Ssi Budget Sheet: Fill & Download for Free

No need to speculate. We have 50 experiments in democracy in the 50 states of the union. Over the past 10 years these states faced the stress test of the Great Recession and the performance of state governments is measurable. As a nation, we collect an enormous amount of data. If one looks at the data using standard statistical tools, it is clear that liberal states perform better in almost every category of governance. Here are the conclusions that I have reached in examining the period from 2008 to 2016:Fiscal Governance – The crown jewel of conservative governance is the promise of responsible fiscal management, characterized by balanced budgets, low taxes, and low debt. In practice, all states but one are legally bound to balance their budgets. Upon examination, we find that conservative states do, in fact, lower taxes, but end up using other sources of revenue including a larger share from the federal government to make up the difference. There is negligible difference in the total money spent per capita across the political spectrum. Likewise, while conservative states have lower long term debt, there is only a slight difference in the balance sheet comparing assets vs. liabilities. As a result, there is little difference in credit ratings across the political spectrum with strong confidence demonstrated in the bond market. Overall, our states, both liberal and conservative are fiscally sound.Health of State Economies – The Great Recession caused economic trauma across the political spectrum, inflicting pain that went well beyond the housing market. While we are still recovering in some sectors, the overall health of the economy as measured by per capita productivity (Gross Domestic Product and Personal Consumption Expenditures) is markedly lower in conservative states and recovering more slowly. An important issue is raised, however, in asking the question of whether the economic benefits of the recovery are shared by the working class and here we find little partisan difference at the state level.Jobs and Unemployment – Where are the promised jobs? Perhaps the greatest tragedy of the Great Recession was the damage done to the workforce and the minimal effort demonstrated by conservative governments to ease the pain. Unemployment compensation programs in conservative states lagged seriously behind in both participation and compensation paid. The result was a discouraged workforce and a significant loss of workers. We have a smaller workforce now than we did at the beginning of the Great Recession despite overall population growth. Further, the jobs that are available are either not full time jobs or pay considerably less in conservative states. This is nowhere more evident than in the statistics of median salaries for men which have stagnated since 1973. Overall, conservative governance has not delivered the promised quality jobs and median household income, as a measure of prosperity, has seen little improvement in conservative states.The economy is like a very complex machine. If maintained and cared for, it will continue to produce, but if neglected it will fail. The remaining conclusions deal with how well state and local governments care for the most important parts of that very complex machine that is our economy. Specifically, how does government care for the people who make everything work?Education – Investment in K-12 and higher public education consumes a major part of state and local government budgets, but both suffered serious cuts during the Great Recession despite an increase in student enrollment. State budgets and employment figures for education show that conservative states continued to lag behind, however. Examining the results of testing at the K-12 level, students also lagged behind, especially in the critical skills of math and reading. There was overall improvement in science over the period with little partisan difference shown in 2015.The state public university system paints a slightly different picture. Serving the majority of higher education students in the United States, these institutions offer significant advantages to students who are state residents. On average, tuition and fees were nearly half that of more liberal states in 2008, and while costs were shifted to the students during the Great Recession, tuition and fees, especially in 4 year colleges, continued to be significantly lower in conservative states in 2015.Overall, state residents completing high school and college is lower in conservative states, however. The difference becomes more pronounced at higher levels. Based on results, it cannot be said that conservative states are doing a good job of preparing their residents to be productive members of the workforce.Health Care – The most significant event in health care during the Great Recession was the passage of the Affordable Care Act of 2010. This was also the most politically controversial with conservatives in strong opposition, a division that continues today. This is nowhere more evident than in the rejection of the Medicaid expansion by conservative states. Optional state supplemental health programs show a parallel lack of enthusiasm in conservative states. While conservative states employ more health workers and have more public hospitals, the percentage of the population without any form of health insurance is higher in conservative states and is growing worse. The results as measured by death rates, overall and for the most serious diseases, are higher for conservative states despite improvements across the nation. The results for children are especially alarming. Insurance coverage for children is lower and getting worse in conservative states and child access to medical and dental care is correspondingly low. As a result, the two primary measures of infant health, mortality rate and low birth weight, are worse for conservative states. Even more alarming, the long term impact of childhood health is apparent in substantially reduced life expectancy in conservative states.Setting aside the