~ This is an installment of my Airbnb series. Check out part one or browse all my Airbnb content ~

Hi, I made a little present for my fellow Airbnb hosts out there! A set of Airbnb printables and templates for new and senior hosts! Free to download in PDF form below. I’ll explain what’s inside as well. The only rule is obviously, don’t reupload or resell!

FULL disclaimer, we stopped hosting due to the impending birth of our daughter last year Feb 2020 (right before the start of the pandemic.) I have PROOF! Lol

Anyways, we avoided pretty much all of the pandemic stuff with Airbnb because of our newborn daughter. (Otherwise, I would still be hosting 100% haha.)

But I wanted to make this because I still get some emails from hosts that need resources – and hey, my years and years of experience with multiple rentals aren’t dead! I had some time this afternoon so I took my old printouts from Airbnb and made them prettier. Now it’s yours to use! Have fun!

Got Some Space? – Rent out a spare room on Airbnb! This was my claim to fame. I made $71,000 on Airbnb last year while putting in just 12 hours a week. I’m not even joking when I say there are tons of hosts even more successful than I am.

Do you need printables for Airbnb?

Nah but it helps to have wifi information out and onto the wall. House rules, pet policies, check-in steps, missing valuables checklist…stuff like that out so guests can see it in front of them. You don’t need a frilly sign, just tape a note to the wall.

Although if it looks nicer, more people will read haha.

A lot (most) people don’t bother to read what you send them via Airbnb messenger. Can’t really blame them; when you’re traveling things are usually so hectic or exciting – so make it easier for them with these printable

More Airbnb Reads:

• What Every Host Should Know About Banning on Airbnb

Airbnb Printables: What’s Inside

One thing I didn’t include was a section for heating/cooling information AND laundry info. My house/Airbnbs needed them but it’s pretty specific to my Airbnbs. Leave a comment if you want those added, although I think most of that information should go into your check-in step-by-step section and the FAQ section.

If you find this content useful, click my ref link to BECOME A HOST and start your side hustle today!

Don’t mind these small pictures, it’s just to give you a peek of the inside before you download the PDF.

For personal host uses only. Do not alter sell or reupload online without permission.

I don’t want to say it’s only for Airbnb because it’s absolutely not! You can use this template for your spare guest room, VRBO, Homeaway, etc.

Cover page! Put your address down again so they can double-check. Plus any landmarks in case they’re not totally sure if they’re at the right place.

Table of contents is pretty self explanatory haha.

Guest Wi-Fi is super important. Tape it to the walls right at the entrance or a visible place in the bedroom so guests aren’t starving for wifi.

Contact info in case they need to reach you. You should put in a preference for point of contact. I always tell my guests to message me on Airbnb (either website or through the app.)

FAQ is where you should answer things guests ask frequently. That will depend on your Airbnb so start an Airbnb first – get a feel of it – and within a month or two, you’ll know what those FAQ are going to be. I find it’s usually like laundry or kitchen or heating/cooling related. Guests like to be comfortable

House/bathroom/kitchen/misc rules are super important. You need to set clear rules for your guests. Be polite and firm at the same time. You should put house rules on your profile and inside your Airbnb portal for easy access but even then sometimes guests don’t see it so leaving a printable copy of the rules will help them (and help you!)

Pet policy is uniquely up to you. I took pets and nothing was really terrible. The only thing was the smell. But a quick 1-2 night stay with a pet for us was a great way to stand above other hosts. I would definitely not recommend hosting someone with a pet for like..30 days. (Bad experience there.)

Next is a sign to lead your guests straight to their room. You can laminate them and put them on the exterior of your house too. Print out multiple and follow the sign.

Then I have a few Entry access code printables. I recommend hosts to have their own electronic door code lock. A GOOD quality door code lock. For god sakes this is your house, don’t go cheap! Watch out for battery life too. Our lock cost $150 on sale I believe. It had a battery life of 3 years…ours lasted over 5 years hosting. A+! The prices have gone down recently (about $100) for our brand Schlage so if you’re hosting in the long term, invest in a Schlage.

If you find this content useful, click my ref link to BECOME A HOST and start your side hustle today!

For your Airbnb guests themselves, I have a 1-page memo for Guests to use if they need to. They can jot down their goals for the trip, notes, and when their check-in and check-out date is on the mini calendar.

Clean up list...OK, the next big thing is if there’s any tidying up you want the guests to do before checking out. I didn’t know this but some guests even offered to clean up for me (make the beds etc.). OF course, I declined haha. I am the host, it’s my responsibility to clean up. But if your up to take the offer, tell your guests what sort of condition the room should be left in.

“Don’t Forget” checklist for valuables…it’s normal to find some things guests accidentally leave behind. I don’t encounter it often but occasionally, yes. Someone once left a $2,000+ engagement ring once in my Airbnb. They almost had a heart attack. Good thing we found it under the bed or it was going to be one awkward conversation! So save yourself and your guests by making sure they don’t leave anything behind. I made one list of the common valuables and a blank checklist for fill-in in case I missed something.

Check out process should be simple. But some guests do ask if there’s special instructions. If you have any put them here.

Return keys! If you’re giving guests a physical, it would be super helpful if you set a designated space for them to drop off the key. It has to be visible so guests don’t forget or lose the key somewhere after they’ve packed up. I would just tape a reminder of it as well on the front door so they don’t forget to return the key.

Coloring pages for guests…just because I have some 100% free coloring pages on my other website so you can take these for free. I had coloring mandalas in my guest rooms and you’ll be surprised how much my Airbnb guests loved them. It’s a good boredom killer and fun to unwind. Also, it’s cool to color and then another set of guests come to finish the color.

You can even have a guest art gallery for other guests!

GOD I MISS HOSTING AHHHHH

View/Download Your Airbnb Hosting Starter Printables

More Airbnb Reads:

• Answer These 25 Questions Before Hosting on Airbnb
• Sample Airbnb Template – Welcome Letters & Security Deposit

But then there’s the exception, we all have that person that we’re just “eh” about. Maybe your spouse is crazy about them and you have to keep a polite face…or a coworker that sits across from you, thus capable of annoying you to death by promxity…(been there.)

For any and whatever reason, it’s normal. We all have an “eh” person in our lives. I think in modern 2020 vocabulary…it’s filed under “The Frenemy.”

So how do you…gift to someone you just don’t like WITHOUT them knowing you don’t exactly care for them? That one can be tricky. It has to be affordable after all, there’s no point in wasting your money just to keep up appearances, but it can’t be…”I got you a keychain from the gas station.” Ya know what I mean?

Crap Gifts With Secret Messages

When it comes to giving gifts, the hardest people to give are those we don’t really get along with. However, since you’re a lawfully good individual who isn’t consumed by hate, you still want to be relatively nice to the person you hate. So why not just give them something cheap and can be used – make sure they get your subtle message if they have terrible personal hygiene or horrible organization skills.

1. Liquid Soap

A lot of us have that coworker who doesn’t wash their hands after eating or after using the bathroom. That behavior is not going to fly after 2020. You can drop a big old hint for them a thing or two about proper hygiene by gifting liquid soap. Make it less obvious by getting them an attractive decorative soap gift set.

2. Tissue Paper Flowers

Cheaper than real flowers, this is a good way to tell someone they’ve stiffed to you on a gift in the past and that’s what they’re getting now. Some people might find this one very useful actually. But a lot of time, tissue paper is deemed as a half-baked gift, a subtle way to tell someone that you don’t really give a care.

3. Dishwashing gloves

Do you have an office or roommate that doesn’t wash his or her dishes? Let him or her know by giving dishwashing gloves. Maybe he or she will finally put some effort into receiving this gift.

4. Bathroom Scale

This is for people who won’t shut up when it comes to your (or their own) body. I don’t care about how your diet is going Carol. I know you would think that you would’ve gone for a mirror instead, but a tempered glass bathroom scale will make more sense and easier to wrap.

5. Bath salts

Let’s face it, who gives bath salt as a gift? It’s a pretty stereotypical ‘unthoughtful filler’ when you’re caught without a nice gift idea last minute. Whatever, you don’t like them and hey, it’s still a gift.

6. Cheap anti-aging cream

Here’s a way to remind them that they’re AGING and you’ve taken notice! Get a drugstore brand, or if you want, a knock off luxury brand like this.

7. An alarm clock

So you have that coworker who always runs late every morning, contributing delays and inconveniences in the office. Give them a subtle reminder to come on time by giving them a cheap alarm clock.

8. A self-help book

If you hate someone for a specific reason, you might want to consider giving a self-help book. Maybe, just maybe, you’ll help in fixing his or her problem. 

The Neutral Gifts (Harmless Gifts to Annoy) 

If you really hate someone and you really want to nuance the heck out of them, these gifts might be the perfect one for them.

1. Oranges

Like the fruit…a 5lb bag of oranges hahaha. To be honest, oranges are a good source of Vitamin C, so you’ll actually help this person’s immune system. In addition, oranges are cheap. You can even write a personal message on each orange, just to make sure they got the message.

2. Glitter Bomb

FINALLY, someone made it and available on Amazoniaaaa! Glitters stick in everything, everywhere. It can be stuck on the table, on the keyboard, on documents, clothes, etc. Your recipient will probably spend a hefty amount of time cleaning the mess >:)

3. A Horrible Book

How about a box set of the Twilight series? Go to a dollar store and find a book known for its horrible reputation. Find the bane of all human literature so that they would be annoyed that they have to thank you for it.

