#Financial Resources

[oatmealspet]

Dude the union yaoi is truly saving peoples lives; all the help and funding that is being donated to aid IA is making it possible for them to give the help to people that need it rn during this time of negotiations (we are still in negotiations rn, it’s ongoing into September atm) and this dry period for work in the animation industry.

I know because I asked for help a while back because I was unemployed and ran out of unemployment; and with all these donations I got an email recently asking if I needed money to help me survive. It works and they will help as they keep getting donations from all of you so please donate if you can! And if you need the help and are in the animation guild, here’s a list of resources to get the help you need!

[apictureofelizabethdarcy]

Same goes for a lot of specialty offices! I actually work at a cancer clinic, and my job is literally to research financial assistance programs and enroll patients in them to either reduce or eliminate the cost of treatment. These are a few of the resources I use on a daily basis:

Fundfinder.panfoundation.org: An account is free. I use this to find non-profit foundations and grants based on diagnoses. This is my first step for patients who are uninsured or have government insurance.

LLS.org/support-resources/financial-support: If you have a blood condition, Leukemia and Lymphoma Society also has a bunch of co-pay foundations!!

NeedyMeds.org: Use to find patient assistance programs for uninsured patients, under insured patients (meaning your insurance has denied coverage for your treatment), and patients with government insurance. If you have commercial or private insurance (HMOs, PPOs, POS, and most employer insurances), many specialty medications also offer co-pay cards that reduce the cost of medications down to $0-20 depending on the medication.

RxHope.com: Similar to Fundfinder, used to find foundations and free drug programs.

I also go to drug manufacturer's websites directly. Even if you can't find assistance on those two websites, a lot of drug manufacturers still offer financial assistance.

Finally, there are a handful of pharmacies that offer medications for a reduced price. These are the ones I am the most familiar with:

Costplusdrugs.com: Mark Cuban. A bit limited in twrms of medications they offer, but a wonderful resource all the same. You must register online with your email, and your doctor must include your email on the prescription.

LifeRxPharmacy.com: Ontario-based pharmacy that provides reduced-cost medications to the U.S. and Canada. They purchase medications directly from the manufacturer and sell at wholesale price.

Of course, this is mostly applicable only to USAmericans, but please share any other resources you find as well!!

I feel like I should make a post about this because it’s not something that’s very well-known, and that Americans in particular may need to know about given the uncertain state of our healthcare system at the moment. I’ve wanted to write this out for a while, It’s kind of a long post, so sorry about that!

If you have an emergency and have to go to the hospital, you’ll owe the hospital a lot of money. (I got into a car wreck and broke my ankle and my arm. My hospital bill was around $20,000)

You’ll also owe the ambulance provider, if you need one. (My ambulance bill was about $800)

You may get separate bills from the anesthesiologist or surgeon. (My anesthesiologist bill was $1,700)

You may need follow-up appointments. (My orthopedic surgeon billed me for the appointments and his surgery together and it was about $1,000)

You’ve also got to pay for medical equipment you need afterward, like crutches or a walking boot. (Mine cost about $75)

Altogether, I ended up with almost $24,000 in medical debt from one car accident. That’s a really scary number for someone like me who makes $10/hr at a 12 hour a week job.

I got my debt down to $1075 by making some phone calls and submitting some paperwork.

The first thing I did was contact the hospital. They don’t make it easy to find, but many hospitals (perhaps most hospitals?) have financial assistance programs for people who can’t afford medical bills. I don’t make a lot of money, and I have bills to pay, so they were able to help me. I called the billing department and asked if they had any assistance programs for low income people who can’t pay their bills. I had to call multiple times, and I got transferred in circles by people who didn’t know what I was talking about. Finally, I got an appointment with someone in “Eligibility Services” (I don’t know what other hospitals call it, if it’s something different). I had to bring my pay stubs and copies of all of my bills. When I got to the hospital for the appointment, nobody knew what I was talking about so I had to wander a little to find where I needed to go. I spoke with the guy in Eligibility Services, and I waited for a decision on how much of the bill they would forgive. A month later, I got a call telling me it was totally forgiven.

I did the same thing for my ambulance bill and my anesthesiologist, but the process was a LOT easier. I just had to mail some paperwork and it was totally forgiven.

I didn’t bother with the medical equipment suppliers, since the bills came from separate companies and I didn’t feel like going through the process twice for $75. I was assured at the hospital that they had similar programs for debt forgiveness, so I could have probably avoided paying that too.

The only thing I couldn’t get taken care of was the surgeon/follow-up appointment cost, but they were able to put me on a no-interest payment plan.