political argument of whether health care is a right or a privilege, from a purely economic point of view poor health is paid for in one way or another. It is hard to imagine that poor health in conservative states is not a factor in the productivity of the workforce.Highways and Public Roads – Constituting a little over 5% of state and local budgets, highways and public roads are the most visible of our public infrastructure. Low salaries allow conservative states to employ slightly more workers, but the results are not encouraging. Highway fatalities are significantly higher in conservative states indicating an unresolved problem in public safety.Law Enforcement and Crime – Nearly 13% of state and local public employees are engaged in the three aspects of law enforcement: police, judicial, and corrections. Like most state and local activities, these three also suffered budget cuts as a result of the Great Recession and staffing was reduced. Corrections is the only category that seemed immune to the cuts and continued to employ more workers in conservative states. The emphasis on “law and order” in arrests, convictions and incarceration in conservative states does not seem to be paying off, however. While overall crime rates declined across the country, nearly every category of crime tracked by the FBI continued to be higher in conservative states. This suggests that there is something wrong in how we are addressing law enforcement and public unrest seems to reinforce that. There has to be a reason that crime rates are higher in conservative states.Emergency Response – Fire departments including emergency medical response are a small, but vital part of state and local governments. Like law enforcement, they also suffered budgetary cuts as a result of the Great Recession, but these cuts were more severe. Fortunately, there is a strong tradition of volunteer participation in providing this essential service. Overall, the results are not encouraging. Despite improved technology, fire related death rates are higher in conservative states with little improvement shown over the period. Likewise, emergency medical response has not been able to reduce deaths due to injury in any significant way, especially in conservative states. This raises the question of why there would be a partisan difference in the effectiveness of fire departments.Safety Nets – If the quality of our civilization is measured in how well we care for those less fortunate, we are falling short, especially in conservative states and especially in the trauma produced by the Great Recession. The great hope of welfare reform legislation in 1996 essentially failed in the objective of moving people on welfare into productive jobs. There were no jobs for them to move into. As a result, families were left without assistance at a time when they needed it most. Conservative states did little to help with only one third or less of the outlay of more liberal states. In terms of basic assistance, the figures are even worse with no state-level augmentation of programs at all in many conservative states.In the case of the disabled, the picture is even bleaker with almost total reliance on federal programs, primarily under the financially troubled SSI and SSD programs administered under the Social Security Administration. State efforts have been small, both in budget and staffing, especially in conservative states. In the final analysis, there does not appear to be much compassionate conservatism at work in the country and especially not in conservative states. Have conservative austerity policies relating to welfare reduced poverty? Sadly, the answer is no and poverty has gotten worse, especially in conservative states.Retirement Security – The most serious fiscal problem facing us over the next couple of decades is the financial security of our retired seniors. Not only is there an increase in the number of seniors due to the retirement of the baby boomers, but they are living longer, their living expenses (especially medical) are increasing, there is a smaller percentage of workers to help support them, and their financial security is abysmal. After decades of encouraging people to buy their own home as an investment that they can be assured will be there if they need it, the Great Recession has taken that last reserve from many and left them with just Social Security. While retirement security is more of a national problem than a state problem, conservative states are doing less to alleviate the problem, especially in less favorable mortgage exclusion laws. Lower incomes before retirement and lower accumulated equity in homes also contributes to the problem in conservative states.The Bottom Line -- It is difficult to avoid a conclusion based on measurable data that conservative governance as practiced in America suffers from a fundamental flaw. In nearly every metric examined, conservative governments have not performed as well as more liberal governments. Even in issues of fiscal governance, conservative governments have emphasized low taxes and low debt, but have not produced healthy economies, either before the Great Recession or in the recovery. For issues of social services, budgets have been cut most severely in conservative states, but this has not produced the desired economic benefit. On the contrary, liberal states have produced economies that are more vigorous and have demonstrated higher productivity.If conservative claims that the private sector meets the needs of the citizenry in the absence of government programs, their argument is brought into question by the measures of results that are detailed in this report. Clearly, the private sector has not picked up the slack in conservative states for the metrics of jobs, education, health care, transportation, law enforcement, emergency response, poverty and retirement security. In the final analysis, conservative governments at the state level have failed to give their constituents jobs, security, and healthy, productive lives.——Thanks and a tip of the hat to Jeffrey Bradford for the edit.