4. Neil Breen Movies

If you haven’t seen a Neil Breen movie yet, then you’re really lucky. If a person you hate hasn’t seen Neil Breen either, don’t let this opportunity slip and show this legend to your sworn enemy.

5. An album from an artist he or she hates

There is always that someone who would loudly tell everyone they hate this “artist” every time they got the chance. Consider giving the person his or her dose of own medicine. Rebecca Black, perhaps?

6. Huge Bag of Candy

Ooh, the gift of ill health, perfect. A bag of candy is another harmless gift for people you really hate. Especially if they were shaped like dicks.

7. Oversized/Undersized Shirts

Clothing as a gift is actually decent, except if it is a size too small or a size too large for your recipient. Make sure to choose a shirt with a strong statement (e.g. “For the lazy one”) to ruin his or her day immediately. 

8. Itchy socks

Who would find value in a pair of bad quality socks? Maybe there are some who would, but for your little gift, choose the ugliest pair you can find.

Chaotic Gifts (Gifts for People You Hate)

So, you decided that you really want your hate to be known and you’re not scared to do that. Here is the list of gifts that will surely deliver your message.

1. Teddy Bear That Never Stops Singing

At first glance, the annoying teddy seems like an endearing gift. However, this beast will sing “Happy Birthday” non-stop for at least two hours. The only way to end the song is to wait until the battery runs out or by smashing the thing with a hammer.

2. Fart Card

If you would give a card, make sure it’s memorable. Fart cards send a non-toxic awful smell to the recipient (and the people around). It cannot be sent anonymously so the recipient will know that you are the one who sent it.

3. Handmade Poop Soap

This one is a gift full of cringe and pure evil. It is still a soap, so you can actually use it, but not without your mind telling you that its a poop. Don’t forget to spray some water to make it look more realistic.

4. Crap Coffee

A lot of people want to start their day with a good cup of coffee, especially in office workplaces. Let him or her start the day with a crap coffee and savor the moment when he or she had to smile if you ask about the gift.

5. Lock Box + A Wrong Key

Muahahaha…ok but be careful with this one. Don’t get sued. Locked boxes make great practical gifts. But what if you switched out the key? It’s hard to think of something more frustrating than not having the key to opening your precious box.

6. The Toilet Mug

Can you believe someone made this? Genius. Giving a toilet mug is a harmless gesture, given that it won’t really impact anything. It’s still a mug, fully usable. And that’s the point, a worthless gift for someone you don’t really care about.

7. Prank SCENTED Candles

These prank candles will smell pleasant at first, the recipient might even love them. However, after the 40% was consumed, the smell will turn into something nasty. Get Apple Pie to Dirty Fart and gift it away :).

8. Rock in a Box

When it comes to gifts, a heavier box might mean a more expensive gift. Raise their expectations high and let it crash when they figured out it is just an rock. 

I remember some extra rough years growing up. My family qualified for public assistance, but my parents never took advantage of the government aid that was there. Partly because of pride and the other part because they weren’t aware of all the help that was available. There’s no shame in the times when you need help, especially if you are a single parent. Moms have it hard enough already. Everyone struggles in their own way. I wish my parents had sought out public assistance, it would have made things a little easier growing up.

Lots of families experience financial hardship here and there, even for families with two working parents on the line like mine. After becoming a first-time mom this year during COVID-19 and struggling through those brutal first months, I just can’t grasp how insanely difficult it must be for single moms who only have limited income sources. According to a report from the US Census Bureau, 30% of families with single mothers are under the poverty line. 

With some diligent research for a newly single mommy pal of mine, I was able to compile a resource list of U.S. government (both state & federal) deployed programs to aid single parents on a continuous basis. Here are some of the most popular financial aids for single moms (and dads) with no or low income.

Note: This list is applicable to only U.S. residents.

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• What Is The Real Cost of Raising a Child (Done Frugally and On The Cheap)
• Got Kids? Check Out These Free Rainy Day Resources for Kids
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• When Having Too Much Money is Bad (The Cons of Being Rich)
• How To Make a Roll of Paper Towels Last Embarrassingly Long

Financial Aid For Single Moms

1. Temporary Assistance For Needy Families (TANF)

The Temporary Assistance for Needy Families or TANF is one of the major financial aids by the government. With this program, qualified participants can receive cash, childcare, and work aid from their local government. Cash assistance is based on the parent’s household income and the number of dependencies under 18 years old. 

Requirements:

• A child or children under 18 years old 
• Monthly income meets the income guideline

Official Website: https://www.acf.hhs.gov/ofa/programs/tanf

2. The Women, Infants and Children Program (WIC) 

The Women, Infants, and Children Program or WIC is a federally administered program aimed towards pregnant women, infants, and children under 5 years old. Participants who are at “nutritional risk” are prioritized. When eligible, the participant usually receives monthly food packages or vouchers they can use to purchase specific food items. 

Requirements:

• Children up to 5 years old
• Pregnant or breastfeeding women
• People who are at “nutritional risk”
• Homeless people and migrants with “nutritional risk”

Official Website: https://www.fns.usda.gov/wic

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• Amazon vs Walmart vs Target Freebie Sample Box Review
• 9 Thrifty Hacks That Will Help You Save On Maternity Clothes

3. Farmer’s Market Nutrition Program (FMNP)

The Farmer’s Market Nutrition Program or FMNP is a program that lets beneficiaries buy eligible fruits and vegetables from participating farmer’s markets at a discounted price. Coupons received via FMNPP can be used on these locations: local farmers, farmers’ markets, and roadside stands. Since FMNP is connected to WIC, WIC beneficiaries are automatically eligible to receive benefits. 

Requirements:

• Same with WIC program

Official Website: https://www.fns.usda.gov/fmnp/wic-farmers-market-nutrition-program

4. Unemployment Insurance 

Unemployment Insurance is a government program that gives help to unemployed individuals who are not the fault of their situation. Each state has its own different rules, so check out the link below benefits expectations and application process in your state. This benefit usually lasts up to 26 weeks to help you get a boost in job searching. 

Requirements:

• Unemployed through no fault (it means that getting fired or quitting a job is not valid)
• Must meet wage requirement in the current state 

Official Website (Find Your State): https://www.careeronestop.org/LocalHelp/UnemploymentBenefits/find-unemployment-benefits.aspx

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5. Additional Child Tax Credit

Known as Child Tax Credit or CTC, this program lets family breadwinners deduct tax credit to the income tax amount.  Anyone with children under 17 can claim tax credits. The tax credit will depend on the number of children you have in your family. If your payable tax amount is reduced to zero after subtracting tax credit, the amount you owe is also reduced to zero. In addition, you can refund up to $1,400.

Requirements:

• Must have children under 17 years old at the end of the tax year
• Adjust gross income of $200,000 or less

Official Website: https://www.irs.gov/credits-deductions/individuals/earned-income-tax-credit/earned-income-tax-credit-income-limits-and-maximum-credit-amounts

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Electronic Benefits Transfers (EBT):

6. Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) 

This program is the biggest food assistance program of the US Government. SNAP is formerly known as Food Stamps, but are renamed last 2008. It is very similar to WIC in essence, but the eligibility and benefits are different. The WIC program is focused more on women and children who are having difficulties in getting food to remain healthy. On the other hand, SNAP has a larger scope and benefits but has more restrictive eligibility requirements. Beneficiaries of SNAP will also receive discounts when shopping in a SNAP Retailer store.

I tried to get myself on the SNAP challenge as an experiment and failed miserably.

Requirements:

• The beneficiary must have a household monthly income below 130 percent of the poverty line ($1,778 for a 3-person family as of 2020)
• State-level specific requirements

 Relevant Reads:

• How To Properly Dispute A Medical Bill & Save Some Money

7. National School Lunch Program (NSLP)

The National School Lunch Program or NSLP is a federal program that is available for both public and nonprofit private schools around the country. It provides free or low-cost lunch for children who are members of low-income families. Schools should provide meals that meet the standards set by the Food and Nutrition Service and the United States Department of Agriculture. 

Requirements:

• If the child’s family participates in SNAP 
• If the child is enrolled in any Head Start Program
• Family size and income 
• Children who live with families living below the poverty line
• Check the income guideline here

8. The Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP)

TEFAP is another food assistance program from the US Department of Agriculture. USDA foods are distributed to people who qualify for these benefits. Each state has its own guidelines for food distribution (food that beneficiaries receive can change depending on the market and agricultural conditions). Instead of directly giving vouchers or food packets, TEFAP partners with local agencies to distribute the food (e.g. food banks, soup kitchens, etc). You can check out the list of food usually distributed by TEFAP in this webpage.

Recommended Reads:

• 51 Healthy Frugal Dinner Recipes You Can Make for Under $2
• 25 Simple 5-Ingredient Meals for Under $5 to Feed a Whole Family
• 35 Scrumptious Meals You Can Cook Under 20 Minutes (20 Minute Recipes)

Free Health Care And Education Programs

9. Children Health Insurance Program (CHIP)

The Children Health Insurance Program provides healthcare for children under low-income families. Healthcare services like routine check-ups, prescriptions, dental and vision care, immunizations, and inpatient/outpatient care are covered with this program. Although each state covers CHIP, the requirement varies from one state to another. You can apply for benefits by calling 1-800-318-2596 or via the Health Insurance Marketplace online. 

