Free medicines...see if yours is on the list

When the weather starts to change, you know sooner or later someone in your family is probably going to catch a cold.   If you or your child gets sick and the doctor prescribes antibiotics, it can get expensive. But did you know that the Publix pharmacy gives out free antibiotics? It’s true; they offer some of the most prescribed medicines absolutely free. You can get a 14- day supply of the following generic oral antibiotics: Amoxicillin, Ampicillin, Cephalexin, Sulfamethoxazole/Trimethoprim, Ciprofloxacin, Penicillin and Doxycycline Hyclate.  This can be a real money saver when you have to get medicine.  The free medicine isn’t just for children, but for everyone. The best part is, you don’t have to join any clubs and it doesn’t matter if you have insurance or don’t have insurance. It’s free with a prescription.

Not only does Publix pharmacy offer free antibiotics, but they also offer other free medicines. As part of the Publix Pharmacy Diabetes Management System, you can get up to a 30-day supply (90 tablets) of generic immediate-release metformin for free. You can also get a 30-day supply of an ACE inhibitor, lisinopril which is used to prevent, treat, or improve symptoms of high blood pressure, certain heart conditions, diabetes, and certain chronic kidney conditions.

Well we are on medicines; you may want to check and see if any of your daily medications are on the $4 generic lists at Sam’s Club, Walmart or Target.  These companies offer hundreds of generic prescriptions for $4 for a 30-day supply and $10 for a 90-day supply. All you need to do is go to their web sites or get a list at the pharmacy of medicines that are $4.  It can save you a lot of money if you are on medications for several months.  It doesn’t matter if you have insurance or not. You don’t have to be a member of a club except for Sam’s Club. 

Here’s an example of just how much money you can save.  If you take the medicine Synthroid 50 MCG for your thyroid, you may be able to get the generic Levothyroxine 50 MCG. The cost of Synthroid is a little more than $20 a month, but the Levothryroxine is on the list of $4 generic drugs. That is a savings of $16 a month.  In a year you would save over $192 on just that one drug.  There was a study done by the University of Pittsburgh Graduate School of Public Health that said if those eligible patients filled their prescriptions with the $4 generic drugs, the potential national savings could be nearly $6 billion.  That’s why I am making you aware of these programs because if you are on these medicines you can be saving money.

Not only are there free and discounted medicines are your local pharmacies, but you can also get free health screenings. This is more than just checking your blood pressure. Some of these health screenings can save you $150.  You can go to my blog and I will link you to several pharmacies offering free health screenings. Click on the company name for list of free screenings. Sam's Club, Publix

Medicines can add up, especially if you are on more than one type of medication. The next time you go to the doctor it might be worth asking if any of these free drugs can be substituted for what you are prescribed.  Better yet, call your doctor now to find out so you can start saving.  You never know unless you ask.

iPod Touch Insurance Tips

Big tip... I thought I would let you know a little something I learned about the insurance for the iPod Touch, since it may be a gift you are thinking of giving your kids for Christmas.

If do get the iPod Touch and want insurance make sure you get the insurance for a cracked screen. Walmart offers insurance for $17 and covers the cracked screen. Target is the same price for insurance, but doesn’t include a cracked screen.

This may be true for other electronic devices. Make sure you asked if it covers a cracked screen since that is one of the biggest accidents kids have.

If you want to know more about the iPod Touch check out my story called "Kids learn the value of money."

How to Raise Money for Your School

As the kids go back to school, we are hearing more and more about budget cuts in the school system. As a parent, I want my kids to get the best education possible. I think it’s important to help our schools raise money, but I don’t really like the door to door sales for kids. As I thought about the budget cuts, I tried to think of some simple ways we as parents can help our schools earn extra income. Some of the ideas are things we already have at home and may just be throwing away. This trash could be money for our schools.

If you have a printer at your house or your office, start saving the empty ink cartridges. Did you know that every “used” ink cartridge is worth at least $2? If every parent of a school turned in just one empty ink cartridge the school would raise over a thousand dollars. Not only are you raising money for your child’s school, but you are also recycling. I started an ink recycling program in my daughter’s preschool and without having to do very much work, we raised $200. The preschool director was thrilled and the teachers were happy because they had some extra money to spend on school supplies. It’s easy to start at a school and you can recycle the ink cartridges locally at any Staples or Office Depot.

