtime.
65. Funny Socks: Just to put a smile on their faces.
66. “Orange you glad exams are almost over?” care package: A box full of orange-colored items will not only be visually striking but will also offer a light-hearted joke to help reduce exam stress.
To Help Their Budget:
67. Wallet or Money Clip: To keep their money and ID safe.
68. Budget Binder: make sure they are starting out right! Here are the best budget binders.
69. Laundry Detergent Pods: This easy-to-carry, mess-free laundry solution is perfect for college students.
70. Hygiene Products: Essential toiletries like toothpaste, soap, shampoo, and conditioner can save them a trip to the store.
71. Extra set of Sheets: Comes in handy during laundry day.
72. Prepaid Visa Gift Cards: These can be for anything from their favorite stores, food places or for movie tickets.
73. CASH: Check out these money gift ideas on ways to package it.
74. Money Cake with Cake: These are extremely popular with the recipient.
Maybe it is a good reminder for them to find remote jobs for college students.
Nostalgia:
75. A DIY Scrapbook: A place to store all of your pictures and mementos.
76. Stuffed Animal: For comforting cuddles on lonely nights.
77. Postcards from Home: Reminds them of their roots while away.
78. Cute photo frames: For them to display their favorite memories.
79. Personalized Keychain: To carry a piece of home with them at all times.
How to Choose the Right Care Package for a College Student
Transitioning to college life is notoriously challenging for students.
Tackling the academic load, juggling social responsibilities, and handling homesickness can be overwhelming. That’s where a thoughtful care package comes in as a ray of hope, bringing a taste of home, a load of love, and a boost of morale.
While choosing the ideal care package, consider these critical attributes:
Personalization: Pick items aligning with their tastes and interests. The more personal, the more cherished.
Versatility: Include a variety of items, from fun snacks to useful goods. Variety is the spice of life.
Affordability: There’s no need for a high budget. Thoughtfulness doesn’t need to be expensive.
Thematic elements: Consider packages focused on upcoming holidays or exam seasons for added relevance. The more timely, the more needed.
Convenience: Prioritize products that save your student time and energy. The simpler, the better.
Remember, these packages are powerful messages of love and support. Choose wisely.
When to Send Care Packages for College Students
One of the most fitting times to send a college student a care package is at the beginning of the freshman year when they are trying to adjust to their new environment.
However, these thoughtful packages can be sent at any time throughout their college journey to remind them that they are missed and cared for back home.
Fall
Thanksgiving
Christmas
Valentine’s Day
Easter
Finals
Birthday
Or any other holiday!
Especially during stressful periods, like exam season, a care package can be a well-appreciated and timely morale booster.
Tips for Sending a Care Package to a College Student
1. Consider the Student’s Needs
Do you puzzle over what to put in a care package for your college student? You’re not alone.
Many parents struggle with creating a meaningful gift that caters to their child’s actual needs.
The key is convenience and usefulness—factors often overlooked in the thrill of care package creation. Let’s transform your approach.
Tailoring your package to their needs ensures your thoughtful gift becomes a practical blessing in their hectic college life.
2. Consider the Budget
Overspending on care packages for your college student can shock your wallet. Just like trying to figure out how much to give for high school graduation.
The wrong box size could lead to needless extras and unexpectedly high shipping costs. Thankfully, you can easily drop ship the items with Amazon Prime.
Also, think about how many times per year you plan to send a care package. That way you can spread out the fun throughout the year.
This is especially true if you want to know how to pay for college without loans.
3. Email or Call the Student to Find Out What They Need
Don’t risk sending unneeded items to your college student that end up wasting space and money.
Imagine the disappointment when they open the package to find redundant or unnecessary supplies.
But there’s an easy fix! Before assembling a care package, make a quick call or send an email asking what they actually need. This simple step ensures your thoughtful gesture aligns perfectly with their requirements.
Remember, it’s about sending useful items that your student appreciates and utilizes – making your effort truly count!
FAQ
Feeling homesick is a common challenge for many college students. Their new environment can seem excitingly novel but also distressingly foreign. But you can help alleviate this uncomfortable feeling by sending thoughtful, comforting care packages.
Snacks from Home: Local snacks can evoke a sense of nostalgia, making them feel closer to home.