Requirements: 

Check with your state for more specific requirements and information about CHIP. 

10. Pell Grant

Single moms who want o go back to school can take advantage of the Pell Grant, a federal program that gives assistance for low-income students. Unlike student debt, you don’t really have to pay the government to give you cash assistance. The help you will receive is usually the gap between your expected family contribution and your cost of attendance. For example, if your cost of attendance is about $15,000, but you can only pay for $10,000, the remaining $5,000 will be shouldered by the program. 

Requirements: 

• FAFSA form
• Citizen of the United States
• Enrolled in a certificate or degree program at a participating college
• Undergraduate or vocational students only

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• 4 Profound Things I Wish I Knew Before Growing Up
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Housing And Utility Bills Help

11. Department of Housing & Urban Development (HUD) Housing Assistance

The Department of Housing and Urban Development or HUD provides subsidies for low-income families. HUD will work directly with property owners to lessen up the rent expense of families in the program. Because of this, the family beneficiaries will only pay for a discounted monthly rent expense. 

Requirements: 

• Applicants must past the income limit requirement (check out the income limit requirement here)

12. Low Income Energy Beal Assistance Program (LIHEAP)

The Low Income Home Emergency Assistance Program is another financial assistance that aims to help low-income families by reducing their utility bills. Like HUD, the government works directly with energy providers for the LIHEAP aid. Eligible families can choose between one-time winter assistance that can range from $45 to $450 or a crisis intervention program where the utilities are about to be shut off due to payment difficulties. The second option can net $300 worth of benefits during the summer and $800 during the winter. 

Requirements: 

• LIHEAP income eligibility (check your local LIHEAP office) 

 Related Reads:

• Guide To Living In Your Car When Renting Gets Unaffordable
• 10 Genius Ways to Live Rent Free & Without a Mortgage
• Used Car Buying Tips: Private Seller or Car Dealership (Which Is Better?)

State-Specific Aid Programs

Minnesota Family Investment Program (MFIP) 

The Minnesota Family Investment Program or MFIP can be described as “teaching a family how to fish, and sharing your catch at the same time.” In conjunction with the Diversionary Work Program or DWP (where parents receive employment help), MFIP gives cash assistance until the family’s finances are better. This program is aimed at children and pregnant women and usually runs for up to 60 months. 

Requirements: 

• Pass the income test
• Owns assets not more than $10,000

New Hampshire Employment Program (NHEP)

The New Hampshire Employment Program is very similar to MFIP. The only big difference is that NHEP is aimed to give help to able-bodied people. As a level-up to MFIP, NHEP has programs that give GED-Equivalency Diploma, on-the-job training, and job search assistance. 

Requirements:

• Able-bodied and is between 16 to 60 years of age

Kansas Successful Families Program

The Kansan Successful Families Program is similar in benefits to both MFIP and NHEP. It is designed to help families who want to improve their financial situation while getting basic necessities at the same time. 

Requirements:

• Able-bodied and under 60 years old
• At least one child under 19

Related Reads:

• Debt and Suicide – Why I’m Proud To Be A Grown-Up Tattletale
• The 11 Perks of Growing Up Poor

Where To Get Help During COVID-19 Lockdown?

There are millions of families and individuals who are currently affected by the COVID-19 lockdown. The situation is now affecting the economy, businesses, and families who rely on monthly income to get their basic needs and will likely have no emergency savings. To help people in low-income families, the US government created the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act, or CARES. Here are the information and programs relating to this act. 

Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act

• Federal Pandemic Unemployment Compensation (FPUC) – FPUC is an unemployment aid that provides a weekly allowance of $600 on top of the regular Unemployment Insurance benefits.
• Pandemic Unemployment Assitance (PUA) – PUA temporarily expands Unemployment Insurance to people who are self-employed, freelancers, and independent contractors. 
• Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation (PEUC) – PUA provides benefit coverage extensions for people who already exhausted their Unemployment Insurance benefits. This extension lasts for 13 weeks. 

Free baby sample boxes are a win-win for consumers who want to test out product samples. I ended up getting every free baby box available.

I did skip the sample baby box from Babylist for now since they charge $10 for shipping fees. That’s a bit steep for baby samples that I likely already have from my Amazon/Walmart/Target boxes.

By the unboxing of these 3 boxes, I was up to my neck in a repetition of free baby samples So let’s get started – see what’s inside of all the boxes, and step by step of how I got all of them for free!

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What’s The Amazon Baby Registry? 

Amazon Baby Registry is a site feature that allows expecting parents to register items they want or need for the baby’s arrival. Parents can include major items like cribs to smaller ones like thermometers and milk bottles. They can share the list with anyone (family, friends, etc). Whoever wants to buy the items for the baby can buy it easily through the registry. Here are the other benefits you can get in opting for this product.

• 20% discount on diapers for the first year (for $500+ worth of purchases through the registry)
• 15% discount on unfulfilled items from the registry
• A free welcome baby box (“$35 value”)

Is The Amazon Baby Box Totally Free?

Creating an Amazon Registry is totally free of charge. In addition to the shopping convenience of a registry, you can also get a free $35 value* Amazon baby welcome box once you create the registry.

The box typically contains baby sample products such as bottles, diapers, wipes, and lotion. Once you or someone else purchased $10 worth of items in your registry, you can get the box for free. 

Eligibility Checklist

You can make an Amazon Baby Registry profile without being a Prime member. But if you’re still interested in the baby box content, the only option is to buy Prime for a month -OR- sign up for an Amazon Prime account trial for 30 days. Just make sure you order the box before your Prime trial ends.*

• Active Prime Account (trial Prime accounts count too)
• Amazon Baby Registry Profile
• At least $10 worth of purchase (excluding tax or shipping cost)
• Shipping address must not be within US, Alaska, and Hawaii, or with APO addresses

*NOTE: The Amazon welcome baby box runs out of stock sometimes, especially towards the end of the month. It comes in stock by mid-next month once it’s out of stock. So watch your timing if you are using the Amazon Prime Trial to get the sample box.

Step-By-Step: How To Get An Amazon Baby Registry Box

Getting a free Amazon Baby Box is easy and takes 20 minutes or so. Follow the steps below to get your free Amazon Box to save on your purchases for baby items.

1. Sign Up For Amazon Prime: If you’re not a member of Amazon Prime, get the 30-day free trial. Look for the Amazon logo on the webpage and click on “Try Prime.” After that, follow the straightforward instructions from the site.

2. Create Your Own Baby Register: Once you’re officially an Amazon Prime member, its time to create your baby registry profile. You can create your baby registry here. Common questions such as expected arrival date, address, and registry visibility are included in the FAQ. 

3. Add Items For Your Registry: Once your registry is up and running, you’re good to go. The items would be up to your preferences, but products such as bottles, baby clothing, strollers, diapers, and wipes are great choices. I added a bunch of suggested baby items to my registry just superficially – took about 5 minutes.

4. Purchase $10 Worth Of Goods*: Any category of good added to your registry that’s over $10 and sold by Amazon.com. And it doesn’t matter who pays for the expenses in the registry. Yourself, your family, or your friends can purchase anything from the checklist. As long as the official seller is “Amazon.com” and the item is preloaded on your registry.

We needed more dog treats so we simply added our dog’s treats to the baby register and checked out. That opened up our Amazon welcome baby box redemption. On the checkout page, it will say item from ____’s registry. Once you spent $10 you will be able to claim your box.

5. Claim Your Free Amazon Baby Registry Box: Amazon will unlock the “Claim Now” button once all the requirements are fulfilled. The items will automatically be added to your cart. A $35 promotional credit is used upon checkout.

“That’s Interesting!“

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1st Amazon Baby Welcome Box

2nd Amazon Baby Welcome Box

Item count: 7-10 products

Diversity: 3/5

Summary: 3/5

Ehhh, a $35 value is a stretch for both boxes. I hope no one goes out and buys a box for $35. That would be a silly waste of money. The retail value for the contents of my 2nd Amazon baby box is $15ish. The 1st box…worth less than $10.

There’s a big discrepancy between our Amazon baby boxes so your miles may vary. We ended up with 2 boxes because our parents had a Prime account and I took advantage for comparison sake. I couldn’t believe how bad my first box was.

Either way, out of all the baby boxes, my Amazon ones were lackluster especially considering you had to spend $10 on the registry and have a Prime membership to get it. But getting that 15% discount off (x2) from any baby registry items made getting the Amazon registry set up worth it.

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What Is The Walmart Baby Box? 

Walmart Registry is a program that lets soon-to-be-parents create a checklist of essential products such as diapers and wipes for their baby. This checklist is shareable and can be viewed by people with permission. Anyone who wants to give a gift to the baby can do so by buying an item to the list. If the list is worth $50 or more, Walmart gives free shipping. 

Step-By-Step: Redeeming Your Free Walmart Baby Box

Creating Your Own Walmart Baby Registry

1. To opt in for a free box, you need to create or login to your Walmart account.

2. Next, create your own baby registry using this link. Start by filling up a profile (which would ask for your information and expected date for baby’s arrival). You can manage the registry by using the Walmart app too but it’s not required. 

