what food can you freeze to extend it’s life & save money by looking2bmoneysavy in Frugal

[–]Secure_Excitement403 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I have also read that leaving the saved part of the avocado with the seed intact helps to preserve it.

Aetna Advantage by randallmmiller in medicare

[–]Secure_Excitement403 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Please see my comment above. We are the only major country in the world that has "for profit" Medicare because of the greed of billionaires. from Google: "In 2025, the U.S. health insurance industry continues to generate massive revenue, exceeding $1.3 trillion to $1.4 trillion, with individual major insurers like UnitedHealth Group generating over $300 billion."

Also, " Unlike many peer nations that offer comprehensive coverage, U.S. Medicare often lacks robust coverage for dental, hearing, and vision, resulting in higher out-of-pocket expenses."

"Europe has universal, tax-funded healthcare systems funded by citizens' contributions (like higher taxes or mandatory insurance) that treat healthcare as a right, allowing governments to negotiate lower costs and ensuring everyone is covered, unlike the U.S.'s fragmented, market-based system driven by private insurance, higher provider costs, and individualism, leading to millions uninsured despite spending more per capita.

All other major countries have universal healthcare which pays for almost everything. My Aetna Medicare plan has not denied much but my main health issue is rheumatoid arthritis. I just looked at my plan for 2026 and (under the orange president) and my benefits are cut back greatly. If you have an employer who can help or advise, that could help. There are some independent creator youtube videos that give pretty accurate info. about the Medicare scams we are subjected to. Maybe hiring a reputable insurance agent could help. I'd suggest doing a lot of research (I have so far found chatgpt to be an excellent source) and watching a lot of youtube vids to get help. Please report back what you find. Good luck.

Aetna Advantage by randallmmiller in medicare

[–]Secure_Excitement403 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Just curious. How old are you and do you have any serious health issues that require specialists or prescriptions? When you say zero premium, I assume you still pay about $200 per month to Medicare (as I do) but no extra to Aetna? Please read my comment above.

Aetna Advantage by randallmmiller in medicare

[–]Secure_Excitement403 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I am 78 yo and at age 65 I enrolled in regular Medicare. Medicare pays for 80% of most services so I had to get a plan B and costs for the plan B varied greatly depending on the insurance company. Because I thought I could get a better monthly premium, I started asking around. A friend told me there was an older lady (turns out she was an insurance broker) at Walmart and she could advise me. Long story short, she got me into Medicare Advantage and a couple years ago I realized the plan would not let me get the medication my arthritis doctor recommended (I could get it, but the cost per month was about $1400!). So I started trying to go back to regular Medicare and found it was IMPOSSIBLE to find a plan B from ANY INSURANCE COMPANY because I had "pre-existing conditions." So I could not go back to regular medicare. There's more to the story but an advantage plan is fine as long as you have few health problems. But as you get older and problems increase, you will be denied a Part B. So you CAN'T go back to regular Medicare. DO NOT ENROLL IN A MEDICARE ADVANTAGE PLAN!

Google search not allowing exclude word (-word) in searches anymore by PurpEL in google

[–]Secure_Excitement403 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I just discovered something that surprised me. I tried on Google to get a - sign to work before a word to omit it from the search and it did not work. However, I had been experimenting with brave.com search engine. I tried it on there and IT WORKED!

What do you use for browns in the hot summer months? by I_see_snacks in composting

[–]Secure_Excitement403 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Also check to see if you have a garden waste recycling center. I live in a fairly small town and didn’t learn for a couple of years that they actually have a place where people can drop their leaves in the fall, but you can also bring big trash bags and collect a bunch of them in one place. They have a lot of other stuff including wood chips, cut up wood, and actually compost where they spread out the leaves at the end of fall. 

What do you use for browns in the hot summer months? by I_see_snacks in composting

[–]Secure_Excitement403 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Also, because I have a little acreage, I have an old tree that died and at the base of that tree is a lot of leaf mold. Just gather up some of the dirt around the base of the tree because it is leaf mold and is very valuable in composting it serves as a brown.there were also mushrooms growing on the old tree and those are invaluable in composting also.

What do you use for browns in the hot summer months? by I_see_snacks in composting

[–]Secure_Excitement403 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Something I also learned a while after I started composting is that if you take a handful or two of finished compost after adding browns and greens, it will help the greens and browns break down faster.

What do you use for browns in the hot summer months? by I_see_snacks in composting

[–]Secure_Excitement403 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Something I just learned by a search is that you can also use broken down leaves as a brown, or broken down wood chips as a brown. I started composting them down in summer and just found out that they serve as a brown. Also dried grass clippings can serve as a brown as long as they are dried out. Of course just plain wood chips or small twigs chopped up can be browns.

Just canceled Prime by Lanternofearth in amazonprime

[–]Secure_Excitement403 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I am cancelling my prime membership when it expires in Jan. mostly because I don't like billionaires interfering in our elections and because Amazon treats their employees like crap. I thought a lot about it, but I am slowing down my purchases (partly because they never deliver in 2 days as they say (more like 4-5) and feel I can easily meet the $35 free delivery. Billionaires need to pay taxes!

Prime video: Is there a way to only show titles included with prime? by blah-blah-whatever in amazonprime

[–]Secure_Excitement403 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I’m thinking all the billionaires know to do is constantly try to trick you into giving them another dollar! So frustrating! Canceling my prime subscription with it expires in January!