Personal Mementos: Tokens like pictures of family, posters of hometown landscapes, or preserved local flowers help create a familiar space in their dormitory.
Money: An unexpected cash bonus is not just practical, but also a mood booster. Who doesn’t love a surprise windfall?
Heartfelt Note/Card: A message of love and encouragement can provide emotional resiliency in distressing times.
Remember, your care packages remind them that they’re loved and thought of, even miles away.
Sending care packages to college students is a thoughtful gesture that can be done at any frequency you prefer.
For example, once a quarter might be a good rule to ensure your student receives regular reminders of your love and support.
Supplements around finals, or during difficult times, are always appreciated. Feel free to adjust the frequency based on your student’s needs and preferences.
Sending a college girl a care package is a great way to remind her of home and boost her spirits. And typically, girls want fun things specific to them.
Here are the top 5 items to include:
Hair Accessories: Such as colorful hair ties or headbands to add a fun touch to her looks.
Socks: Choose cozy and cute ones, they’ll be perfect for chilly dorm nights.
Lip Balm: This is essential for avoiding chapped lips, consider tinted options for a dual-purpose product.
Fun Study Supplies: Including unique pens or sticky notes as they can make studying a bit more entertaining.
Face Masks: They offer a chance for self-care and relaxation, especially for those stress-induced skin flare-ups.
Time to Pack Those College Care Packages!
Transitioning to college life can be both exciting and overwhelming. Often, college students find themselves daunted by academic rigors, social pressure, and the unique environment of living away from home.
But what if there was a simple way to overcome these challenges?
Enter: the care package.
With a little bit of planning, you can easily put together a care package that will make your student smile.
So what are you waiting for? Get started today!
Know someone else that needs this, too? Then, please share!!
This is a guest post from Shiva, who wrote to offer some advice on how to shop for prescription medicine: don’t assume that the new new stuff is better!
I am a general internist — a physician who provides primary care to adult patients — and am on the faculty of a medical school, where I teach medical students and residents. One of my interests is the excess marketing and use of expensive yet marginally effective prescription drugs.
I have found in clinical practice that the most effective medications tend to actually be “tried and true” ones approved over ten years ago with thousands of patient years of post marketing safety and efficacy data available. Rarely is the latest the greatest.
Unfortunately (this is hard for me to admit), my profession has been overrun by the pharmaceutical industry — you are very likely to be prescribed expensive brand name medications that are no more effective (in some cases less effective and/or less safe) than older, cheaper, and more thoroughly studied medications.
Here are two websites I recently found from Consumer Reports and Public Citizen that summarize the costs and benefits of various drugs prescribed for common conditions. They do it better than most reviews in the medical literature:
Consumer Reports Best Buy Drugs — “Free guidance for consumers on prescription medications.”
worstpills.org — “Your expert, independent second opinion for prescription drug information.”
While physicians should be looking out for their patients regarding out-of-pocket costs, the reality is most physicians don’t even know ball-park prices of the medications we prescribe.
Given the underinsured status of many Americans — especially related to pharmacy benefits — meeting your doctor armed with information about the relative cost-effectiveness of the drugs for your condition is essential for both your physical and financial health. And in terms of drug advertising, I recommend ignoring the magazine, newspaper, and television ads. We can all become “branded” within the blink of an eye. Don’t let the flashy advertising dollars sell you on what’s best for your health.
Remember: Check for coupons and rebates before having your prescriptions filled.
In America’s current healthcare system, in most cases, you’re better off with the crowd. Usually, that crowd is your employer or a government pool like Medicare or Medicaid. But sometimes, due to choices you make, or circumstances you can’t control, you end up on your own, with full responsibility for your healthcare expenses. Here are some circumstances under which you might end up needing to seek affordable individual health insurance:
You lose (or quit) your job.
You have insurance through your spouse or partner, and they lose or quit their job.
Your employer or your spouse’s stops offering insurance for you or your family.
You change jobs, and your new employer has a waiting period before you become eligible for coverage.
You take early retirement.
In some other circumstances, you may have the option to participate in group medical insurance, but it’s not in your financial interest to do so.
You are young and healthy, but your employer group has a lot of older, sicker people in it, and your employer makes you bear much of the premium cost for either yourself or your dependents. Keep in mind that if you find yourself in this situation and you opt for your own insurance, you help yourself, but also make it harder for your employer and your co-workers to afford coverage.