How many of you use the computer to look up things? I know I do. I just discovered that by using Yahoo and the GoodSearch.com as your search engine, you can raise money for your school. It’s simple and easy to do. Every search you do, GoodSearch.com will donate a penny to your school.

If you drink Coke products including: Dasani, POWERADE, Minute Made, Sprite and other drinks, you can donate your points to help get rewards for your school. You just register at mycokerewards.com and click on the “donate to your school” tab and enter the codes to get points.

Have you seen those small little labels on some of your boxes of food? They are called Box Tops. Last year America schools earned $49 million dollars from Box Tops for Education by collecting those labels. My daughter’s elementary school earned $2,500 cash. Schools can receive 10 cents for every box top collected. Start looking at you food boxes more closely and start clipping the box tops. If you don’t save the box tops, it’s like throwing 10 cents out the window.

Several stores like Target and Office Depot have a way to donate to your school. Target’s program is called Take Charge for Education. When you use your Target visa or Target card, a percentage of the amount of each purchase can be donated back to your school. You will need your school’s ID number, but you can look that up on Target’s web site. Office Depot has a similar program; it’s called the 5% Back to Schools Program. When you shop 5% of your qualifying purchases go back to your school for free supplies.

The companies are out there willing to help our schools, we as parents need to make sure we are doing our part by participating in these easy fundraisers. It only takes a minute to clip a box top, cut a label or send in an ink cartridge. If each family helps we can make a difference in our children’s education. Enjoy!

Free Antibiotics and $4 Generic Medicines

When the weather starts to change, you know sooner or later your kids are probably going to catch a cold.   If your child gets sick and the doctor prescribes antibiotics, it can get expensive. But did you know that the Publix pharmacy gives out free antibiotics? It’s true; they offer some of the most prescribed medicines absolutely free. You can get a 14- day supply of the following generic oral antibiotics: Amoxicillin, Ampicillin, Cephalexin, Sulfamethoxazole/Trimethoprim, Ciprofloxacin, Penicillin and Doxycycline Hyclate.  This can be a real money saver when you have to get medicine.  The free medicine isn’t just for children, but for everyone. The best part is, you don’t have to join any clubs and it doesn’t matter if you have insurance or don’t have insurance. It’s free with a prescription.

Not only does Publix pharmacy offer free antibiotics, but they also offer other free medicines. As part of the Publix Pharmacy Diabetes Management System, you can get up to a 30-day supply (90 tablets) of generic immediate-release metformin for free. You can also get a 30-day supply of an ACE inhibitor, lisinopril which is used to prevent, treat, or improve symptoms of high blood pressure, certain heart conditions, diabetes, and certain chronic kidney conditions.

Well we are on medicines; you may want to check and see if any of your daily medications are on the $4 generic lists at Sam’s Club, Walmart or Target.  These companies offer hundreds of generic prescriptions for $4 for a 30-day supply and $10 for a 90-day supply. All you need to do is go to their web sites or get a list at the pharmacy of medicines that are $4.  It can save you a lot of money if you are on medications for several months.  It doesn’t matter if you have insurance or not. You don’t have to be a member of a club except for Sam’s Club. Here’s an example of just how much money you can save.  If you take the medicine Synthroid 50 MCG for your thyroid, you may be able to get the generic Levothyroxine 50 MCG. The cost of Synthroid is a little more than $20 a month, but the Levothryroxine is on the list of $4 generic drugs. That is a savings of $16 a month.  In a year you would save over $192 on just that one drug.  There was a study done earlier this year by the University of Pittsburgh Graduate School of Public Health that said if those eligible patients filled their prescriptions with the $4 generic drugs, the potential national savings could be nearly $6 billion.  That’s why I am making you aware of these programs because if you are on these medicines you can be saving money.

Not only are there free and discounted medicines are your local pharmacies, but you can also get free health screenings. This is more than just checking your blood pressure. Some of these health screenings can save you $150.  You can go to my blog and I will link you to several pharmacies offering free health screenings. Click on the company name for list of free screenings. Sam's Club, Publix

Medicines can add up, especially if you are on more than one type of medication. The next time you go to the doctor it might be worth asking if any of these free drugs can be substituted for what you are prescribed.  Better yet, call your doctor now to find out so you can start saving.  You never know unless you ask.