July Change

I was excited to be saving change this month for my RRSP snowflake goal.

Alas, it was not to be.

The change went towards paying for my vehicle repair.

This month I had:

• 1 roll of toonies - $50
• 1 roll of loonies - $25
• 1 roll of quarters - $10
• 1 roll of dimes - $5
• 1 roll of nickels - $2

for a grand total of $92

Off for my first infusion

So after my last colonoscopy it was decided that we needed to up our game med-wise. We did the steroids. We did the asacol. We did the...whatever level the drugs were that I couldn't handle the side effects of.

The next level are biological treatments. The standard Remicade and Humira are off my list as they are known to bring on MS symptoms. We didn't want to take the risk of that.

There is a newer biological on the market called Entyvio. It just finished it's clinical trial and was brought on the market in May of this year.

It is not covered under my drug plan. The drug company works with a provider and it looks like they will cover the costs of the meds. I never asked how much the drug was. I should do that.

I had to send in financials to prove our household income was at a level that we would be covered.

So off I go to the city. An hour and a half away.  There are only 2 places in SK where the infusions are given. I am told it lasts 30 min. In comparison, the Remicade one was a 3 hour procedure I am told ( at least for the first time)

I get to have my favourite- an IV.   Fingers crossed the side effects are minimal and I have no reactions. Oh, and that it works!!

Phone Bill Credit

Hey it came through!

I was wondering if the credit would be there or if I would have to go through another round of phone calls.

My phone bill is usually just under $95. Almost $12 more including tax for the long distance calls to my doctor. I really hate that I have to go through a ton of automation before I actually get the direct line. Her assistant rarely answers.

At any rate, I am thankful for the credit! very thankful.

Quandry

Certainty: the dollar is going to keep dropping for several months

Certainty: we need US$ for another year of DS in college in the US

Do I ....
a) Max out my LOC to it's ceiling of $15 000 (another $8000) and then convert it to US dollars. Then pay the interest each month.
b) Ask for an increase in my ceiling of my LOC  and do a)
c) Convert the $3000 Canadian I have saved now and cross my fingers and hope.

Not going to college this year is not an option. The  partial scholarship won't hold.

Tuition, books etc total for Semester 1 is unsure right now. Since sophomores are living offcampus, DS tells me they just up the coverage of the tuition etc under the scholarship to balance out what they would have paid last year with him on campus. I won't know what that number is until mid Sept.  Housing then would be our cost.

If I took a or b, I would halt the 'saving' for college and put that money each month towards paying off the LOC.

There goes the vehicle

DS2 phoned from his camp last night.

A massive hail and wind storm went through last night. They had a group of little Scouters out and got them to safety just in time. So much damage done up there though. Trees uprooted. Tarps and tents torn. Windows smashed. And vehicles.

DS's vehicle is  badly damaged, as were many of the other leaders' vehicles. Windshield. Roof. Hood. Side panels.  Everyone is fine, but we now begin the journey of how much damage his car has.

The earliest we could get into the claim center is Aug 4. Tons of storms last night. Kerrobert, SK, I am thinking of you.

It will either be fixable and I will pay the deductible and it will take time for all the body work to get done, or it will be written off. If that is the case, we will get paid out a sum and then we have to decide if we want to buy it buy to fix or if we begin the hunt for a new vehicle.  If we are looking for a new vehicle, then I will be out a few thousand, as the payout for a write off is never as high as the cost of a new to him, safe vehicle.

But everyone is fine so I will take it as it comes. Annoys me though after all the money we put into this darn vehicle to get fixed over the winter. lol