3. Share the link with your family and friends. Take note of your registry’s URL link, which is needed for redeeming your box below.

Redeeming Your Free Walmart Registry Box

1. Go to this Walmart link. 

2. Paste your baby registry URL in the form provided. 

3. Answer the other questions regarding your information. Submit the form once you’re done.

4. Wait for your free welcome baby box. The package usually arrives 4-6 weeks

Inside My Walmart Baby Box

There is no in-store pickup option – Walmart’s baby box is shipped to you totally free. You don’t have to jump through as many hoops to get your free baby box from Walmart as Amazon and Target makes you.

No purchase required at all, they just need just an account and an address. It’s the easiest box to get your hands on out of all 3.

I had low expectations for the Walmart baby box but the box arrived chalked full of stuff. It was definitely heavier than Amazon’s baby boxes in terms of weight. Here are the internal contents of the box:

Item count: 11-13 products

Diversity: 3.5/5

Summary: 4/5

My favorite thing from this box is the baby milestone cards. They are thick deck of index cards (sort of like makeshift belly stickers) with each month and common baby milestone printed on it. It’s a really sweet and personal touch, something I didn’t expect from Walmart.

Considering how easy it was to get this box (took 3 minutes max; no hoops to jump through; totally free) – this is a pretty good value. There were 2 full-sized items (Dr. Brown bottle and pacifier), the rest were samples. Shipping is totally free and my box arrived within 4-5 weeks.

There is 2 packets of baby (cold?) medicine, that was unexpected. It’s not something I’ve gotten in other boxes. But it might be something really handy to have it around though, so thank you Walmart for an unexpectedly solid free baby box.

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What Is Target Baby Registry?

Target offers a platform where expecting parents can list gifts that they want to receive for the baby. Family and friends can “gift” the items listed in the registry. Besides this perk, parents can get numerous other benefits:

Target Baby Registry Benefits

• 15% discount (x2) on everything listed in the registry eight weeks before the baby’s listed expected arrival. It’s 15% online, and another 15% in stores
• A platform that lets you create a checklist of essential items
• A Target free baby welcome kit*
• Easy returns & exchanges up to a year after your arrival date
• Group gifting (guests can contribute toward larger items) and gift tracking (managing thank you notes)

*You need to create a baby registry in order to be qualified for a welcome kit. This kit has free sample products, coupons, and reusable bags. Parents can create their registry either online or in Target’s physical stores.

Step-By-Step: Redeeming Your Target Welcome Baby Kit

Creating a Target Account

1. Sign in or make a Target account here. 

2. Next, create your own baby registry. Head on to this page and fill up your profile.

3. Add any random baby item to your registry. It’s pretty straightforward. You will be guided by prompts that will help you create a balanced registry.

4. Save your list and share the link to eager gifters.

For Target app users: create a list using the app. Follow the instructions from the prompt or customize your list based on your preferences.

5. You will receive an email (check your spam) after you created your registry letting you know your registry perks. Part of the registry perk is being able to get a barcode to claim your Target welcome kit inside your Target account.

Redeeming Your Target baby Box

1. The interface can be different for both desktop and mobile apps. First, you need to go to your registry and select Manage your Registries & Lists.

*NOTE on Redemption: If you are on mobile and using the mobile version of Target on your web browser then you will not see the barcode. You have to request the desktop version on your mobile browser of Target’s website in order to find the barcode. You can download the barcode image in advance just in case to skip the mobile/desktop fuss.

2. Use the Get Barcode option (save the barcode or screenshoot the code on your phone)

3. Go to a Target store, pick up your gift at Member Guest Services (usually next to the refund counter) with the barcode and claim your box. There is no free shipping. The Target baby box is pick up in-store only.

4. Here’s a link to Target General Registery FAQ if you have further questions.

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Inside My Target Baby Box

Target Baby Coupon’s Book

Item count: 13-17 products

Diversity: 4/5

Summary: 4/5

I scanned the Target coupon book above just for kicks. Of course, the coupon book changes so your discounts will vary – I just wanted to show that there is product diversity in there. There’s even a 50% off Starbucks coupon.

Everybody says the Target baby registry kit (more of a cheap synthetic tote bag) is the best among all 3 boxes. I can see why people would say that. It’s the heaviest and one that comes loaded with tons of samples from all various brands. The best perk if you shop with Target regularly is having the 15% off anything* registry coupon (for both online and in-store transactions.)

Conclusion

These boxes are all free so there’s no reason why you can’t claim all of them. If you want non-sample products (like onesies and blankets) go with Amazon. Amazon’s the only box that came with swaddles and onesies. The rest of the samples in the Amazon baby box are tamed.

If you didn’t want a repetition of samples or waste your time, the most goodie loaded box is Target’s baby welcome kit — especially if you are interested in using the $80 value* bonus coupon book included. The only downside is you have to go to a Target store and pick it up in person (which cost us money in the end because we spent money shopping while there. Their sinister plan worked!)

If you want to skip the work Amazon & Target makes you go through and simply get a free baby sample box shipped to you, Walmart’s baby box is your best bet. I love the milestone cards and how easy it was to get it. All I had to do was put in my expected due date and shipping address. The Walmart baby box just showed up on my doorstep one day, a few weeks later, easy peasy!

Let’s order these seventeen different apps and then also each get a full meal. Oh and how about another round of margaritas! Yes, we’ll split the bill.

– Unfrugaled Friends

I like to think that I live within my means without any real sacrifices but my spendy friends and family definitely throw a wrench into my frugal lifestyle.

So over years of trial and error, I developed some special techniques that let me fly under the frugal radar, save lots of money, AND keep all my friends happy! Today, I want to share these with you!

Who am I?? 

I’m Leif of FiveYearFIREescape.com! I retired about a year ago and my wife Lina retired a few years before I did. Our family is mindful of spending but we don’t budget (blechhh).

We have a big, crazy goal to travel around the world with our family, and most random expenses just don’t compare to it, making saving money really easy for us. 

We have two kids and I live in a very expensive city of Toronto, Ontario, Canada (it’s no Bay Area though). Living there makes retirement harder but my family made it with the best side hustle ever (although it’s considered cheating to most people), some impressive saving, simple investing and a lot of real estate.

And that’s essentially the lessons we like to share: Saving. Investing. Living. 

Oh, I forgot the best part. 

I’m obsessed with doing everything in a time-efficient way. I always felt pressed for time so all of my investments are geared towards minimal time investment, and my blog is a reflection of that. If it takes time, I will bash on it…

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So Back to Troublesome Friends:

It’s not a conspiracy set out against your thrifty goals. Going out for dinner and drinks is the status quo in most social circles.

You tell yourself that you’ll just get a glass of water and something cheap, but somehow you still end up gagging a little when the bill comes. 

What went wrong?

Mathematically it is 800x harder to say no to things once your friends are already saying yes. 

(True story: I was trying to be frugal and my friends all suddenly wanted bottle service. It was not a cheap night.) 

Is it just me or is everything expensive now?!

So perhaps the obvious solution is to just dodge going out altogether. “Nah, I’d rather stay in tonight.“

But pull that trick too many times and you will be declared as lame! The worst of all the things to be!

The truth is, you should be able to have fun. You’re young, and finance isn’t about sitting at home.

And you shouldn’t have to find a whole new group of friends just because you decided to take the plunge into living with some kick-butt personal finance strategies. (Unless you never liked those guys anyway.) 

So how do you get the best of both worlds? 

Bring Your Friends into Your Goals

I used to have this one friend who had the same money-saving idea, but his excuse was always “No, I can’t afford it.” I mean it got to the point, but it was such a downer.

He eventually turned into a downer himself and basically disappeared. 

My wife and I didn’t want to start bumming people out, so we came up with a way more inspiring alternative. 

We NEVER say I can’t. We tell our friends about our goals. We get excited. We share pictures. We say why this is a big deal to us and get them onboard with OUR goals. 

They’re our friends, after all, they should care. This message is positive, it keeps us in control, and people love it. 

By the way, a big tip: share a goal that your friends and family can get excited about with you.

Jumping to saying you want $3,000,000 by the time you’re 40 so you can quit working won’t get much buy-in.

But saying that you’re saving up for a Hawaii vacation (or a house, Beyonce concert, motorcycle, or whatever) will get you some serious street cred.

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3 Go-To Phrases To Stay Frugal

We use this phrase: 

Not today. We’re saving up for a wicked ______. How about we get together at our place? We’ll cook a stir-fry!

Let’s break this down. 

1. Say no. After you say no, stick to your guns

Don’t succumb to peer pressure. If they’re your friends, they’ll understand. If you give in once, it’ll be that much harder next time. By the way, this doesn’t mean NO forever. We’ll get to this later. 

2. Remind your friends of a thing you’re saving up for

It helps if you’ve talked about this before, and don’t spring this up as a last-minute plan change. But it’s up to you. 

And don’t fall for the argument that one dinner certainly couldn’t hurt your goals. It’s not about the one dinner, it’s about being in control of how you spend your money. (Besides, like I said, this isn’t a NO forever.) 

3. Offer a cheap or free alternative

It could be a hike, a simple coffee, wandering Ikea with no intention to buy anything (be strong!), or dinner at your place. Get creative, there are tons of things you can do for free. 

I wish I was as convincing as Rick’s heist bot.

“That’s Interesting!“

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Prepare To Get Major Respect! 

