It's Not Cheap Being Me.

It's a good thing I'm good at budgeting. I'm expensive, and not by choice. Diabetes is certainly a very expensive disease, as you maybe saw from an earlier post, where I calculated that diabetes costs me $40 per day.

Then there's the gluten free diet, which is more expensive in that you can't just pick up whatever brand of food (or generic version) that is on sale; you have to buy whatever brand is gluten free; on sale or not. I don't buy much in the way of processed gluten free foods like bread (which runs $5-$8 a loaf), or pasta ($3-$5 a bag), or pretzels ($8-$9 a bag). I did stop at the gluten free bakery in town recently and saw that a 6 pk of blueberry muffins was $18.75 (I passed).

And now there's the newest addition to the family, the chemical allergies I was recently diagnosed me with, eliminating the option of using lower-cost bath/cleaning/kitchen/hair/makeup products. I finally found the one and only shower gel/cleanser that I can use. I got it at the pharmacy (no prescription needed):



Yep, that's an $18.25 price tag on that puppy. You can bet I won't be wasting that stuff. My special shampoo and conditioner are about $10 each in smaller bottles. And I am now using Seventh Generation cleaning products and dishwashing liquid, which runs about $4 each.

Nope, it's not easy on the budget living with illness. But I'm still grateful to do it. And really, most days it doesn't bother me too much to live a little differently. It just is who I am now; it's part of me. I sometimes feel a little self-conscious; being "different" in so many areas of my life. But true friends will still like me and my family is stuck with me :)

Next Sunday I finish my Financial Peace University class. I've learned SO much and gained so many new ideas for budgeting and saving and living debt-free. I now use the envelope (cash) system for all purchases except for when I pay bills online. You "feel" the money going out the door when you see it coming out of your wallet versus swiping your bank debit card. And having an actual budgeted amount for each expense category has helped so much.

I have an upcoming fun event. I volunteer at the annual Animal Humane Society's Walk for Animals every year. Every year, I'm on Poop Bag Patrol (what a hilarious name for a position!!) I hand out poop bags to all the walkers and get to meet LOTS of different animals. SO much fun. I'm a huge animal lover, if you haven't learned that about me yet. LERRRRVE fuzzy faces. (click on the pics to make them bigger)



And finally, I found a funny greeting card that I bought.. for myself! No, it's not my birthday, but I loved what the card says. It is a good reminder to me to take it easy; don't be so serious all the time and that it's ok to let loose a little.



It even came with a funny fridge magnet with a made-up food pyramid. Oh, I had a good laugh.