Medical debt is scary because it’s something that can come from stuff that’s already really scary. I didn’t need the burden of $24,000 in debt on top of trying to get around on a crutch with a broken arm (it’s not easy, believe me!).. but I can’t imagine what it would be like with a bigger debt or a more severe medical emergency. I see lots of people in even worse trouble than I was in, both financially and medically. Please know that there are options for you when that GoFundMe doesn’t do enough. Even if your income is higher than mine, it’s worth a shot even for partial debt forgiveness.

[an-finance]

IDFC FIRST Academy: Financial Literacy Courses Online with Certificates

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[frothytundra]

American Hunger Games

This month, my book club is reading The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins. Although we have all, probably, seen the film, I hope that the other group members are enjoying the read as much as I am. Reading provides more time for thought and reflection on not only the broader story but also the intriguing, and sometimes horrifying, details. The Hunger Games book cover via Flickr.com At the same…

[trendynewsnow]

Home Equity Surge: Opportunities for Homeowners in a High Interest Rate Environment

Home Equity Surge: An Opportunity for Homeowners American homeowners have seen a remarkable increase in their home equity, accumulating hundreds of thousands of dollars that they are increasingly leveraging, even amidst the backdrop of high interest rates. Home equity, which is calculated as the difference between the current market value of a home and the outstanding balance on the mortgage, has…

[drafty-castle]

Thinking about his every year the budget for military spending swells and money is siphoned out of social security for someone pet project. But there’s no money for the people. Money that comes from the people through their taxes. No. There’s always enough for war but never enough for the poor.

[worldpostday]

Delivering more than the mail: How Posts can deliver economic inclusion worldwide.

According to Visa, one of the world’s biggest financial services corporations, digital equity and inclusion rely on three key assets: access, trusted convenience, and knowledge. A key partner in the UPU’s Financial Inclusion Technical Assistance Facility (FITAF) project, Visa believes that the Post can advance each of these pillars, paving the way towards more equitable and prosperous communities.

Learn more on Delivering more than the mail: How Posts can deliver economic inclusion worldwide.

[symphonicspecter]

And also on the subject of helping others, here is a reminder of some tags that I have been using:

Commissions: pay an artist and they will make something awesome for you

Resources: Self help or help for others; includes lists of charities, therapy resources, life skills, and more

Things to remind myself: mostly a personal tag but if these things help me, they might help you

I definitely need to reconsider how I tag helpful stuff since it's inconsistent right now.

[iibdevelopmentgroup]

The capital markets offer a powerful platform for project realization. By accessing this dynamic ecosystem, organizations can secure the necessary funding to transform their visions into tangible outcomes. We specialize in harnessing the potential of capital markets to drive project success.

[tpjaveton]

Business Loan Or Business Closure - You Decide

Table of Contents The Pros and Cons of Taking a Business Loan The Pros and Cons of Taking a Business Loan Business Loan Or Business Closure – You Decide Starting and running a business is no easy task. It requires dedication, hard work, and most importantly, financial resources. However, there may come a time when your business needs an injection of cash to keep it afloat or to take it to the…

[thedvwalkingwounded]

FINANCIAL PIGGY BACK THURSDAYS: The HUB Garage

SOURCE: http://www.thehubgarage.org/ From the organization’s “ABOUT” page: Being a single mom is one of the hardest jobs in the world. So we’ve made it our job to help her keep moving. For these moms, a car isn’t just a means of transportation, it’s a lifeline. Without a working vehicle, she has no way to get to work, school, the doctor or the grocery. That’s why we’ve built partnerships with…

[stormy-talks]

Hey, you don’t have to respond to this publicly or anything. I saw your reply on the mr beast video about being in a tough financial situation? At my job we get a lot of ppl in a similar position so if you haven’t tried it:

- call 211 or other hotlines for financial assistance

- if you’re in America, call the local goodwill. They have career assistance/employment help if you need a better job etc

- you mentioned not eating a lot? Food banks aren’t only for the homeless and there’s usually several places available to get free groceries. If possible, file for food stamps

- local social worker. Their whole job is to help ppl who are financially trapped! For all of the above a quick google search (ex: social worker near me) can help to find them. I hope things get better for you <3

I am always so astounded at the kindness of random strangers on the internet. I don't deserve it, truly! But you took the time to send this to me and that means a lot!

Things were okay over the past two years because I was on EBT, but now I don't have it because every able-bodied person in my household needs to be working 20 hours and only I meet that criteria. I only just got a stable job after struggling for the past few years to hold down a job (It would help if I could get an official autism diagnosis and get medicated for anxiety but that's a whole other issue entirely.)

I will definitely look into the resources you so kindly sent me. And really, thank you. You didn't have to spend time typing that out and yet you did, and that's so nice of you. Thank you again!