Our go-to phrase is magical in that it’s so casual and easy and yet it demands respect. 

First of all, you’re saying no and being strong about it. That’s badass. People love badasses.

Then you’re sharing your goals and everyone respects people with a vision for their life. 

“You’re saving up for Argentina? That sucks!”
Can you hear someone saying that?
No, of course not!

It’ll be more like “Wow, you’re amazing! When are you going? I want to do something like that too but I keep going out to expensive dinners!” 

Lastly, you’re offering an alternative. Your spendy friends will probably give you a sigh of relief to hear that they can spend ten bucks and bring a bottle of wine instead of fifty at the bar.

Everyone wants to save money, they just haven’t thought about how to get out of these tricky social situations or developed the backbone to follow through. 

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So That’s It? No More Outings?

The thing to remember is that you don’t have to say no every single time. And you don’t have to say yes every single time either. The important part is that you made a conscious choice. Your dreams vs today’s outing and you are in control.

I actually love to go out with my friends for beers, take my wife out for dinner, and I even go clubbing sometimes. But here’s how I keep it frugal: 

1. Make it an event.

When we do come out, we *assist* our friends in making a big deal about it. It’s like our scarcity is a bonus feature. And we treat it like a special occasion for us as well, not some same-ol’ dinner. 

2. Avoid drinks!

I know, I know, but drinks are what really adds up at the end of the night. You can be the DD for the night if you want to avoid the peer pressure, or you can also…

3. Pre-drink.

I swear, I’m not some dumb frat jock, but this is the one lesson from college that’s stuck with me. Drinking at a bar is expensive. Drinking at a house is cheap. If you do want to consume copious amounts of alcohol do it at home. Invite everyone and make it a party (don’t drive obviously…do I need to say that??)

We have skipped going out plenty of times because our pre-drinking party got too feisty. It made for a better night anyways 

“Alcohol may be man’s worst enemy, but the Bible says love your enemy.” – Frank Sinatra

We Kicked It Up a Notch 

Most recently, we used our go-to phrase to minimize gift-giving over Christmas for our family affairs.

For context, we’ve been trying to do this for years – not just for the cost-savings, but because we really don’t need or want extra stuff. 

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Nor do we want to rack our brains coming up with fun but useless gadgets to give as gifts. Our family never accepted the gentle nudges about our minimalist ambitions, but this year was different.

We used the magic phrases: 

1 – “We’re really focused on planning our upcoming 4-month eurotrip.“
2 – “We realized that it doesn’t make sense to get gifts we won’t use for months AND we really want to save up so that we don’t have to worry about finances while we are away.“
3 – “How about we all just get something small for the kids but no big gift exchange?”

It worked! (To an extent.) I think our family will ‘forget’ next year, but it’s definitely a step in the right direction. 

When you invite your friends and family into your dreams and goals, when you share your why it becomes easier to get everyone onboard with YOUR dream.

What about you, have your friends ever made it hard to stick to your frugal goals and what have you done about it? Tell me below! Or visit me at FiveYearFIREescape.com, Twitter, or Facebook. I’d love to hear your story.

Just imagine Hell. Hell has got to be…where you expected an $85 bill but now you’re trying to find someone/anyone on the other end of the phone line (on a shoddy vulnerable connection) to answer why you were billed $2,000 for a set of routine labs.

“That’s Interesting!“

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Hopefully, this article will help put an advocate in your corner for that ridiculous medical bill charge. There are a lot of hidden bombs in the minefield of insurance and medical billing so take this with you:

Common Medical Bill Errors

According to Medical Billing Advocates of America, 80% of medical bills have some form of error. Add this to the fact that medical bills can bury someone in debt, this is a critical issue for hospitals and insurers. Here are the most common medical bill errors that are commonly encountered in the US –

1. Typo of Patient Data 

People who handle patient information can make a mistake in encoding. One of the most common causes of this mistake is when the handwriting is hard to decipher or if the one who filled the form during admission was not a relative or acquaintance. There is also a possibility that upon encoding, the encoder might’ve switched two patient’s information, although it is not as likely to happen. 

2. Coding Errors

Hospitals and insurance providers have codes for their products and services, just like in grocery stores. The three usual code sets used are Current Procedural Terminology (CPT) codes, Healthcare Common Procedure Coding System (HCPCS) codes, and ICD-9 codes. You can usually find the code before the service description or in the separate column.

An example of an error is when you are billed with a major procedure instead of just a checkup because of a one-letter difference. There are free databases online where you can look up the code in your bill to confirm if you’re properly charged.

3. Duplicate Charges

Duplicate charges happen when you pay the same things, with either the same or different code. An example of this is when you are billed with your room usage twice on the same date. Another one is when you are charged separately for services that are actually included in your room package.

4. Canceled Tests or Procedures

This happens when you request to cancel a procedure, but they included it on your bill anyway. One common reason why this happens is when your doctor forgot to update the management about your procedures.

5. Unbundled Charges

Unbundled charges happen when instead of charging as a package, you are charged with separate services that make up a bundled package. As per Catalyst, an example of a bundled package are tests to diagnose UTI, Sepsis, and Congestive Heart Failure. They’re charging you with the right items, but because it is not charged as a package, the package discount is not availed.

6. Check Your Explanation of Benefits (EOB)

If you’re the one who usually ignores EOB documents, you should build a habit to check it for information inaccuracies. This document is sent by your insurer and includes the list of treatments that they will shoulder. In addition, this document also includes the amount that you would need to pay because it is not covered by your policy. Compare your EOB to your final bill to make sure that you won’t have to pay charges that are already paid by your insurer.

7. Location of Ordering Physicians

This one was what went wrong with us. Just because of this little misstep based on the location of our ordering physician – we had a pending charge of $8,000 that insurance and our physician had to settle back and forth (which has taken months and share of it is still on-going.) It should have been no more than $100.

Apparently, if you work for a large employer with insurance in different states, the location of exact coverage differs based on tons of factors, but they don’t tell you about it during pre-authorization. It still doesn’t make sense to us, my husband was so very annoyed. In this case, the uninsured price was cheaper than the insured price charge…so we negotiated to pay the uninsured price. Logic has no place here. I don’t envy anyone dealing with medical insurance.

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Steps In Negotiating Medical Bills

1. Review Your Medical Bill & Insurance Policy

Check your medical bills for possible errors. Make sure to tally the services you received and compare it to the final bill. Watch out for the errors listed above, use free internet sources to check the codes. And lastly, verify that you have the right information written in your final bill. It is also a great idea to review your insurance policy to save time if ever your insurer refuses to pay your bill.

2. Contact Your Insurer & Hospital Billing Department

If you found some errors and inconsistencies, the first thing you should do is to call your hospital’s billing office regarding the inaccuracy in your bill. Each information in this call is important, so take note of the conversation. If the inaccuracies are easy to correct, it can be easily done during the phone call.

However, if the problem is not resolved, the next thing you can do is to contact your insurer. The insurer will likely help you in filing your claims, especially if the claim will help in reducing your bills (which could also reduce their billings, especially in cases of duplicate charges).

You should also act on fixing the bills as soon as possible because unpaid medical debt will affect your credit score and it would take at least seven years to remove it. It is suggested that you also contact a credit-reporting agency to let them know that you’re disputing a medical bill.

3. Organize Your Hospital Documents

In order to win the dispute, you need to arm yourself with evidence showing the errors of your healthcare provider. If you’re not provided, you can ask for an itemized statement of your medical bill. You should also present documents from you and your doctor’s agreement if you refuse treatment but the hospital still charged for it. Results after the treatments are also strong documents to include in your appeal.

4. File Your Appeal

The next step is to officially make an appeal for your medical bill. Make a letter regarding the error and explain all your concerns in polite but detailed contents. Attach a copy of your files and evidence, as well as include the details of the conversation you had with the billing office including the time and date of the call and the name of the representative. You should both fax the letter and send it by mail. By sending a letter as soon as found an error, and if it is sent to collection, it should be noted as disputed.

5. Negotiate Your Bill

After the medical bill has been disputed, and the error of the billing department has been acknowledged, you will be given a new medical billing with adjustments. If you think you still need help after the adjustments and after exhausting your insurance coverage, try to negotiate the amount you owe for a lower price. The hospital will more likely work with you in restructuring the amount you owe if you show that you have the intention to pay.

You can speak again with the billing office and make a payment plan that can help you pay your medical bills. Don’t be shy and ask if they could reduce the price. Explain your financial situation and be honest about the details.

6. Consider Seeking Help From a Billing Advocate

This is for when all else fails. If the hospital won’t still honor the dispute, or if your insurer will still reject to pay your coverage, you should consider seeking help from a medical bill advocate. A medical bill advocate is a person that knows the medical delivery system and should help you in negotiating your bill. Although there are medical bill advocates that offer their service for free there are others who would charge for their services. But the fee is nothing compared to the money you’ll save in negotiation. You can find a billing advocate in both NAHAC or APHA.

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Sample Letter For Medical Disputes

In order to make a strong case, your medical bill dispute letter should be detailed but concise. You should also put important information such as your name, address, and contact information. Include the date of your billing along with a billing identification number. Elaborate the error and support it with solid evidence. Mention the involved code if the error is from a coding error. If the error is excessive charging, explain your point by comparing the cost of services in another area. Also, mention how you want to rectify the errors, but as polite as possible.

