Caregivers, are you stressed these days about finances?

Check out 5 tips to save more and spend less.

1. Look inside your clothes closet.
Are you spending $10 or more to clean one dress or suit? That kind of money adds up. Store away clothes that must be taken to a dry cleaner.

Many items do just fine in the washer and dryer. Check out Walmart, Target, and Kohls for low-cost, fashionable casual wear. Visit local secondhand shops for gently used designer clothing and accessories.

2. While on the subject of clothing…
Are you saving time and sanity with large aprons and bibs to protect clothing from spills?

Another tip: Do you keep a stash of disposable bibs in the car for dining on the road?

3. Do you qualify for free medicine?
The Partnership for Prescription Assistance may be able to help. Caregivers can get information on numerous public and private assistance programs as well as information about free health care clinics in your area. Visit www.pparx.org to see if you qualify.

4. Are you getting the best price on incontinence products?
You can often beat prices on diapers and pads that you see in the stores. Save money by comparing prices at local pharmacies. Go online, too, but include shipping costs in your comparisons. Some companies may offer discounts and delivery to your home.

Check your insurance coverage to see if incontinence wear qualifies as a covered expense.

5. Taking full advantage of medical and caregiver deductions?
For those who use Schedule A on the 1040, medical expenses are deductible if they exceed 7.5% of adjusted gross income. This includes not only money spent for diagnosis, prevention, and treatment, but also such things as dental expenses, insurance premiums, and transportation to get medical care.

Equipment and home improvements may also be deductible if they are for relief of illness or disability.

As a caregiver for an elderly parent, the financial support you provide your loved one may be deductible on your own taxes. In some cases, the person you care for may qualify as a dependent.

Tax laws change frequently. Be sure you’re up to date on every deduction that can benefit your family.

* * * * *

Struggling to provide care for an elderly loved one? www.agingcare.com offers tips, advice, and support.

Looking for ways to have more TEAS study time without losing your sanity?

TEAS prep is often near the bottom of a long list. Some of us are working moms or dads. Others care for an elderly parent. A TEAS test score may make or break our chances of entering a nursing program. What to do?

I remembering pondering the delimma while thumbing through the newly-purchased TEAS test study guide. After whining for several weeks, I concluded that some of my daily items could be done weekly, some of my weekly’s could wait a month, and several of my big items could be delayed until after the TEAS test was behind me.

What about you? If your chant is “I just don’t have time” when it comes to TEAS test preparation, my suggestion is to take a closer look.

Could someone else let you know what’s in the nightly newspaper for a few weeks? Will the apartment survive if you clean it less often? Do you really need to wash clothes so often? Can you combine errands and make fewer trips to town?

(Here’s a biggie for many of us) Can you use email and texting less often, reply only when necessary, and limit replies to 30 seconds or less?

Cutting out time wasters can be an energizing experience. After discovering more time for the people you love and the things you enjoy, you may never want to return.

Get Five Free TEAS Tips now.

Looking for the best gifts for an elderly person? Here are some tips:

• 1. Match the gift to the recipient. Is there something your elderly dad has always wanted to do but has never had the opportunity? Does he enjoy picnics or boating? Has he always wanted to ride in a hot-air balloon?
• 2. Think about ways to save a trip here and there. Does your elderly mom have a copier in her house? A shredder? Is she constantly running to the store for sympathy and get well cards? Would she appreciate an assorted box of greeting cards?
• 3. Is there a gift the two of you can enjoy together? How about a ticket to a movie, a gift card to a favorite restaurant, a trip to the zoo, or a jigsaw puzzle?
• 4. Is there a convenience he could use in his home? Would a lap pal be helpful? How about an extra cordless phone?
• 5. What comforts might she appreciate for aches and pains? One of my mom’s favorite gifts in the whole world is an ACE Hot/Cold Compress that can be applied to a stiff back, tired shoulders, or cold feet.

The secret to finding the best gifts for an elderly person is understanding what will be meaningful to him.