SSI (Supplemental Security Income) is like a gift—and strictly income based on a 30 day schedule which is why you’ll have several reviews each year. Any financial or in-kind gifts (a money card for your birthday or your landlord gives you a break on this months rent—bingo/lottery winnings) must be reported or you can be penalized and have to pay it all back or even lose it permanently. It is funded by the general budget not the social security trust so the rules are different. The monthly limit for 2017 is $735 a month. If you do any work to supplement your monthly monetary amount, your SSI check will be reduced accordingly because it is income-based and allowed only to help low-income, elderly, or disabled persons. If you are able to do any work at all, it would be better since you can build your work credits so when you hit retirement age you have some income. There is help available if you are working to get you over the rough spots—find out what is available in your local area.When on SSI your assets may not exceed $2000 for an individual. You do not have the option to request an increase because it is a pre-determined amount established annually. It only provides for basic needs—nothing extra, and that can include toilet paper if you are not frugal.The trick is to make that money go further. Be sure to avail yourself to every donation organization, food pantry, etc. in your area. You can apply for supplement food programs. Sometimes the Salvation Army and other organizations have programs which you could be considered eligible—you need to talk to each one as they all differ. We used our local Angel Food organization to purchase groceries, they had boxed combinations, good variety and special holiday items, so you can buy the things you need at a discounted price. I do not know if they are still in existence though, ask your area churches for their recommendations. I did some things when I was still working regarding my throw-away product that we could no longer have on the shelf (not yet outdated product but reached sell by date)—I would call the few single moms I knew and told them I was running the milk or sandwich/breads throw-aways out to the dumpster. It was not specifically allowed and they were on their own to check for quality. They were responsible to come and get it if they wanted any. If the product was still there in a couple of hours, I would then toss it into the dumpster, but they had first chance and I know it always helped them—a gallon of milk is a gallon of milk.To survive, one has to be creative and very frugal. Disposable items should not be used. It cost two dollars for a package of toss away plates every how many plates you get for that. Buy a set of inexpensive plates and flatware (buy at salvation army stores for $5 and get a complete 4 person table settings for $15)and wash them—they’ll last years. Re-use any containers that are BPA free from buying groceries and wash them until they are no longer serviceable. Plan meals that you can make a large amount, for the same cost of electricity as individual meals. Then just freeze into portions or meals. Be frugal buying shampoo, I’ve used dish soap (regular old no brand dish-washing liquid—nothing fancy) as shampoo and bath bubbles, vinegar for cleaning windows and mirrors along with salad dressing, lemon juice removes some stains and odors as well as orange or lemon peels for deodorizing your garbage disposal (I would freeze them and pull some out each month) when cleaning. It may sound weird but read the ingredients. A pencil eraser takes scuff marks off shoes and floors. If you buy whole milk at the same price as 2%, you can get a gallon and a half by diluting it without losing a lot of flavor. Look at the milk dates at your local grocery, then just before those sell by dates expire see if they sell it half price like one of the grocer stores I managed used to do. The day after a holiday, best time to buy candy—up to 90% off, a chocolate bunny still tastes like chocolate any other time of year. Your local drug stores, mom and pop grocery stores, bakeries, make friends, become regulars, be sure to engage them with your winning personality and warm smile so they will think about you when sell buy dates come around. We had to write off diapers, sanitary items, paper products etc. whose packages got ripped, they all help the budget. When I was first disabled, nearly two decades ago, everyone knew me since it was a small town, I had store managers actually deliver toilet paper, or paper towels to me on their way home. The package got ripped so it was a write off for them and they just threw it out at my apartment. You can’t expect or demand that treatment, but it is a blessing if it happens. I’ve gotten a few free pizzas delivered too!Look into making your own natural cleaning solutions they are a lot cheaper and use much healthier ingredients. Never wash a half-load of clothes. Use a clothes line instead of the dryer (the breeze is free—electricity is not) to dry your clothes, especially whites that get the best whitening from the sun. I hung dried my clothes year round, inside in the winter and outdoors in the spring, summer, and autumn. You can hang clothes outdoors in winter (sheets and towels for me) you just have to be sure not to try to fold them until they are completely thawed and dried overnight inside or you will break/rip them.Cut rate bargain stores usually have the same products as name brands. Look at the packaging, not the name. Use every cents off coupon, double coupons, and sale items that you can—set up a three month shopping plan. It can save you $20 or more on groceries every month if you’re diligent. Buy in bulk, then portion and freeze it when you get home. Look at every item and you can find a dual purpose for it. Bottles and cans tossed on the road can pay you a few dollars if you have returnables, sign up to adopt a mile of highway, pick one with stoplights in it, better trash. I once used the side panels from a bookshelf that was going to the dump for my wheelchair ramp once I got my van. It’s still functional, 18 years later. Wash your zip-top bags and re-use them. They last forever if you are careful and take care of them (My mother used to wash plastic wrap, I did not go that far—I used covered storage containers instead). I usually bought a box of gallon and a box of pint a year. I have managed to feed a family of four on $120 a month for a while (6–7 months) during some tough times. I also learned adapt some things to taste like a candy bar (oatmeal, hot chocolate mix powder, brown sugar and white sugar, or made homemade potato chips. It is a small amount but workable. Nobody is intended to get rich on SSI.If you are able to do anything, even if you need training for another position, check into your local Vocational Rehabilitation office. Figure out a goal or what job you’d like to be doing and take it to them with your game plan. Sometimes you can be retrained and return to the work force to earn your work credits and SSDI (Social Security Disability Insurance) when you become eligible.

