Things I'll Start Buying With My FSA Money

I knew that starting 1/1/2011, a lot of stuff I previously bought using FSA money (OTC drugs) were no longer allowed without prescriptions.  So for the past couple of years, I just used my FSA money to pay for co-pays, co-insurance, contact lens stuff and other health equipment.

I looked carefully at a similar list of eligible and ineligible items yesterday and I was surprised at some of the stuff that are covered without a doctor's note:

• Hand sanitizer
• Hot creams (hot pads and hot patches included as well)
• Toilet seat covers
• Sunscreen with SPF 30+
• Vent cleaning (Expenses paid for the cleaning of your home's vent system.  The customer's explanation of necessity is required.)
• Parking fee or bus fare incurred for medical care.

I was also issued a FSA debit card for the first time this year.  When I spoke with a CIGNA representative yesterday, she advised that if I buy any of those items at general stores like Walmart or Target, to buy those items items:  (1) separately from non-eligible items and (2) at the pharmacy counter.

I'm going to try to push the envelope by submitting my SPF 30+ BB Cream purchase under the "Suncreen with SPF 30+" category.  I won't buy it with my debit card, but I'll submit it manually.  Who said health and beauty are mutually exclusive?

Budget Fail

Looks like I'm going to blow my monthly budget already.  2013 hasn't been good so far.  A shelf in my guest bathroom started tilting because the drywall anchor broke.  As a result, one of my apothecary jars fell and shattered (-$16.95+tax).  I also forgot to close my vegetable crisper in my fridge.  When I closed the door, it hit the still-open crisper and it cracked (-$38.95+tax+S&H).  But those accidents aren't what caused me to go over-budget.  (I'm just whining.  I'll replace those items in due time.)  I'd forgotten to account for 2 recurring items in my budget:  $21 orchid care service (quarterly) and $59 massage (monthly) dues.  *Sigh*

I'm still $3.17 below my budget, but I anticipate that with gas and other groceries, I'll likely go over in the next week or so.  Nevertheless, I'm going to try to see if I can live off of a $50 food budget I set for myself.  At this point, I've only spent $8.86, so I'm doing good so far. 

$50 Food Budget Until the 26th

Like a scared ostrich, I buried my head in the sand last year with respect to my finances.  I'm surprised that even though I was over-budget every month, I didn't run a major deficit.  (Not sure how I managed that feat.)  Nevertheless, I vowed to keep better tabs on my spending this year since my total dollars in the bank was less in Dec. 2012 than 2011.   So....

It's only the 4th and I'm suffering from a financial hangover from the holidays.  I can't believe I've already spent $400 of my $500 food/gas/incidentals budget for January.  This means I need to live off of $100 until the 26th, when my credit card turns over.  Since I expect to spend $50 in gas, that means I only have $50 for food and incidentals.  I've inventoried my fridge and I think I can manage with only buying certain staples like eggs, milk, veggies and fruit.  I'll be eating a lot of starch this month.  I guess my weight loss resolution will have to wait until February.