Sending a letter does not only notify the hospital about your concern in your medical billing. This is also a way to make them comply with federal requirements, as written letters are strong evidence. Creating a good letter is important should you ever have a problem with your dispute.

Here is an example of a billing dispute letter about an error in upcoding:

Jon Snow

Castle Black, North of Winterfell

The North, Westeros, 11122

Date: November 18, 2019

King’s Landing Hospital

The Crownlands,  Capital City

The South, Westeros, 110021

Billing Account Number: 123-456-789

To Whom It May Concern:

This is to notify the Billing Department that I am disputing a charge on my bill, which was dated November 15, 2019. The original treatment was done last November 14, 2019, which amounts to $100. I was admitted to your hospital because I accidentally bend my knee during an unfortunate accident. This required your technicians to take x-rays to fix my injury. However, upon checking the bill, I was charged with Electrocardiogram and some blood tests which I did not take amounting to $500.

Attached in this letter is the copy of the bill that I received with an ECG and blood tests charged into my name. Also attached in this letter is a copy of the result of my knee x-ray after your staff finished my treatment. As you can see, the result sheet indicates a knee x-ray and not ECG.

I would like to request a new bill wherein the ECG and blood tests are removed. I would also like the new billing to be sent as stated by the legal collection laws, which has a 30 days limit upon receipt of this letter.

I hope to hear from you as soon as possible upon receiving this letter. Please contact me at 555-098-1238 or at JonSnow@castleblackmail.com.

Thank you.

Sincerely, 

Jon Snow (printed name with signature)

Billing No.  123-456-789

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What Happens If You Don’t Pay Medical Bills?

1. Late Fees and Interest

Just like any other debts, your medical bill will start ballooning after its due date. The late fees, as well as interest rates,  will start to take their toll, and the longer time that you ignore your obligations, the more obligations you would get. That sounds cliched, but that’s what happens.

2. Credit Score Damage

As mentioned before, an unpaid medical bill will be very damaging for your credit score. According to the NCLC Digital Library, some hospitals will wait for several months before reporting to a credit reporting agency about your unpaid balance. However, there are hospitals that will report after just a month or two. This would make you pay your bills via credit card, but that’s not a good thing to do because credit card companies charge even higher interest rates than hospitals. Instead, you should opt for a bill negotiation and try to make a plan for monthly payments.

3. Hospital Can Decline You Services

When your balance remained unpaid, and you still won’t make an effort to make a compromise, it is likely that the hospital will decline their services to you. Although you can always go to other hospitals, this would be a problem if there are no other medical facilities in your place. However, they cannot decline your right if you need to be in the emergency room, as per the Emergency Medical Treatment and Active Labor Act or EMTALA.

4. Involvement of Legal Action. 

Yes, unpaid medical bills can turn into legal action when the collections agency cannot get any payment, or at least an intention to pay from you. Hospitals can sue their patients for unpaid medical bills, but they cannot really send you to jail. Instead, the hospital can request for wage garnishment, in which a portion of your wage will go directly as payment for your obligations. 

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What Are The Medical Bill Collections Laws?

When the hospital cannot get you to pay your bills, it will likely send your account to a collection agency. After a while, you’ll go to receive a lot of calls from their collection agents. These agents can pressure you, or even insult you to make you pay your dues. In this case, you have the protection of the Fair Debt Collections Practices Act or FDCPA. The collection agency would get in trouble if they call you at the wrong time, if their agent harasses you, or if you’re still contacted when you have your own attorney. However, this protection doesn’t apply if the original creditor (the hospital) will be the one contacting you.

Just like other matters, the collections law depends on the state where you live. There are states where consumers are initially favored while there are other states with weak consumer protection.

There are four areas that state the coverage of the rule such as FDCPA application, homestead and vehicle exemptions, bank account exceptions, and wages. Florida (head of the family only), Texas, South Carolina, and North Carolina require 100% wage garnishment.

Most of the states will take 75% of your wages, except in Alaska, where they can get wage garnishment between $456 to $716, according to Better Business Bureau.

States such as Alabama, Delaware, Indiana, Louisiana, and Pennsylvania will require even your auto as payment with no exception. States such as Colorado, Florida, Hawaii, Kansas, Louisiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Montana, Nevada, Oklahoma, Rhode Island, Texas, Utah, Virginia, and Wyoming will require you to empty your bank account to pay your obligations with no exception.

Are You Liable To a Late Medical Bill?

The truth is, you can actually ignore your medical bill for the rest of your life. However, the fact that the debt is still there will never disappear. If you’re willing to spend the rest of your life with bad credit and receiving harassing phone calls every day, that might be the ideal choice. But honestly, having a bad credit score isn’t worth it.

There is actually a statute of limitations on debt collection, and it largely depends on the state-by-state rules, as well as the category of debt (oral, written, promissory note, or open-ended agreement). A myth that your medical bills will go away after seven years is just a myth. The truth is, your debt will stay, but it will not stay enforceable after a few years.

In Louisiana, Oral, Written, and Promissory Note agreements would not be enforceable anymore after ten years. Rhode Island will stop honoring oral and written agreements after 15 years while Promissory Notes and open-ended agreements will stop in ten years. Meanwhile, in California, oral agreements will stop being enforced in two years, while the rest will be stopped in four years. However, since a lot of people don’t know this law exists, collection agencies will still call them to pay their debts. (source)

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Disputing a Medical Bill

1. Spot Common Coding Errors

Virtually, medical procedures are coded to facilitate collection from insurance companies. But there are instances when codes are mismatched out of an honest mistake. This means that the codes do not line up with your diagnosis and as a result, your insurer will most likely payment upon a claim.

To catch you up to speed, here some of the most common coding mistakes that you need to know, so when you talk to the billing department, you know exactly what to say.

2. Upcoding

This happens when you are billed for a treatment that is almost similar to what you received but is actually more expensive. Ex. When generic medication is billed for a name-brand medication.

3. Unbundling

Where services that should have been billed as a package were billed individually resulting into a higher medical bill.

4. Duplicate Billing

A common computer-generated issue that happens when you’re billed multiple times for one procedure.

5. Mismatched Billing

This happens when the code does not match your diagnosis. Hence, insurance providers will deny the claim and send the bill back to you.

6. Know The Cost of Every Procedure

It is important to know all the fees for every procedure. Being 100% aware of what is legit can help you spot the mistakes in your bill.

You do not have to conduct an extensive investigation to do it. Simply approach your healthcare provider and inquire about the exact prices for each procedure and other associated services. Any provider would be willing to lift the veil on pricing especially during the payment stage.

This way, you will know whether the numbers in your bill are accurate. If there are mistakes then it is time to show your negotiating skills. Here are some steps on how you can negotiate a price dispute.

1. Visit the hospital’s billing department and inform them of the mistake and request for re-adjustment of your bill. If the hospital provides a customer hotline, then make the necessary call.
2. Submit the necessary documentation to support your claim.
3. Wait for further instruction from the billing department as they verify the price discrepancies. Depending on the severity of the mistake, the verification may take one to three days.
4. If your claim is denied, you may file an appeal to the head of the billing department or to its dispute resolution officer. Normally, they will give you a timeline to hear back on the request (typically 3-4 weeks).
5. Make sure to leave an email or a contact number to the billing department. Once adjustments are made, you will receive a notice to make the payment.

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Check If You Qualify For Discounts

There are different discounts that you may qualify for depending on your situation and location. Some hospitals offer charity care programs that allow people with low income to avail 20 to 30 percent discount after what their insurance covers. There are also hospitals that give some discounts to their own employees.

The government have more financial aid programs for people in special situations. Persons with Disabilities (PWDs), for example, are entitled to a certain discount in public and private hospitals under the Affordable Healthcare Act. The discount cover purchases of generic and branded medicines, diagnostics, hospitalization, and rehabilitation services.

Older people (60 years old and above) can avail of a financial aid that covers hospital visits, medication, and nursing home care. Here are some steps you can follow to learn whether you can qualify for a discount.

1. Inform your medical provider of your unique situation. Are you suffering from any kind of disability or have you reached the senior age? Are you a hospital employee?
2. Submit a formal letter of your intention to avail of any of these programs. Sometimes, government initiated-discounts are automatically reflected in your bill.
3. In case you did not receive the discount, do not hesitate to contact the hospital’s customer service representative or billing department then request for re-adjustment if your bill.
4. Wait for the decision and file an appeal when necessary.

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In this age where every transaction is almost instant, a lot of marketing efforts also shifted their way into the digital age. But one marketing relic still exists and a lot of companies still leans on old-school mail-in rebates.

Digital rebates already exist are being offered by a lot of online shops. In hindsight, there should be no more reasons for companies to engage in traditional mail-in rebates. But even in the era where digital advertising dominates as the next big thing, mail-in rebates still exist.

To be honest, I’m not a fan of mail-in rebates. I don’t think anyone like messing with mail-in rebates. They are troublesome to redeem, takes forever to process, and hard to keep track of. But in reality, mail-in rebates are still a thing in the United States. I’ve done them for Macy’s, Kohl’s, and other big-box stores in the past. All to my annoyance mind you, but hey, free money, I guess?

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What Are Rebates? 