It's funny how this A2A came through at nearly the same time I was having a discussion with my niece on how to live on a paper thin budget and making it work. Thank you. I have all the figures here at hand already making this easy; the answer, not the budget, sorry it’s long but it is detailed!It's not easy and not for the weak-minded to live on $730 a month, but it certainly is possible. First, you need to put yourself in the right place (best location) and make it be the right time. Look through the subsidized housing market for areas where you want to be. It may not be at the top of your list but being willing to be close works. An accident causing disability is never planned, nor is it welcome and rarely desired, but, there are a few in every bunch that will fake it making it harder for those who desperately need it. It took me a mere three years from initial filing to the deposit of my first check; it took my sister with MS almost seven years. As we age, we don't think about things like that. As a teen, we live like we are immortal, in just a few very short years, we get the weight of everything in life dumped upon our shoulders---rent, food, utilities, insurance, maybe even spouse and a child or two and maybe student loans to repay in the midst. We desperately try to figure out how 'we' fit life into the big picture encumbered with these enormous debts of daily living. We have to make sure what we can earn is going to accommodate all these responsibilities. We even secretly fear we might not be able to do it. Then a tragedy, you never know when, this week, this year, ten years down the road, strikes and takes you down at the knees and wipes you out. If you're not annihilated and have some guts left, a bit of discipline, a touch of creativity, coupled with a lot of stick-to-itiveness and a desire to win, will go a long way as does your faith. So, let's pull the rabbit out of the hat.When I was first disabled, after over two years of appeals, administrative law judges, and hearings, my monthly income was settled right around $630 a month. Whaaat! That was one heck of a punch with an unimaginable decline from the $3200 a month I had become accustomed to earning before my accident. My benefit amount has since increased about 28% via the COLA raises since 2003. In 2010, 2011, and 2016 there was no COLA increase at all which brings me to today's allotment. I started working and contributing to Social Security in 1970, part-time after school and full-time beginning Jan 1975. I was almost 42-years old on 13 Sep 1999, at 8:21 AM when I was crushed by over 300 pounds landing primarily on my neck and upper back by the first hit. The second hit was a mere 35 pounds landing a few seconds later. All caused by the negligence of the previous employee and therein lie the end of one life and the beginning of another. My life forever changed in just a few minutes. I had accumulated enough work credits over my 29-years in the workforce to qualify for Social Security Disability (SSDI). SSDI is earned and is not based on financial need. I had finally reached my desired salary, doing a job I loved in early 1998. No longer married and free to make my own choices. No longer a military dependent that required changing jobs every time he got orders. Because of his security clearance, we had to transfer every 12-15 months; I'd get a new job paying the lowest pay rate nearly every time. Like "Groundhog Day" weird game of Deja Vu. Separating the family was not an option for us, and the advantage of seeing the world together chased away all doubts. I never once thought that he would decide to go his own way once he retired from the military. So that's where I was in 1998 and where I am currently. Being married my monthly SSDI benefit is the same as if I were single, and we are paying taxes on 85% of it because of our total household income.Supplemental Security Income (SSI) is for individuals demonstrating financial need and is unable work due to illness or disability (that has lasted or will last at least 12 months) if they have not worked or do not have enough work credits. SSI is based on household income, so if your spouse works, you babysit, etc. the amount for which you qualify will vary from zero up to the maximum, which is currently $735 a month.Rent in subsidized/senior housing (once you make it to the top of the waiting list) is 30% of your income and follows maximum income limits by family size to qualify. While waiting (my SSDI claim was fast-tracked for reasons I will not disclose), I lived in my car that was already on life support, which died about 8 months before I won my Social Security Disability case, had lots of blankets, ate cold, canned food; beans, fruit, bread, crackers, and used public restrooms. I was fortunate, two of my friends asked me to house sit during their vacations each year, so I had a house to stay in for a few months for those years. If lucky, one can find or get approved for a subsidized apartment which includes heat, electricity, garbage, and water in the rent, so there