A number of families find their expenses go up significantly when a loved one is undergoing cancer treatment. Obviously, there are prescription drug costs, in addition to bills for medical treatments, and a lot of these aren't always covered by insurance. But there are also often a lot of out-of-pocket expenses. These can wreak havoc with family budgets. How can caregivers manage these changes?
I noticed a big change in the family grocery bills when my mother was having cancer treatments. Why? Because a number of her medications had severe side effects that required buying over-the-counter remedies to treat them. Prescription drugs like Prednisone, which help with related breathing issues, require an over-the-counter drug like Prilosec to address the negative side effects, such as acid reflux disease. Some drugs cause side effects like constipation, so the use of laxatives and fiber may be directed by the physicians. Every cancer patient's needs will be different, according to his or her situation, but one thing is certain. There will be an increase in spending, to accommodate these changes.
If you're used to shopping at a traditional supermarket, you're going to have to find ways to cover the added expenses that cancer treatment can bring. Plan the weekly grocery shopping carefully. Shop the weekly specials and buy in bulk if these are items the family usually uses. Clip coupons for more savings. A number of over-the-counter remedies can be bought at reduced prices, through manufacturer's coupons and discounts or by purchasing them in larger quantities.
Consider joining a warehouse club, like Sam's, B. J.'s, or Costco. Normal household items, like paper goods and laundry products, are expensive, and if you buy these at a warehouse club, you can cut your costs. It's also true for fresh produce, dairy items, and prepared or frozen meals. This will save money for the overall family budget, but if you also purchase over-the-counter remedies in bulk, you can really cut down on costs.
If your loved one has lost a lot of weight and needs to have products like Boost or Ensure, you can save money at warehouse stores, or even at Walmart. My mother hated the cloying sweetness of nutritional supplements, so a nurse shared her recipe for protein shakes with me. The shakes gave my mother the extra calories and protein she needed, but tasted better to her, especially when I added ice cream to them. I bought the protein powder in big cans. At the supermarket, it was $22, but at Walmart, the same product was under $14. That's a big savings when you're mixing up shakes two or three times a day. I saved the nutritional supplement drinks for emergencies, and that worked out well. Sometimes you have to be creative in how you approach the situation, and you have to make it work for you.
It's also helpful to realize early on that your loved one's cancer treatment will have a cumulative effect on the family finances. If you can understand this, you can avoid some of the pitfalls that a number of families fall into at one point or another. Cancer treatment is expensive, and by conserving the financial resources of the family in little ways, you will be better able to meet the unexpected costs that crop up along the road.
If your loved one did the "heavy lifting" for the household, mowing the lawn, raking the leaves, doing the garden, you may have to take over some of these responsibilities or temporarily hire someone to do it. If you live in an area of the country hit by rough wintry weather, you may find yourself shoveling snow, chopping ice, and sanding the driveway and sidewalks, or paying someone to do it for you. These bills can add up quickly, which is why it's really helpful to conserve money where you can throughout the cancer treatment.
What if you don't actually need the money you've saved during cancer treatment? Why not use it to take a family trip? Reward yourself and your loved one by having some fun once your loved one gets through with chemotherapy, radiation, and surgery. Not only will you have a chance to make some happy memories, you won't spend your time worrying about how you're going to pay for it all.
And sometimes if your loved one knows there is a rainbow at the end of the storm, it makes it easier to get through it. Why not start planning for a celebration trip during your loved one's treatment? You don't have to dream big. Sometimes that can be overwhelming. But think about something that you'd both enjoy doing together. Maybe it's a weekend at the shore, just enjoying quiet walks on the beach and family cookouts. Maybe it's a few days with the kids at Disney World or Universal Studios. Maybe it's a trip to the city, to see a musical, visit a special art exhibit, or enjoy a concert. Maybe it's a cruise to the Caribbean or a trip to Bermuda. It's a lot easier to pinch pennies when you have a positive goal, and your loved one will be able to appreciate your efforts if he or she thinks a trip is your main purpose in cutting expenses. Cancer patients often feel guilty that they are using up the family's financial resources. By giving your loved one hope for the future and by protecting the family budget, you're extending your care-giving above and beyond the physical needs of your loved one. You're also taking care of the heart, the head, and the spirit. We all need to feel free to be more and experience more, but in order to do that, we have to appreciate how things can build up into problems if we don't take preventative measures to prepare for the rainy days ahead.
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