A rebate is an amount of money returned to a buyer after he or she successfully reached the requirement of a certain purchase. The requirements are usually purchasing an item in a specific period (e.g. get $50 back if you buy on Memorial Day weekend) or in a specific quantity (e.g. get $50 back if you buy 100 pieces).

Unlike discounts (which are presented before payment), rebates are given after purchase, either via cashback or via store credit. Mail-in rebates are usually used in electronics, food, household, and pet products.

What you need to do if you want to claim a rebate is fill out the rebate form after making the required purchase. You will then need to send the form in along with your proof of purchase and UPC code by a certain deadline.

You will then need to mail off everything in person at a post office or drop it into the mailbox.

Third-party rebate processors will check your claim and decide whether your rebate form will be rejected or not.

The process is usually done in about six to eight weeks.

If done right, using rebates is an effective way to save money. But mail-in rebates also require more effort and follow up. If you the mail or rebate check was misdelivered or lost, you would need to follow up with every party from your postman to the company. You also need to keep track and remember the deadline of these things.

With efficient handling, it is a way to save decent money especially on bigger or recurring purchases like a new refrigerator or an annual subscription of air filters.

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5 Reasons Why Companies Love Giving Rebates

These mail-in deals are still popular to deal hunters who want to make every hard-earned penny count. Companies still love giving rebates because of the five reasons listed below:

1. Majority of people usually forget about rebates

Ha! What a rip-off! One of the reasons why companies still send out rebates is the fact that the majority of customers forget to mail in their requirements after the purchase. According to a statement by Consumer World, 60% of rebates are never redeemed. Companies are hoping that their customers will forget to mail rebates, which causes a justifiable rebate rejection. And if the rebates are rejected, the company doesn’t need to release funds at all while still getting their sales numbers.

2. Rebates serve as a push to buy paired items

Another reason why mail-in rebates still exist is to draw customers to make a purchase. There are even products that offer rebates for the full purchase price or up to 80% of the original price, just to entice shoppers into buying.

While rebates can serve as a way to save money, it is also used for making additional sales. Notice that most of the heavily rebated item will usually require additional items. What would you do after getting a great rebate deal on a mattress? When you’re already in their store, might as well buy a foam topper and new bedsheets too, right?

“That’s Interesting!“

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3. Speeds up inventory turnover 

Items under rebate promotions are usually overstocked items or products that did not sell well at full price. Usually, stores will sell these items at a discount. Rebates are also used to reach the customers who won’t make a purchase above a certain price think they are getting a steal deal.

4. Gather personal data to improve marketing strategies

Since most of the rebates require personal information to complete, this information will likely be used as advertising data by the company. Most rebates will explicitly warn users that the company will take user information and use it for marketing strategies. Don’t be surprised if the company will mail you again in the future with their “recommended products.”

5. The delay will keep them from giving the rebate immediately

One of the most frustrating things when it comes to claiming rebates is its long delay. It usually takes a month or more before you know if the rebate was accepted or not.

By the time you get your answer, you might’ve forgotten all about it, or the rebate deadline period has already passed. This delay is actually because rebates are handled by third parties so it usually needs additional processing time. Companies prefer the delay so that they won’t have to release the fund right away, keeping their cash flow higher.

5 Tips To Rebate Like A Pro

A mail-in rebate feels like a dreaded process even to the most frugal of us. All the follow-up, filling out forms, giving out personal information…it makes me feel like I’ve already earned the rebate. In reality, I’ve got 1-3 months before I’ll see a rebate check if it was approved. Here are some tips if you do find a good rebate worth sending in:

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1. Know where to find good rebates 

If you’re still determined to save money using rebates, the first thing you need to do is to find great ones. One of the best places to start searching is your Sunday newspaper coupon inserts. Check the stores for promotions, you’ll likely get deals and offers including rebates. Lastly, there are times when you can find items that have rebates while shopping, so always keep an eye for rebates. Online stores usually discount their products directly, but there are also occasional mail-in rebates available.

You can find good mail-in rebate deals using the Slickdeals app or the Dealnews app.

2. Don’t forget your UPC Barcode

The UPC barcode is the numbers located in the box or the packaging of the product. Some rebates require the UPC barcode in order to complete the process, while some rebates do not require it. Just to make sure, check your rebate form for details and fill out the UPC bar code anyway (or cut it from your purchase).

3. Opt for an online cash rebate instead

Online rebates are also available to sites like Newegg and Macy’s. The typical instruction in claiming a rebate is to cut the UPC code from the product, register the rebate on the website, fill out the form and send it via regular mail. You will then have to wait for a few weeks to get your rebates.

Sometimes to prevent popular rebates claims, companies would pull the rebate forms down from their sites. With the form not in the rebate application, your rebate will likely get delayed or rejected. That’s why it’s good practice to print forms from online sources immediately even before deciding if you will go ahead with the purchase.

4. Use mail-in rebates for your next big purchase 

The nature of mail-in rebates makes it a pain in the neck for most of the customers. Mail-in rebates shine the brightest if you’re planning on making big purchases (usually in electronics, appliances, or bedding.) If you’re planning to get rebates on small purchases, stack your items, but separate your transactions.

If you have other promotions such as coupons and discounts, make sure to take advantage of those along with the rebates (if you’re allowed to). If you shop with online, you can check out Amazon’s Rebate to see if you can claim rebates on your Amazon items.

5. Make a copy of your files before you mail them

After filling up the form and making sure that every document is inside your envelope, it is time to mail your rebate. But before that, you might want to make a copy of all your documents and keep them in another envelope. After keeping a copy and mailing the original, you should start tracking your rebate. You can do this by using a spreadsheet or other rebate-tracking services.

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Conclusion

Can mail-in rebates save money? – For sure, most of the time if you handle it right!

Is it worth the hassle? Eeeee, well that depends.

If it’s a good rebate deal and you were planning to buy the item anyway, then there’s no reason to not send it in. But a rebate should not be the make it or break it decision to making the purchase. A rebate should only be the icing on top.

These days, a mail-in rebate offer of $5 to $10 dollars off just makes me annoyed. But our refrigerator had a mail-in rebate of $150, which was definitely worth it to send in, just keep in mind to follow up and make sure your rebate comes through.

Here are the 7 most common kinds of pest infestation in the United States – there is a good chance we have all dealt with at least one of these.

Pest infestation is a common occurrence in a lot of places in the country. The infestation can be triggered by an inevitable reason (e.g. changes in season, plus lack of preventive measures).) or of everyday causes: very dirty houses and super clean houses (even pests love clean did you know!)

Whenever such an issue comes up, there’s always the question I ask:

Can I fix this myself, or do I need to hire someone?

And then the follower-up:

How much is this sucker going to cost me?

In this article, you will know about the 7 most common pest infestation, their origin, and how to handle the situation when an infestation happens – if it’s something that can be done yourself or outsourced to a working professional.

I also added some DIY essential oil spray recipes effective in getting rid of certain common household pests. These essential oil sprays are super powerful so read carefully on the dosage used.

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What’s a Pest Infestation?

A pest infestation happens when a house or a building is being invaded or overrun by pests, especially insects. These pests often present a risk in human’s health and estate properties. Usually, a single infestation is present in a house, but multiple infestations can happen at the same time.

Pests often have very basic needs to thrive in an environment. With a little bit of warmth, a little bit of moisture, and food available – pests can live and stay in one place.

There are a lot of signs of pest infestation. If you start to see alive pests, this could mean that the infestation is already severe. Evidence of nestings, pest droppings, or even dead bugs indoors is strong indicators of an ongoing infestation. You will also likely notice an odd smell coming from places in the house that are hard to reach or are often ignored.

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General Pest Prevention

It is also worthy to note that having a consistent cleaning schedule and proper hygiene can help in preventing infestations. Prevention is always a better answer to any bad things. The best way to save money is to not let the infestation becoming a true threat to your property and health. Sealing up entry points such as cracks and holes is also effective. Replacing rotting wood or old furniture helps in preventing pests such as termites.

When To Set Up DIY

Most of the infestations can be remedied quickly by calling a professional pest control service. However, if you don’t want those strong chemicals in your house or if the scope of the infestation is still relatively small, there are DIY solutions that are effective in getting rid of infestations before you research and drag down a pest solution company.

These DIY remedies are usually cheaper, more environmental and pet-friendly. You can save money by using natural methods before calling your local pest control service provider.

7 Pest Infestations & Natural DIY

1. Get Rid of Flies

Flies can be identified as house flies and fruit flies. Both of the two can give you plenty of pesky problems during an infestation. Although they play a good role in the environment as pollinators and food sources for animals, they are harmful when they decide to invade your living standard.

Because flies can transmit different diseases even to humans, it is important to get rid of these insects immediately. They are often associated with food poisoning because of the possibility that they carry Salmonella or E. coli. In addition, flies also feed on fecal matter and spoiled organic products, according to PennState College of Agricultural Sciences.

Natural DIY: Get Rid of Flies

A couple of splashes of apple cider vinegar (attractive smell to flies) and a few drops of dish detergent (acts as a sticky trap) in a bowl or bottle. Wrapped on top with a tight wrap and prick a few holes. This recipe has been this doctor’s tried and true method for years to repel house flies. The flies land in the cider and dish detergent mixture through the holes, get trapped in it before they drown. Just make sure you don’t make the holes too large or some might escape.