are no utilities to pay. Most subsidized/senior apartments do not, so that is an additional out-of-pocket expense to consider. I had a window air conditioner, so my electric usage charge cost me an additional $6 per unit a month, adding a freezer would have doubled that.Because of my disability, I qualified for Meals on Wheels, (I do not qualify for it in the county where I now live until I am 62-years old) which had provided my main meal Monday-Friday and 2-3 box lunches if I wanted them to have meals on the weekends. I paid the lower rate of $60 a month because I volunteered at the meal site, doing banking, making flyers, helping newcomers, etc. to offset the cost; otherwise, it would have cost $120 a month. I also qualified for $113 from SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program---Food Stamps) every month and a quarterly surplus delivery; cheese, dry milk, pudding, canned juice, canned pork, cooking oil, pasta, ground beef.A telephone was a necessity especially for someone ill or disabled. Since my family lives all over the U.S., it cost me around $35 for the basic local plan including 911. I added a $30 long-distance plan which allowed me to call (20–30 mins each) my mom and one sibling every month as I had seven living siblings. One sister and I relied on instant messenger. I did not have a cell phone then, but we still had public phones back in the dark ages (1999-2002), and my doctor’s office staff always called for the bus to take me home if it was not nice enough weather for me to walk (wheel) home.As far as entertainment, basic TV (13 channels) and dial-up internet ran $80 once the cable company sold out up from the $50 original plan I had. I could not afford to replace my car or afford the insurance at that time, so it was public transportation except when I had to get medical services out of town, then I had to borrow a car, or request a driver from Council on Aging (COA) consisting mostly of retired persons with a car and a little free time. My prescription costs ranged from $2–10 per medicine; my out-of-pocket expenses were relatively cheap at about $60 a month for 11 different ones, (now I pay up to $100 each and one, if it were not donated, would cost $600 each refill). Any laundry that I did not wash by hand cost me about $1.50 a load; monthly total $14---I got by with eight loads of clothing a month and could make one large load of linens a month (2 sets of sheets and kitchen towels).Other non-covered medical necessities, e.g. surgical tape, batteries, and electrodes for my TENS unit, HEPA filters to combat my allergies, humidifier filters, etc. cost me between $20-$30 a month, or I just went without. I learned how to clean and re-use a lot of single-use items, including filters and air freshener for my air cleaner out of dryer sheets that I got free from the employees at the dollar store. One also learns which prescriptions they can take every other day that would cause the least significant problems and what cheap foods, good or bad, quiets your hunger the best. (I adjusted doses on my inhalers and pain medicine and used yoga and aromatherapy to cope with the pain, prayer always worked well for my breathing.) I was able to allow myself three or four delivered pizzas a year, a wonderful treat, and I made it last two or three meals! That left me with about $100 a month to splurge on special treats, things like deodorant, real shampoo, toilet paper, dish soap, laundry detergent, and two rolls of paper towels a month. Whatever was left allowed me additional groceries or my favorite treat---a blizzard.I get birthday and Christmas checks from my mother every year, so that meant an extra $75 a year. I used those as intended as gifts, rarely, if ever, for bills, and always told my mom what she got me. If I seriously needed to pay a bill or something with it, I fibbed. She felt good that she could give me something special. Mostly, I would go to my favorite food place, or buy a new blouse I wanted or put it into an envelope for the next big purchase I wanted, a new printer, TV, window blinds, or new bedding perhaps.There were people in the building that needed things done online, or they just wanted to learn how to use a computer, they would pay me to help or teach them. Even though it was not a regular paycheck, it all tickled the coffers. I also made a couple of dollars by picking up some grocery items for others when I went shopping, and they didn't want to or couldn't get out. I was elected floor representative, so I knew everyone and would care for their dogs/pets if they were in the hospital or out of town, and any other odd jobs I could do. The hardest thing to deal with was when they passed away I'd lost a friend, and it left a sad, empty spot. We'd lose someone about ten times a year.My best friend worked at a grocery store and didn't want her kids, 13-yrs, and 10-yrs, going home alone after school so she would pay me $10 a week to have them walk over to my place and she'd pick them up on her way home. Occasionally she would bring dinner that