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These days, thinking about your health and the money you spend for it is no longer such a breezy matter. According to a study by the National Coalition on Health Care, the total amount that Americans spent on health care last year peaked at $2.3 trillion, with a whopping average of $7,600 per person. And the rising cost of health care isn’t showing any signs of stopping, especially with the economy grinding to a near-halt and prices spiking everywhere.

For America’s poorer families, it almost feels like a no-win situation. What if an emergency strikes, and you don’t have enough money to take care of the hospital bills? The good news is that maybe you won’t have to shell out a single cent!

Through an initiative called the Hill-Burton Free Care Program, low-income patients can be relieved of the impossible financial burden imposed on them by hospitalization bills. The Hill-Burton Free Care Program provides free or low-cost medical care services to qualified patients who normally won’t be able to afford the cost of being confined in the hospital.

You can apply for assistance before or after you’re supposed to receive medical care, or even after your bill has already been forwarded to a collection agency. And even if your household income is double the amount specified in the Poverty Income Guidelines, you can still qualify for assistance from the Hill-Burton Free Care Program.

Call the Health Resources and Services Administration in the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to find out more about how this program can help you save on your health care expenses.

Rising commodity and fuel prices, unemployment and lay-offs, and an overall bleak economic outlook—these are driving more and more Americans to apply for food stamp benefits.

Save your cash for other necessities, like your utility bills, prescription drugs, or your child’s tuition. With these food stamps, you can purchase for yourself and your family basic food commodities—like bread, fruits and vegetables, meats and dairy products—to help you weather the hard times.

How do you get food stamps? The application process is pretty straightforward: if you’re eligible, you fill out forms, which may vary according to your state. Take note that you apply at your local food stamp office, not at the federal Food and Nutrition Service agency that oversees the entire program.

After you submit your application, the people at your local food stamp office will interview you and ask for your supporting documents (such as utility bills, driver’s license, and rental agreements). Whether you get approved or not entirely depends on the information gathered from you by the food stamp workers. If you’re approved, then congratulations! You can use your food stamp credits to buy your groceries. If your application gets denied—you have the right to ask why!

But first things first, you need to find out your eligibility for food stamp benefits. As with any government program, you must meet certain requirements. For instance, the value your countable resources (bank accounts and cars) must be below a government-set amount, and both gross and net household incomes must not exceed a certain percentage of the Federal poverty guidelines.

It’s best to get in touch with your local food stamp office, as the requirements may differ from state to state. There are three ways to do this:

1. If you have Internet connection at home or if your local library has computers that you can use, you can quickly check if you could qualify for food stamps. To use the Food Stamp Program’s Pre-Screening Eligibility Tool, go to: www.foodstamps-step1.usda.gov.
2. Call your local food stamp office to make inquiries.
3. Go straight to your local food stamp office, then ask for application forms. (Some states—like Florida, Delaware, Massachusetts, and Oregon—can receive online food stamp applications.)

We’ve made it a little easier for you to find your local food stamp office. Look no further: here is a listing of local food stamp offices nationwide and their contact information.

Related post: Food Stamp Program on InstantGrantSearch.com

The government has already given out 85.2 million checks totaling to $70.78 billion since April as part of the economic stimulus package. The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) estimates that by the end of the year, about $100 billion will be distributed to qualified Americans.

However, there are still a lot of people who have yet to receive their stimulus checks, or if they have, received less than what they expected, resulting to numerous complaints thrown at the IRS.

Some of us who are still waiting for the checks to arrive in the mail might want to consider several things before we get irate at the government. Several factors may have caused the delay in the tax rebates. Some of them are:

1. Failure to file for tax returns
   To claim stimulus checks, you must first file your tax returns. Veterans, senior citizens, disabled persons, and others who depend on Social Security payments don’t usually file for tax returns of non-taxable benefits. If you are among those who are yet to claim the tax rebates, file your return by completing a simplified 1040A tax form and send it to IRS.