The group plan you are eligible to participate in doesn’t meet your needs. For example, it does not cover doctors or hospitals where you live, or it does not cover particular health condition that you have or are at risk for, or the plan offers richer benefits than you want to pay for.
In any event, if you are shopping for individual health insurance, you need to keep in mind several important things.
Initial considerations First of all, if you’re choosing to voluntarily switch from group to individual coverage, you need to carefully consider what you’re giving up: government protection from discrimination by insurance companies.
In the group insurance market, the government prohibits discrimination against people by age or health condition. Your employer can’t legally charge you more in premium, deny you coverage, or offer you a reduced benefit plan because you’re sick. In the individual market, insurance companies put you through a process called, “underwriting,” which means they’ll only offer you coverage if they think they’ll get more from you in premium than they’ll pay in claims.
You can look at it as a gamble — the insurance company is betting that you’ll stay healthy (if it’s not a good bet they’ll deny you coverage); you’re betting that you’ll get sick and need healthcare. Underwriting helps them detect if you’re trying to “game the system,” by looking for insurance while you’re expecting big medical bills.
The side effect of this is that older or less healthy individuals end up paying higher premiums, and can even have trouble obtaining any coverage at all. So the game is very different if you’re a 50-year-old female who smokes and suffers from diabetes (you can pretty much forget about getting commercial insurance) than if you’re a 25-year-old male with no previous health problems (companies will be lining up to offer you coverage).
This is one of the wonders of America’s healthcare system — those who need coverage the most are least able to obtain it. It’s also the Achilles heel of presidential candidate John McCain’s health reform proposal — his plans would drive more people into the individual insurance market without adequately addressing this issue. (The Democrats’ plans have problems of their own.)
Shopping for insurance But right now, you’re not trying to solve the nation’s health care crisis, you’re just trying to take care of yourself. Here are some things to consider as you shop.
How much risk can you accept? If you can handle a higher deductible, you will save on premiums, and if you stay healthy, you get to keep the money.
How much premium can you afford? In individual health, you have to keep paying the premium, or you are no longer covered.
How able are you to save? If you have trouble saving, you will want a lower deductible, or you’ll need to have an emergency fund so that a surprise medical bill doesn’t put you in financial trouble.
How important is choosing your provider? If you want more choice of providers (doctors and hospitals) and treatments, you’ll want to make sure your doctors are in the insurance plan’s network. If saving on premium is the most important, you may want to consider an HMO. HMOs can provide excellent care at a low cost—they often do a better job at coordinating care than other carriers. But if you disagree with the HMO’s decisions about your treatment plan, you might end up unable to get the treatment you want. (There’s also some risk of that with other carriers).
Is having coverage for alternative or complimentary medicine (such as massage, chiropractic and acupuncture) important you you? Is it covered? Subject to what limitations? If coverage for these services is optional in your state, it may be cheaper for you to save for them yourself.
What’s the reputation of the insurance company? Any insurance company is going to have some unhappy customers, but you do want to look for a reputable carrier.
Tax implications. If you’re considering a lower-premium plan with a higher deductible, make sure that it’s a Qualified High Deductible Health Plan. With such a plan, you can open a Health Savings Account, where you can save pre-tax money on the condition that, when you withdraw it, you use it to pay for medical expenses. These medical expenses can be used for expenses that apply to deductible, or even for expenses simply not covered by your insurance plan. Depending on your tax situation, this can give you substantial savings.
Discounts. Insurance companies typically get discounts from providers through a Preferred Provider arrangement. This benefits you because you won’t end up stuck with the bill if your doctor’s charge is over what the insurer considers reasonable. The downside is reduced provider choice. Large insurers, or those who give strong financial incentives for you to see a limited group of health providers typically get the best discounts.
Utilization patterns. Insurance companies have learned from experience that people with higher deductibles and co-pays use fewer health services. Getting less medical care can be good, because unnecessary treatments don’t help, and might harm your health. It can also be bad if you avoid getting treatment or preventive care that you need to stay healthy. If you choose a higher deductible, or a plan without preventive care benefits, make sure you budget enough money to get care for any chronic conditions you have (you don’t want them to get worse!) and get regular checkups to make sure any new conditions are detected early, when they can be treated effectively.