we could share and enjoy the company. She brought me a large box of chocolates every month as a bonus to treat my sweet tooth. At one time, chocolate could act as a distraction from the pain. Eventually, as the pain grew worse and spread, I had to find another alternative. I was still able to sit up then and use my sewing machine, so when anyone needed mending or ironing, they would bring it to me first. That was a good little money maker, but it was neither regular or dependable. On 13 Jan 2010, I found myself trapped in a house fire, alone, another huge change in my life, new era, and not quite as promising.I remember one of the worst things back then was how I craved potato chips, (always in the middle of the night, for some reason) so I learned how to make them myself for about 10-12-cents. Oatmeal, brown sugar, hot cocoa mix, and a few other ingredients could be made to taste like a snickers bar in a bowl. I kept that a secret which I did not share because then everyone would want those items. (We got our subsidy food delivery every quarter. Those of us in the program would swap food with one another in the group, so it worked fairly well---made for a real, red letter day for us.) I ate a lot of peanut butter and crackers. I created a rice and vermicelli with canned chicken or pork casserole. I rarely ever ate alone then too, which remains a very fond memory especially now since I eat alone 95% of the time. I found a kitten on the side of the road one Christmas, freezing, almost dead; eyes only half opened and took her home with me. I made her cat food using my food. She was the love of my life and my one lifeline through the worst times. She was 13-years old when she died a few years ago from aggressive cancer. I supplemented my pantry with dry cereal purchased in bulk, which was always available, even without milk when the seven little cartons from Meals on Wheels ran out.I was really conscious about balancing my checkbook back then too! Now I've gotten a bit more lackadaisical and don't feel so pressured to do it if I don't feel well for a week or two. Also, I no longer get bad days, that was a decade ago, I'm up to bad weeks or bad months now. A neurology visit requires three weeks of recuperation due to the lengthy waiting room times. My other four doctors will get me in and out in less than an hour.I had friends, was not lonely, I was surviving and had a roof over my head. In spite of my health issues from being pummeled and crushed, I still wanted to work so I had to find or create a job that would accommodate my limitations. I was offered the position I had proposed while serving on the advisory committee, for which I had experience when acting as a client liaison for a Mental Health Agency in another state. That agency encompassed several counties that I would be required to visit for annual evaluations and licensing requirements. The office I'd call home base was 45-minutes away, so I needed a car without question. They did not have a state car in their fleet that accommodated a power wheelchair, so I was on my own.My mother, bless her, had opened savings accounts for all of us kids before I was even 9-years old. Every deposit that we made into that account, including the 3-cents when I was a kid, she matched. All of us had long forgotten those little bank accounts she started for each of us with $10 and we just habitually sent her the $25 a month we agreed on 30 years earlier. I began working at 12-yrs old and I never really thought about it, I just always had a portion of my pay go to her. My mother, a very sagacious woman, remembered those accounts and revealed our balance as each of us encountered the one mountain she felt we could not climb alone. I am secretly doing the same with my son. But, the deal we could not tell any other sibling about it, it had to stay between us.Mama called me one day and told me that I was visiting her (she just does things like that) on Thursday. Not allowed to argue, I went. She took me to look at a van a friend of hers was selling. I needed a van to haul my wheelchair if I was going to work. I took it for a test drive, and she asked if I liked it, I told her of course I did, it was a nice van, drove well, and was in mint condition with almost no miles, but I could never afford it. She then pulled out that long-forgotten bank book which totaled a few hundred less than the price of the van, and after she had haggled the price down to what she wanted, allowing enough to cover my insurance and plates, I now owned a van, free and clear, to transport my power wheelchair. Once I was working again, my salary would cover my insurance premiums and auto upkeep. I was very fortunate that my dad had taught me all about cars (and I thank him every day) so I was able to perform regular maintenance myself and would not have to pay a mechanic's prices. I said yes to the van and yes to the job, which ultimately generated several more opportunities that worked in my favor. Including a music ministry, marriage, and two wonderful step-sons for me to raise.