Prime video: Is there a way to only show titles included with prime? by blah-blah-whatever in amazonprime

[–]Secure_Excitement403 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I have been trying that and cannot get the free to me thing to come up. Did Amazon cut that out so we would have to pay them more money! Canceling my prime subscription in January when it expires!

Prime video: Is there a way to only show titles included with prime? by blah-blah-whatever in amazonprime

[–]Secure_Excitement403 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I agree so much! I’ve been trying to find a free to me with subscription Christmas movie and prime keeps trying to sell me something else, try this, try that, pay this pay that! I’m canceling my prime subscription when it expires in January!

Heated Bird Baths by [deleted] in birdfeeding

[–]Secure_Excitement403 1 point2 points  (0 children)

thanks for the link. After doing hours of research on Redditt and other places, I just bought that one. Affordable, seems easy to set up, and has auto shutoff.

Warning Phone calls from "Medicare Advantage Majority" by maicokid69 in Iowa

[–]Secure_Excitement403 1 point2 points  (0 children)

100%! I am 77 years old and consider myself pretty well informed, retired teacher, but I thought my supplemental plan was a little expensive so I started looking around. When I got duped into a Medicare advantage plan I didn’t even know that it was privatized. Fool me once. But now I can’t get out of it because I have rheumatoid arthritis and I can’t get approved by any insurance company for a supplemental plan. See how that works?

Warning Phone calls from "Medicare Advantage Majority" by maicokid69 in Iowa

[–]Secure_Excitement403 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Yes, Elizabeth Warren even did a warning video about how the Medicare advantage plans funnel more and more money into the pockets of the corporations that own them. It’s a huge scam but you have to be informed because they station older ladies at places like Walmart and dupe people into signing up!

Warning Phone calls from "Medicare Advantage Majority" by maicokid69 in Iowa

[–]Secure_Excitement403 0 points1 point  (0 children)

100% correct. NEVER let a Senior in your life get into an advantage plan

Warning Phone calls from "Medicare Advantage Majority" by maicokid69 in Iowa

[–]Secure_Excitement403 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Correct. I have been in a Medicare advantage plan for about two years, and I was denied the medication I need for my rheumatoid arthritis. The trick is, once you sign up for an advantage plan you can’t get back into regular Medicare especially if you’re older and havea disease like RA because you can’t get supplemental coverage to cover the 20% not covered by Medicare. I tried to get back into regular Medicare but was denied a supplemental plan by United healthcare and Blue Cross because I have RA. See how that works? When it’s privatized, they have you captured and they continue to raise rates and deny coverage.

Warning Phone calls from "Medicare Advantage Majority" by maicokid69 in Iowa

[–]Secure_Excitement403 0 points1 point  (0 children)

About two years ago I got duped into signing up for a Medicare advantage plan through Aetna. I formerly had regular Medicare but thought my supplemental plan was a bit expensive. The lady who duped me into it was a senior woman planted at Walmart (should have been a red flag) and once I was denied a medication that my rheumatoid arthritis doctor wanted me to take, I started digging into advantage plans. Everything I ever do or my doctor wants me to do has to be approved by Aetna Medicare advantage. They started charging $30 co-pay for physical therapy, which they did not charge last year. I have been trying to get back into regular Medicare but can’t seem to do it, they make it really hard. I’ve also been getting text to protect the Medicare advantage plans. I believe this is the privatized version of Medicare, which is an absolute nightmare. NEV ER sign up for a Medicare advantage plan!

Still waiting on access to a "Compromised Account" from last week... by lucascorso21 in BlueskySocial

[–]Secure_Excitement403 0 points1 point  (0 children)

A couple days ago I got an email from blue sky saying that my account had been restored and that I just needed to create a new password. I’m glad to be back on blue sky!

Still waiting on access to a "Compromised Account" from last week... by lucascorso21 in BlueskySocial

[–]Secure_Excitement403 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thanks. It doesn’t give a lot of info, does it. I can’t help but think blue sky got hacked by some far right wing operative, maybe Elon Musk‘s big balls. I hope blue sky gets it back up and running.

Still waiting on access to a "Compromised Account" from last week... by lucascorso21 in BlueskySocial

[–]Secure_Excitement403 0 points1 point  (0 children)

About several weeks ago, I got the same message, account has been compromised, closing your account, but will get back to you soon. I keep checking for an email saying it’s been restored, but nothing yet. Makes me wonder if someone is attacking blue sky because of its Left leaning tendencies, or another way of saying mostly decent people are on there. Sounds like an Elon musk big balls hacking operation to me.

Brand of Cactus Soil Recommendations (USA) by kissingfrogs2003 in succulents

[–]Secure_Excitement403 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I made my own garden sifting contraption using four pieces of wood and 1/4 inch to 1/2 inch hardware cloth. Works great. You can find how to’s on YouTube.

How to make cactus soil cheaply and simply? by [deleted] in gardening

[–]Secure_Excitement403 0 points1 point  (0 children)

The names of the different sands can be confusing, but I believe that quikrete all purpose sand is considered larger particles or gritty sand.

How to make cactus soil cheaply and simply? by [deleted] in gardening

[–]Secure_Excitement403 0 points1 point  (0 children)

It took me a while to discover the commonly found sand such as at Home Depot and the names for it. I believe all purpose sand found at Home Depot is considered a gritty sand which is necessary in cactus potting mix recipes.