   The IRS has planned a massive campaign called “It’s Not Too Late to File” to reach out to the remaining 5.2 million people who have not yet received their money. The IRS said that 74 percent of senior citizens, veterans, and low-income workers have already gotten their checks.
   If you have doubts about your eligibility, don’t worry because you’ll know. The IRS will be sending out letters to qualified Americans in the coming weeks.

2. Incomplete information stated in the forms
   Another reason for not getting your money is failure to update your personal information. Newly-married couples often experience this because they have not filed for a name change. And if you moved recently, make sure to file for a change of address so any checks meant for you won’t get sent to the wrong place.

   Sometimes, it’s just a matter of checking the appropriate boxes in the forms. For instance, parents who have dependent children under 17 get an additional $300 in their checks. However, because the parent overlooked the box that indicates his or her status as a parent who can receive child payments, they receive checks that are $300 less. The IRS is fixing this by sending out 230,000 additional payments in mid-July.

3. Not qualified incomes
   You have a qualified income if you earn at least $3,000. This can be combined earned income, nontaxable combat pay and Social Security, Veterans Affairs and Railroad Retirement payments. You are eligible for stimulus payment if you file your return and have a qualified income.
4. Glitches in the system
   The IRS has recognized some problems in the distribution of checks. In May, 1,500 stimulus checks were deposited in the wrong accounts due to “programming error,” but this has been fixed promptly. Also, there are others who used tax-preparation software and caused some problems in identifying dependent children eligible for payments.
5. Other debts and government deducts
   If you have received your checks and discovered that it is less than what is owed to you, you might want to check if you have other debts. Alpern Rosenthal & Co. tax manager Susan Delvell says that the government deducts certain amounts owed for back taxes and overdue child support and student loan payments. This then reflects on your stimulus checks.

Calls have been queueing in the IRS hotlines because of the above-mentioned issues. Though there are still some things that need to be fixed, the agency is doing its very best to address our concerns and send us the money owed to us. Determining who qualifies for tax rebates and sending them out is not an easy feat. IRS Commissioner Doug Shulman admits that an undertaking this large and complex has not been without challenges.

The IRS is giving us the chance to catch up on filing our tax returns until October 15. Should you have any questions about the stimulus package, you can go to the IRS website (www.irs.gov) and get access to extensive information and answers to frequently asked questions.

Related posts:
Stimulus Checks for Low-Income Americans! on GovernmentGrantSearch.com

IRS Stimulus Checks Start Mailing May 2 to 137 Million Americans on InstantGrantSearch.com

Economic Stimulus Payments Information Center on IRS website

Because of our country’s ever-growing economic troubles, people are increasingly looking for alternative money-saving resources. Setting aside money for future and emergency use is still important, of course, but in the short term, how do you pay for the cost of food, groceries and home supplies?

Coupons are one answer. These little things will help you save your cash for other needs. And they’re not just found in newspapers and magazines anymore. Scouring the Web can prove to be quite helpful, as some of the best deals are available online. Here are some of the best websites to get your coupon discounts and savings from:

1. Deal Taker: The Place for Coupons and Deals! (www.dealtaker.com) – This website contains deals, coupons, gift cards, and even some free stuff. Sorted as such, the categories also contain subcategories to help you find whatever discounts you’re looking for.
2. CouponPages.com (www.couponpages.com) – They have four categories of available coupons: Today’s Top 25, Newest Coupons, Supermarket Coupons, and Sample Coupons. You may also search by city or zip code to help locate which coupons they have will be of use and interest to you.
3. Money Saving Mom (www.moneysavingmom.com) – This website not only has freebies and coupons, but also provides money-saving ideas and tips on how to spend money wisely. This site is perfect for mom-on-a-budget types.
4. Freebies 4 Mom (http://freebies4mom.blogspot.com) – This website is similar to the aforementioned site; it gives access to coupons and freebies and at the same time gives money-saving tips. Rebates and freebie events are also posted.
5. Cool Savings: Savings Made Simple (www.coolsavings.com) – They have free samples, printable coupons, online coupons and price comparisons. Their coupon categories range from grocery coupons, to home offers, to education offers. You name it, they probably have a coupon for it.
6. Coupon Cabin (www.couponcabin.com) – They have internet coupon codes and printable coupon codes; expiring coupons, as well as the most used ones, are also given priority. They are sorted by store and by category, depending on which works best for the user or visitor.
7. Wow Coupons (www.wow-coupons.com) – This website has a lot of printable retail coupons in addition to travel, rebates, restaurant & grocery coupons. What’s great about their site is that the coupon’s status information (ongoing, expiring, etc.) is right next to the coupon, along with which store it will work on.
8. Valpak.com (www.valpak.com) – As their tagline goes, there’s “Coupons and Savings in Your Neighborhood.” You can print free coupons that are specifically for you because you enter your location as you search.
9. About.com Coupons and Bargains (http://couponing.about.com/od/groceryzone/qt/printgrocery.htm) – This section of Couponing.About.com contains links to different off-site printable grocery & food coupons.
10. Target Grocery Coupons & Specials (http://sites.target.com/site/en/supertarget/page.jsp?title=coupons_specials) – Specifically made coupons & deals for products sold at Target. This website has coupons that can be “clipped,” or you may print them all if you choose.
11. MySavings.com (www.mysavings.com) – They are an online community dedicated to helping others find samples, coupons and other free stuff. Articles and forums on money-saving tips are also part of the site.
12. BudgetMom.com (www.budgetmom.com) – They have “printable coupons & freebies for the frugal mom.” Bargains, free downloads, printables and other bonus savings are available for moms on the go.
13. Free printable coupons at CoolFreebieLinks (http://www.coolfreebielinks.com/Coupon_Freebies) – This subsite has quite a number of links to printable coupons and shopping codes, and for some sites even the expiration/end of the offer is listed.
14. Pizza Hut Deals (https://quikorder.pizzahut.com/phorders2/deals.php) – Depending on your location, this popular pizza place can offer you coupons whether for delivery or takeout orders.
15. Printable Coupons in NYC (www.8coupons.com) – Contains many text coupons for restaurants, entertainment, beauty & spa, services and shopping. Also shows the top 8 NYC deals, hence the site’s domain name.
16. CouponAlbum’s Printable Coupons (http://www.couponalbum.com/printable-coupons.htm) – This page contains a list of external links containing different printable coupons and promos. The expiry and statuses of these deals are shown on this page as well.
17. The Coupon Mom (http://www.couponmom.com/index.php?cid=6) – This subpage of The Coupon Mom has two categories: Free Grocery Coupons and Print Retail Store Coupons. The former has external links while the latter has printable coupons ready to go.
18. Coupons from Betty Crocker (http://www.bettycrocker.com/coupons-promotions/coupons/default.aspx?WT.ac=homepage_05-01-2008) – A user must sign up to be able to print coupons. But as their instructions say, it’s as easy as “Click. Print. Save.”
19. Cheap Stingy Bargains – Printable Coupons (http://www.cheapstingybargains.com/cheapster/printable-coupons) – This subpage has many printable coupons that vary ranging from toys to food to clothes to almost anything they can find. Date of posting and expiration is also shown to avoid confusion.
20. Lisa’s Freebies (http://www.lisasfreebies.com/printcoupons.html) – This website is a comprehensive directory of online freebies and printable coupons by category. Date of expiration is also shown.
21. Mommy Saves Big Printable Coupons (http://printable-coupons.blogspot.com/2005/10/grocery-coupons.html) – A well-updated site containing printable coupons and ongoing promos from many external sites. Expired links can be noted by users by sending comments to the author.
22. KFC Online Coupons (http://www.kfc.com/coupons/ageverification.asp) – They offer coupons depending on your location. An age verification and a really short survey is required in order to obtain printable coupons.
23. Random Acts of Thriftiness (http://randomactsofthriftiness.wordpress.com) – This blogsite is constantly updated with coupons, discounts and deals. Wise shopping tips are also posted in addition to these money-saving gems.
24. Restaurant Coupons from AZeats.com (http://www.azeats.com/html/coupons-phx.htm) – They have coupons for several restaurants, and even more printable gift certificates when you opt to subscribe to their semi-monthly newsletter.
25. Eversave.com (www.eversave.com) – This site has lots of coupons under about a dozen categories, in addition to great articles and tips. If you register, they will offer you more promos and savings for free.

