Handling the financial burdens of a chronic illness, part 3

Last in a series. Read parts one and two. 

A bead of sweat rolls down my forehead and over my brow. Flinging the bedsheets away gives me a blast of crisp cool air, and I realize how clammy and hot I am. I didn’t feel well when I went to bed, but this confirms I’m sick. So I head to the doctor thinking I have the flu or maybe COVID-19. But I’m told I’m dying of an exceedingly rare disease. And if I survive this, I’ll now have a chronic illness that’ll never go away. In an instant, my life changed forever.

That is the reality I faced in September 2020 when I went to the ER feeling ill. I thought I’d receive a doctor’s note to excuse me from work. Instead, I ended up in the intensive care unit with multiorgan failure and on dialysis. I had several comorbidities and a disease I’d never heard of before: atypical hemolytic uremic syndrome (aHUS). I quickly realized I wouldn’t be able to return to a full-time job. So, when I was finally released from the hospital nearly two months later, I had to get creative to earn and save money.

When I was awarded disability income in 2023, it came too late to save my car and my home, a devastating loss. I was angry and hurt and told myself, “Never again will I lose everything I’ve worked so hard for.” To take control of a new life that had been thrust upon me three years earlier, I knew it was crucial to save money any way I could, whether it was on clothing, groceries, or utilities. I’ve since learned how to save in every aspect of my life, adding savings to vacations, home repairs, a recent home purchase, housewares, furniture, fitness, and activities for my children.

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A skill you can learn

Saving money is easier when you learn how. For me, the easiest way to do it consistently is with groceries. I accomplish this with extreme couponing. Couponing is easier today than ever before, particularly for someone with a chronic illness. The advent of digital coupons, couponing apps, rebate apps, grocery store apps, and online order pickup makes it possible to plan, use coupons, and shop from your bed.

The secret to couponing is using coupons on items when they’re at their lowest price. Every region has sales cycles, a point when items will cost the most and when they will cost the least. For example, one week, you might pass on buying laundry soap priced at $5.97. But the following week, when you need it, it now costs $9.97. The trick is to use a coupon to purchase it when it costs $5.97. This type of sales cycle is often repeated, so stock up when it’s cheapest. Also, coupons typically coincide with a sale on those same items.

Most major grocery store chains and drug stores have free apps. Each app offers hundreds of dollars worth of coupons each week. Create a free account for each store you shop at, select coupons you want to use when you shop, and tap the “+” sign to add them. Then, at checkout, enter your phone number, and each coupon’s value will be deducted from your bill automatically.

Another way to save is through rebate apps. These are apps that offer cash back after purchasing an item. Tons of rebate apps are out there, but I save the most money by using Brandclub, Checkout 51, Fetch, Ibotta, Shopkick, and Swagbucks. If you’re interested in learning more, I’ve created a website to explain how to download and use these apps.

Another secret is that a rebate is typically available in multiple rebate apps. For example, there might be a deal on cat food, such as buy one, get one free for $6.71. But there also might be a “$5.50 off two” coupon in the app, which means you’ll pay $1.21 for two 3-pound bags. But Checkout 51 and Swagbucks might each offer a $5.50 rebate, which means you’re essentially being paid $9.49 for buying these items, which is something I call “overage.”

These apps also offer other ways to earn money, such as by filling out surveys, playing mobile games, or completing website/app offers (offers to be paid for signing up for various memberships, digital programs, online banks, new apps, etc.). Sites like Brandclub, Swagbucks, and Top Surveys are best for this, in my opinion. But there are tons of other apps, too. These apps pay cash straight to your bank, PayPal, or Venmo accounts. Or you can cash out with gift cards.

Although I prefer to shop in stores, it’s nice to shop online when I don’t feel well. I can order groceries online and either pick them up or have them delivered. And I can apply coupons in the app. The only downside of order pickups is that some rebate apps won’t pay out without uploading a physical paper receipt.

As grocery prices continue to soar, saving money is a priority for many shoppers. Couponing allows me to save 60%-90% of the cost of my groceries. It’s thrilling when I have a grocery cart worth $200 that costs only $20, which to me makes saving money fun. Additionally, couponing, games, and surveys have literally saved my family. Without them, I don’t know how we would afford to live.

Note: aHUS News is strictly a news and information website about the disease. It does not provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. This content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on this website. The opinions expressed in this column are not those of aHUS News or its parent company, Bionews, and are intended to spark discussion about issues pertaining to aHUS.