After spending nearly two years in isolation due to the Covid-19 pandemic, we are now weathering high food prices, utility costs, and gas prices. And, many landlords, also squeezed by higher operating and water costs, are raising rent. If you are like most people, these escalating prices are squeezing your budget. So, here are a few ideas to help you ride out the recession tide:
Utility Costs:
OhmConnect is a San Francisco based company that pays you to use your smart-plugs at specific times.
Smart-plugs and smart-thermostats can be controlled through an app. You can schedule when to turn on your electrical outlets and when to turn them off and this control can also be done remotely by OhmConnect at specific times during which you earn “watts.” Watts earned can be exchanged for rewards or a gift card redeemable through Amazon.
PG&E also has energy saving tips and programs including as simple a suggestion as using LED bulbs. In addition, PG&E has their own Power Savers Rewards program.
Medical Tests:
You can order many different blood tests through LifeExtension who works with Lab Corp, a leading medical lab. Such tests include Complete Blood Count (CBD) tests, vitamin D tests, female and male hormone panels, and many more. Lab tests are reliable, competitively priced, and results can be delivered by email and provided to your doctor.
Is a free state-sponsored program offered to low-income women aged 40+ for breast cancer and cervical screening.
Dental Services:
The University of Pacific in San Francisco offers discounted dental services conducted by students under the supervision of their professors. No-interest financing may also be available. Also check out the UCSF Dental School for similar services.
Some dentists also offer discounted dental cleanings + xrays through GroupOn.
Prescription Eye Exams and Glasses:
UC-Berkeley offers low-cost optometry exams that are initially conducted by optometry students and reviewed by their professors who are licensed optometrists. They also have a large array of frames and prescription lenses that can be ordered via their on-site store.
CostCo also offers on-site eye exams; discounted prescription glasses and frames can be ordered on-site.
Subscriptions:
Subscriptions to streaming movie/TV channels may be another area to cut costs. Quicken, Mint, or PayPal may help you identify, track, and reduce those expenses.
Pet Parents:
During the pandemic, many people found new pet companions. Keeping a pet healthy and fed is a commitment and here are a few resources to help keep costs down.
Got a new kitten or puppy? You can have your pet neutered or spayed by the Animal Fix Clinic in Richmond or The Pet Advocate in Tracy. The Pet Advocate also offers dental services for pets.
Pet Vet offers low cost vaccination clinics for your pets and accepts clients on a first/come first/serve basis. Plus, you can buy prescription pet food without a prescription and at a discount. Pet vet has clinics in Oakland and in El Cerrito.
VipPet Care also offers pet clinics in multiple Bay areas also on a first come/first serve basis. You can get a general wellness exam, vaccinations and low costs blood and fecal tests for your pets.
Some veterinarians like Banfield Pet and VCAHospital may offer free or discounted examinations to new clients or to pets adopted via pet shelters. Be sure to call the veterinary hospital to verify what offers might be relevant to you and your pet.
Looking for lower cost prescriptions for your pets? Chewy and WalMart pet pharmacies are good options. Ask your vet for permission to fill your pet’s prescriptions at these on-line pharmacies.
Pet Club in Oakland and other Bay area locations has an entire warehouse of food, toys, bedding, and pet accessories at competitive prices and often has sales.
Vet emergency? It was very difficult to find emergency service during the pandemic but there is a clinic in San Ramon called VEG which has top-notch veterinarians, on-site lab testing, and is up-front about their prices and options. Any vet emergency clinic can point you to a list of emergency veterinarians to try.
Most emergency veterinarians offer CareCredit and either 6-month or 12-month no-interest finance options but, be forewarned, if the promotional financing isn’t paid on time, the 30% or better interest rate will be applied to the initial balance.
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