- ⚡️

[grumpyoldsnake]

If you live in the USA and you're pleading for donations to pay your rent, bills, or get food then dial 211! Please dial 211 before the last minute!

It's a toll free service with people who will help you find programs in your community to pay those bills, find food, and find housing! They will give you numbers to call so you can get help.

It is not 100% foolproof. Their job is to direct you to a program they believe will help your current issue, but it's still a step up from praying random strangers online will give you enough cash before a deadline! The added benefit of these community programs, which get funded by the local government most of the time, is if there are more people using them then they can get more money to help more people.

You're not taking resources from other people if you use your community services. Your taxes pay for them. Use them.

Dial 211 first to see if they can help, and if for some reason they can't, then make your donation posts!

https://www.211.org/

[aegisprecisionkinetics]

Have you been thinking about buying big? Bulk ammunition stands as a key cost-efficient solution for large shooting ranges, presenting a multitude of advantages for both range administrators and avid shooters. Here's what to expect when implementing bulk ammo in the context of expansive shooting ranges.

[lightbluetown]

i hate that hbo max is only available in a small number of western countries but it is kinda amusing that the only way i can consume ofmd is through piracy

[peachbpomarketing]

Why Successful Startups Rely on Outsourced Accounting

Startups and small businesses often handle everything in-house, especially when they're first starting out. This is understandable, given tight financial resources and relatively simple administrative needs. However, as businesses grow and systems become more complex, accounting tasks can become a major distraction for founders and management teams.

One of the biggest challenges facing startups and small businesses is cash flow. Lack of capital and poor cash flow are responsible for up to 90% of small business failures. Additionally, 60% of small-business owners feel they are not very knowledgeable about accounting and finance.

Accounting is a critical function for businesses of all sizes. Outsourcing accounting to an accounting firm can be a great way to ensure your finances remain accurate, efficient, and compliant.

Startup Accounting Insights You Should Be Aware Of

Before we get into why you should outsource your accounting as a startup, let's take a look at some key facts about the current state of accounting on a business level:

53% of small businesses place accountants at the very top of their list of most trusted advisors.

According to Small Business Trends, only 40% of startups manage to turn a profit, while 30% simply break even.

A significant 58% of small businesses no longer find it necessary to meet their accountants in person.

Failory's research reveals that startups face a 20% failure rate in their first year.

CB Insights shows that 29% of startups fail because they run out of funding.

Accounting is critical to the success and profitability of any startup, and many small businesses rely on outsourced bookkeeping and accounting services to manage their finances. 

Why Should Start-ups Consider Outsourcing?

In the startup phase of your business, there are likely more valuable tasks you could be focusing on than trying to understand the complexities of debits and credits. As a founder, you're juggling multiple roles – from sales and product development to managing cash flow, human resources, and compliance. Many of these demands can drain the enthusiasm you initially had for your business. Outsourcing non-core functions to experts allows you to focus on the core aspects of your business and generate innovative ideas that can drive its growth.

If you aim to scale your business, you'll want to leverage the skills and experience of an experienced bookkeeper or accountant who has been on this journey with other businesses before. Effective financial record keeping and reporting are crucial for laying a solid foundation for your company's future success. Your financial reports (and forecasts) will be important for communicating with any shareholders or investors.

For many start-ups and early-stage companies, the "accounting and finance department" may initially consist of the founder - with the help of a good bookkeeper like Peach BPO and a tool like Quickbooks. This is a good place to start, but it may not be enough for your growing company. During the early stages when resources are limited, you need everyone focused on keeping operations running smoothly and efficiently. This means dedicating more time to building community relationships and acquiring new customers, rather than being tied to your desk for extended hours.

When Should a Startup Outsource Accounting?

A startup should consider bringing in an outsourced accounting firm after securing around $500k in funding. When there's enough capital in the company's bank account to afford an experienced outsourced accounting partner, it's time to regain some valuable time by finding a reputable outsourced finance partner like Peach BPO. This not only ensures that the books are ready for due diligence but, more importantly, it frees up the CEO's time. This extra time can then be dedicated to crucial tasks like product development, sales, hiring, and fundraising. In the world of startups, time is an invaluable resource, so outsourcing non-essential tasks like bookkeeping should be a priority as soon as it becomes financially feasible.

Conclusion

It doesn't matter if you're in Texas or anywhere else in the U.S. When you secure additional funding to fuel the growth of your new business venture, you'll encounter increasingly complex accounting challenges.

At Peach BPO, we provide comprehensive bookkeeping and accounting services designed for startups and small-sized companies. Whether you're just getting ready to launch your startup or you've already launched but need more help with your accounting than you thought, we're here to help! Contact us today to learn more about how we can help you achieve your financial goals.