Fortunately, DIY traps such as vinegar and dish soap fly traps can be made if a small infestation appears. This can only be done with the flies inside homes. In a shallow dish bowl, just mix apple cider vinegar, and a tablespoon of sugar. This attracts the flies and kills them.

2. Bed Bugs

Contrary to their name, bed bugs can also appear in other places such as cracks and crevices around your home. They can reproduce quickly and become a whole army of blood-sucking insects in just a couple of days. With the existence of bed bugs, a lot of people’s sleep is interrupted every night. PennState’s Department of Entomology stated that bed bugs usually enter the house via secondhand articles and furniture.

They are a nightmare to DIY so I would consult a reputable, industry expert regarding the severity of the situation because bed bugs can be very stubborn.

The obvious way to stop a small bed bug infestation is to wash the bedding immediately after the symptoms appear to avoid spreading. Wash your beddings in high temperature as heat helps in killing these bugs. Just like heat, freezing them are also effective, but it takes more effort than the heat method. Freeze the affected object in the freezer and leave it for at least four days. Vacuuming is also a good remedy, but disposing of them could be a hard task so I still would recommend getting a professional to consult.

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3. Ants

One way to describe ant infestation is widespread “food thievery” because they invade homes in search of food. Although some ants usually nest outside (Odorous House Ants), this can be different when winter comes and they decided to march inside a house. There are also ant species such as Carpenter Ants which destroys properties.

Natural DIY: Get Rid of Ants

DIY remedies for odorous house ants include homemade ant baits which include sugar (to attract them) and borax to kill them, according to UC Master Gardeners of Monterey. That’s what my husband and I did to get rid of our house ant infestation (when an ant hill appeared one day right next to our front yard.)

It took us 3 to 4 weeks of using Terro ant gel to effectively get rid of ants. Towards the end of the 4th week, the ants became smart and started avoiding the Terro gels so we got creative – we used real food (sugary cake, fruit, meatballs, etc.) and mixed it in Terro gel so the ants wouldn’t be able to resist the delicious poisonous cake. Odorous house ants carry the food in their nests, which kills the whole colony.

Carpenter Ants, on the other hand, don’t carry their food in their nests, so the best way to get rid of them is to kill them on the spot. Diatomaceous Earth is an organic and safe remedy to kill carpenter ants.

4. Dealing With Wasps

Wasps are dangerous, and even more so if they decide to build their nest in your home. These insects usually appear when the days start to become warmer. Wasps are known as territorial insects which attack in groups with their stings.

Don’t DIY Wasps

This is one of the insects where DIY methods are not recommended, even for the people with brave hearts. You can’t remove them with water or fire because this will only irritate them more. A large wasp nest can contain more than 25,000 wasps and you don’t want those wasps to attack you. Professional help is needed for this kind of infestation!

5. Get Rid of Rats

Rats are one of the greatest headaches when it comes to pests. They pose danger in everyone’s health, as well as in everyone’s homes. Transmission of diseases, damage in insulation, as well as destroying simple housing objects (chewing of walls, clothes, and other things) makes these rodents unwelcome in anybody’s home. Freak accidents like houses catching on fire can happen because of chewed electrical cables.

According to the United States Environmental Protection Agency, when you see a rat in the house, it is proof that an infestation is likely already severe. Maintaining the cleanliness of the house, especially in the kitchen, is a key step in preventing rat infestation.

One of the most common DIY methods of getting rid of rats is by using rat traps. You can make a homemade mouse trap by using a toilet roll tube, peanut butter, and a plastic container. You would have to check every single possible opening and close it off.

When the infestation is more severe than previously thought, inexpensive DIY pest controls won’t be effective for so long so it’s best to consult a local exterminator. If you want an exterminator to come and do that it would likely cost around $1,000 to $2,000 depending on the severity and home size.

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6. Get Rid of Termites

Termites are one of the most destructive pests in the country, if not the most. They usually destroy properties made out of wood and even concrete. If you’re a homeowner, you wouldn’t want to see these insects inside your house. They can cost up to $8,000 worth of damage before it’s noticeable.

What’s even worse is that these damages are not covered by most insurance policies. According to National Pesticide Information Center, ants and termites are easily confused because of similar appearance.

One way to get rid of termites is to use parasitic nematodes that feed on small insects. This is a good alternative from injecting liquid termiticides. Just like in ants, boric acid is also an effective termite killer.

Simply exposing the insects to the sun can help kill them. Termites thrive in areas that are rich with moisture, so eliminating the moisture can help in eliminating these pests.

7. Get Rid of Cockroaches

Usually seen in people’s kitchens, or other warm spaces at home, cockroaches are one of the most resilient pests out there. They have been around for millions of years, some say they are the most successful species out there and will probably outlast even humans.

They can hide well in dark places and will only appear if they need food. Cockroaches are known for triggering asthma and other allergies which can be deadly. In addition, because they crawl in a lot of places, they can trigger food poisoning.

There are cockroach traps and baits used in order to remove cockroaches at home. Boric acid paste is a paste that contains boric acid and sugar and is effective as bait.

Pouring or spraying soap and water solution is also a good cockroach killer when the infestation is just starting. What makes this solution deadly is that it clogs the roach’s pores, making it harder to breathe and will eventually cause the cockroach to die.

Pest Removal Recipes Using Essential Oils

I fell in love with the potent power of essential oils when I found myself with a mild scalp infection in college. A few drops of tea tree essential oil in regular shampoo gave me the (inexpensive) cure I needed and also killed my on-going battle with dry dandruff. The best part was how cheap it was compared to the doctor prescribed chemical mixtures and fancy name brand shampoos.

Going off the potency of essential oils, I discovered some reliable, all-natural, easy, DIY essential oil recipes that deter pests:

Essential Oils for Repelling Woodpeckers

In some regions of the U.S., a visit from woodpeckers could cost hundreds to thousands in exterior siding damage. You can kill woodpeckers because U.S. Agriculture protects certain species so therefore it is against the law to bring them harm. However…we paid $1,000 to have our siding repaired because a woodpecker happened to like the sound of our house when his beak hit it. Ugh!

We had huge holes in our house for months. It turns out, woodpeckers HATE the taste of grapeseed oil (and anything that wood shouldn’t taste like). So all we had to do was spray (like you’re painting the house in an invisible coat of paint) grapeseed oil (plus any blend of minty essential oil, optional) on the siding of our house 1-2x a month to keep those woodpeckers away. Super easy!

Essential Oil for Fruit Flies

If you have essential oils on hand try using a diluted few drops of lavender, peppermint, lemongrass, basil, clove, or eucalyptus essential oils. These scents can become a very powerful room spray that will repel flies.

Another all-natural solution would be apple cider vinegar mixed with lemon halves accompanied with eucalyptus-scented essential oil solutions. Spread that picture on sticky strips to attract them in and kill them.

Essential Oil for Rats & House Mice

The best essential oil to use for rats is peppermint. Peppermint has a smell that mice find unpleasant and is naturally strong in odor. It can be found cheaply in any natural whole foods store or online. Bonus, peppermint essential oil diluted is completely natural and harmless to humans (and most of us think it smells great!)

Essential Oil for Termites

Garlic, cinnamon, orange, peppermint, and clove essential oils are effective for killing termites. Mix these essential oils (about 5% dilution, 5-10 drops per 1/2 gallon) with water in a spray bottle and spray as a quick spot treatment.

Pest Infestations That Can’t Be Fixed By DIY

There are times when an infestation can be addressed by DIY solutions and persistence. However, there are infestations that are just so bad and dangerous that it is better to let the professionals handle the situation.

On example, as mentioned above, is when there is a wasp infestation. Wasps and hornets are stinging insects which can cause a deadly allergy reaction. Bed bugs are also very stubborn and rats can be reccuring if the source of the problem is not addressed by a professional.

Another scenario is when instead of odorous and carpenter ants, a colony of fire ants decided to nest near or inside your house. Fire ants are extremely dangerous because will attack even humans in full force when their territory is threatened.

Although there are termite DIY remedies available, if the structure is very damaged, the danger for you and your family over collapsing structures are possible.

If any infestation keeps coming back even after a lot of successful DIY extermination, then it is likely that you are missing something, which is the reason why they keep coming back.

Hidden colonies or survivors are likely the keys why a lot of infestations are hard to fully exterminate. There are also situations where a full-on infestation is happening and that it’s a bit too late for DIY methods to work.

When these scenarios are already in play, calling a professional is a wiser choice as DIY methods are already ineffective or too dangerous and the money saved is not worth the injuries.

Pest control services are still the best way to thoroughly get rid of pest infestations. These services can be costly, but the money spent on these services could be worth it.

If the infestation is way too severe, or if there are multiple infestations in your home, DIY methods might not be sufficient to kill or repel the pests. Pest control services usually know techniques and other methods to skillfully remove infestations without harming your property.

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After Care

What’s important is the aftercare and the preventive methods that you will do after the extermination. To prevent the pests from coming back, make sure to follow the prevention advice of your exterminator. Always maintain cleanliness and check everything that you put into your homes as they can carry pests.

Do a routine habit to check spaces that are hard to reach and check if there is an infestation forming. In these cases, DIY methods are the best and more cost-effective. If you want to put trees and shrubberies near your home, make sure that these plants have a decent distance from your home so bugs and other critters will not find their way inside.