Maternity care. If maternity care is optional in your state, the only people who buy it are likely expecting an imminent pregnancy, and rates are set accordingly. You may be better off just paying cash for maternity care.
Other riders. Your agent will likely offer you accident riders and other forms of supplemental coverage. These can have low premiums, but they’re low risk to the insurance company as well.
Finally, look for limits on the plan. Many plans offer lifetime maximums of $2 million or more. Other limitations can include mental health care, chemical dependency, chiropractic care, physical therapy and diagnostic care. Beware of plans that limits your benefit to only a few hundred dollars a year. For example, I had some friends who signed up with a high deductible plan to save on premiums, but discovered too late that their plan had a $300 annual limit on benefits for diagnostic care. Once that limit was met, they were on there own. You can’t buy much diagnostic care in today’s healthcare environment for $300.
What if you cannot find coverage? Now that you’ve done all this work, you still could find yourself in a situation where you can’t afford — or simply can’t purchase at any price — health insurance that meets your needs. You’re not alone. In 2006, 47 million Americans found themselves in a similar bind, and the number has only increased since then as costs have risen and employers have reduced coverage. You still might be able to find help. Here are some options for you to consider:
If you have a low income or are disabled, look for government assistance. Medicaid benefits may be available. Even if you have a moderate income, Medicaid or SCHIP coverage may be available for your children, as a lot of attention has gone to the needs of the uninsured.
If you have health conditions that make you an unattractive risk to commercial insurers, look into these options:
COBRA or continuation coverage from your last group health plan. It’s expensive, and it only lasts 18 months, but it’s better than no coverage if you face a significant health risk.
A state high risk pool or mandated basic plan. (Contact your state department of insurance for details.) Insurers aren’t going to line up to tell you about this, but your state may require them to accept you for a certain health plan. Again, premiums will be high, and benefits may be limited.
Look for work at a employer (preferably a large one with lots of young, healthy employees), who offers better health benefits.
If you’re disabled, see if you qualify for Medicare disability. Medicare isn’t just for the elderly, it’s also for people who are disabled.
Move to any other industrialized country, and you’re covered cradle to grave.
Move (or travel) to a developing country, where you still might not be afford insurance, but medical care can be much more affordable. Surgeries costing tens of thousands of dollars might be available for hundreds to thousands of dollars in Mexico or India (plus airfare), with excellent quality. If you’re nervous about the cultural and linguistic barriers, look at it this way. There’s a good chance your doctor here has a foreign accent too.
If you can’t get insurance at all, ask for a cash discount. Some providers will give you a discount similar to what insurance companies receive if you pay cash up front. Point out to the provider that they won’t have to haggle with the insurance company or wait for payment if they take your payment right away. Some providers will give good discounts if you ask. Others actually charge more if you don’t have commercial insurance.
Some services that you could fomerly only get in a doctor’s office are increasingly available at drug stores and Wal-Mart. Make the most of these services.
When you do visit the doctor, make the most of it, and ask lots of questions. Take notes, either during the visit or after. Ask the doctor how you can stay well, not just how to treat what’s wrong with you at the moment.
Manage chronic conditions. If you have asthma, heart disease, diabetes or another chronic condition, learn all you can about it. Manage it yourself, with advice from your physician. You’ll end up saving.
Take care of your health. Exercise. Eat healthy amounts of healthy food. If you smoke, stop. You’ll feel better, and you’ll probably spend less on health care.
Does this seem daunting? For more and more Americans, it is. Seem hopeless? For many people right now, it might be.
An archaic system The reasons for this state of affairs are complex. It’s based on a patchwork of systems that has grown up over time, and changing technology has made them obsolete. Long-term, more and more people are going to face this difficulty — not just poor people. Medicare is projected to run a deficit in 2018, and Medicaid coverage will need to drop unless more money is made available.
While this article has been focused on how to meet your current needs, perhaps my best advice is to write your elected officials and urge comprehensive change. To effectively solve our health care problem we need comprehensive reform, which must include cost controls (conspicuously lacking in the proposals from the Democratic presidential candidates) as well as coverage for everyone (conspicuously lacking from the Republicans’ proposals).
In the meantime, the best you can do is to research your options, and make the best choices you can.