Ideas for saving for plastics!

Okay.  I prepared for the actual WLS for 3 years before i had it.  I did the counseling and the stress management, all that good stuff.  I researched the vitamins and supplements i would need and understood the extra costs per month etc.  I knew what my diet would look like after.  what i would and would not be able to have.  the blood tests and doc visits.  I was prepared!!  lol.    But.....i forgot something.  I forgot to think about getting here.  Here is sitting on goal's doorstep.  Here is having several pounds of extra skin around my tummy thats gets in the way of some reallllly fun stuff i would like it to NOT get in the way of!  (that was meant to be funny) 

A lot has changed for me since i first started thinking about surgery.  I am now a single mom.  (and no my divorce wasnt about the weight loss.  It happened over a year before i had the surgery.)  I lost my insurance out of that deal.  I am now a pre-existing condition.  A walking talking pre-existing condition.  lol.  Insurance to pay for plastics is out. 

SOOOO....what are some ways you all are saving money to pay for your plastics.  I cant be the only broke single mom in this situation.  Currently I am putting so much a paycheck away.  I also put away all my expense checks i get.  IF i get any taxes back, that will go in too.  What other ideas have you found? 

I BELIEVE in my decision and dont regret for one moment that i had WLS.  I have lost 276 pounds so far.  I can LIVE with the extra skin.  The weight was KILLING me.  ....however...it would be nice to not have to fight the skin when i am running...or doing other activities that require heavy breathing...lmao.  sigh.  any ideas?  Thanks!!  Keep positive!  we are in this together. 

You lost 276 pounds.  

OMG.

You are amazing!  

Many of us don't have plastics for a variety of reasons - money is often one.  Personally, I thought I'd start a savings account and deposit my earnings from my blog into it.  Yeah, well, I never did.  That was, oh... in 2005.  It's now 2012 and I never "got around to it."  I suppose the skin never became a priority for me.

I'd like to do it someday - but - life keeps happening.

 I coupon! so every penny saved goes to my me account. also sell your old clothes.  my couponing paid for my sons first car for this past Christmas.  it adds up fast

For me it was creative financing to make it happen, money from my 401k and an equity loan on my house.  I used a residency program which kept the cost down, did you check with your insurance, they may cover a tummy tuck if you have a lot of extra skin and it really is debilitating.  I am sure there are also credit plans to get cosmetic surgery also, but I don't know how bad the interest would be.  Where there is a will there is a way.

Good Luck!

First of all!  You are amazing!  276 pounds!  Wow!  I haven't had my revision yet (band to RNY), but I am also thinking about plastics.  I have a piggy bank where all of my spare change goes (you'd be amazed how fast that accumulates), but I am also in the process of starting an Avon busines (which costs on $10 to start up) and I plan on putting some of that away after each sale.  Good luck!

Just wanted to say wow wow wow! Amazing weight loss!  Too bad you could not tell your story on TV to some talk show host/hostess and perhaps thru that they could find you a program with a surgeon who would do surgery at a reduced rate or maybe even for free!  I know those are almost next to non- existent anymore but perhaps someone else could have a suggestion?(s)
Great job and I know what you mean about the skin -I have a huge panni in front that hangs down and they still want me to lose 50 more # (Lost 200) I weigh 250# now! It is a struggle but boy do I feel better!  I am sure you do too!
Thanks for the post and best of luck ! If I win the lottery, you will have your surgery ! Take care & hugs too Mary

 I was thinking the direct sales route too! You can set your own hours and find something you love. You can make some money in direct sales it is all what you do with it. I made over 20,000 my first year with Avon. I wanted to stay ome with my babies. Good luck!

I have a couple of ideas, with gold/silver at a premium now take the unwanted, broken pieces into a reputable store and sell them. I took in a small pouch of old stuff in that I never wear and got close to 1000.00 out of it. You mentioned a divorce prior to surgery now start fresh and really clean the house and sell your rings!

Also when I wanted a new living room set I started my couch fund....for every holiday, birthday etc where you would receive gifts from family/friends I asked for $$$ for my fund. I had a new couch in a little over a year and it was no problem and money wasn't  taken from other areas.

Just a couple of thoughts and your can always do a garage sale

Hi: Congrats, You're doing a fantastic job, keep going.

     CareCredit works with WLS patients on plastic loans, I use CareCredit for all my dental needs.

     www.carecredit.com

     Best Wishes.
     88

THank you all for the amazing ideas.  I am doing some of almost all of them actually!  lol.  I never knew you could make that much with avon!  holy cow.  I am a coupon-er too.  However, I didn't keep the extra money i saved.  I was just trying to reduce the bills!  I also shop for clothes at garage sales and thrift shops.  Last year i got jeans for the kids...TAGS STILL ON!!.... for $1 a piece.  I couldn't believe my luck!  I am a change saver too.  In fact, in my checkbook, when i write a check, i do it for the whole dollar amount and then throw the change into the change jar.  I had $84 in change last time i took it in!  Used it to help pay for day camp for the kids.  THAT's what's killing me.  lol.  As a single mom, i feel like my kids dont get to do as much as i see other kids doing so i usually end up taking the money i saved for me and getting them things.  Like the camp.  or swim lessons.  and things they need...like shoes and the like. 

you know, when i first went on the 6 month pre surgery diet, i took the money i used to spend a week in pizza and fast food and put it away in a jar for 3 months.  Paid for a new suit for my two kids and I plus a trip to a water park.  OMG....worth every penny.  We had so much fun and it was something i had never done .... and wouldnt have been able to do before.  Still remember how proud i was to have made it up those three flights of stairs to go down the slides those 5 or 6 times that i did.  wow...thanks for that reminder.  hmmmm....you know....i have been wanting to quit smoking.  maybe I can put the money i would spend for cigarettes into the fund.  That would give me a huge "prize" to focus on for quitting a habit i hate anyways....maybe i can start out cutting out one carton a month.  I smoke 4 cartons in a month.  $30 per carton.  $30  saved in March.  $60 in april.  $90 in may.  By June i could be putting away $120 per month and be completely smoke free.  See! I come here for inspiration and I always seem to get it.  I am so grateful for that!! 

Many people gave me clothes on the way down and I have always returned the kindness by passing it on to others in the support group.  However, my sizes are slowing down.  Maybe it is time to sell the clothes.  I am SOO mad about that btw.  I was watching this show about the people that buy the storage units and sell what they find.  I had red thread old levi jeans.  DO YOU KNOW HOW MUCH I COULD HAVE GOTTEN FOR THEM??  i sold them for pennies on a garage sale.  GRRR.  lol

hmmm.  lots of great ideas here.  thanks so much!!  My credit is shot.  My insurance is gone. I am a single mom.  But where there is a will there is a way.  I am capable.  Just have to get rid of the things we dont need (that cable package we are never home to watch anymore, cigarettes, fast food, etc.) and save save save.  I'm only 36.  Plenty of time to get the surgery done. 

Thanks everyone!