When the price of gas hit the $4 per gallon level nationwide, people panicked, at a loss for immediate, practical solutions to cope with sudden, steep fuel price hikes. The rising cost of fuel is a burden to everyone–we’re all dependent on gas one way or the other.

At the moment, there isn’t really a true alternative to gas. Hybrid cars, especially the next generation of them, look very promising because they are built to consume less fuel. But then again, not everyone can afford to buy a hybrid vehicle. If only everyone could afford a Tesla Roadster, or if only GM’s Hy-Wire (the car that can use sea water as fuel) could be mass-produced and sold at an affordable price, rising oil prices wouldn’t be a problem at all. But since we are dependent on oil, we need to fuel up regardless of our preferences or any future price hikes.

So our only real course of action right now, considering that gas is becoming way too expensive, is to find ways to consume less gas. The less fuel we burn, the less we have to purchase, and therefore, the more that we can save.

To consume less, we ought to change our driving habits to maximize the gas mileage of whatever car we currently own. Here are some gas-saving tips:

1. Keep revs to a minimum.
   The gas pedal is called ‘gas pedal’ because the deeper you press on it, the more you make your engine burn fuel so that it can produce more power. Conversely, the gentler you press on it, the less you burn gas. So when driving, try to ease off the throttle more often and try to keep engine revs to a minimum. If you are driving a manual transmission car, you can shift gears slightly earlier than usual to help maintain engine revs to a minimum.

   Accelerate gently and wait for the car to gain momentum on its own, instead of pushing it to reach the speed you want right away. You’re not in a race so there’s no point in making quick accelerations. Some people might say that they are in a hurry and must get to their destination ASAP. The solution is to prepare earlier so that you don’t have to rush when you drive.

2. Settle for the minimum allowable speed on the highway and on the freeway.
   The faster a car goes, the more wind resistance it encounters, and therefore, the more power you’ll need to sustain that particular speed. It’s best to just settle for the minimum allowable speed when you drive in the highway or in the freeway. In this manner, you are conserving energy and saving on fuel because it becomes easier on your engine to sustain a slower speed.
3. Learn to decelerate more gradually.
   A lot of times, we’d spot a ‘yield’ sign about a mile a way or we’d see the traffic light switching to red . When you do, it is better to just lay off the gas sooner than you normally do. Just take your foot off the gas pedal and let the car slow down on its own before gradually applying the brakes. Laying off the throttle and slowing down slightly earlier makes sense because you are bound to stop anyway. Again, the simple rule applies: the softer you step on the gas pedal, the less gas you burn.
4. Learn from hybrid technology.
   Hybrid cars have an ‘auto-switch’ feature wherein the regular combustion engine is turned off when it is not needed to prevent unnecessary fuel consumption during idling. This is one of the reasons why hybrid cars have good gas mileage.

   Of course, you cannot expect to turn off your car’s engine every time you are forced to stop in an intersection. You can, however, reduce your car’s idling time in other ways. For instance, rather than going to the drive-through of a fast-food chain, park your car and buy your food at the counter so that your car doesn’t waste fuel on a standstill. If you are picking up someone, don’t let your car engine run while parked. Turn it off, get out of the car and wait. The important thing is that you reduce your car’s idling time.

5. Use your car less.
   Sometimes, you really just need to use your car less to save fuel. If possible, you may want to carpool with friends or use public transportation from time to time. If the place you’re going to isn’t that far—for instance, the convenience store around the corner—walk to it, use your bike, ask your friend or neighbor for a ride especially if you just need to buy a couple of items.

   You may also want to schedule your trips to the mall or grocery in such a way that you take the shortest routes available, do it at times when you could buy stuff in large quantities, or squeeze it in your usual itinerary so you won’t have to make extra trips. If you’re given an opportunity to move around without using your car, then seize it.

Related posts: Spend Less Money on Gas with these Gov’t Programs on GovernmentGrantSearch.com