DECREASED expenses after the sleeve? Obviously food, but detail is requested

[ObesityBlows 9]

I'm in the stage of trying to financially justify this. Where I live, it will cost me $13k to have this surgery. I will likely have to finance part if not all of that. I'm currently trying to see if the amount of money I save on food/eating out/drinking carbonated beverages will completely offset the cost of the financing. Also, in what other ways did you save money after the surgery?

Example: I spend ~$200/month eating out; I expect a decrease in that, but I don't know how much.

[sillykitty 10,776]

I don't think you're going to be able to get a good financial ROI on this. But is that what WLS is all about? Can't you justify it by improving your health? Feeling better? Does that not hold value?

[Matt Z 4,139]

32 minutes ago, ObesityBlows said:

I'm in the stage of trying to financially justify this. Where I live, it will cost me $13k to have this surgery. I will likely have to finance part if not all of that. I'm currently trying to see if the amount of money I save on food/eating out/drinking carbonated beverages will completely offset the cost of the financing. Also, in what other ways did you save money after the surgery?

Example: I spend ~$200/month eating out; I expect a decrease in that, but I don't know how much.

We actually spend more on food per month than we did previously, because of the requirement for better, healthier foods. We eat out WAY less, but our grocery store visits have gotten more expensive overall.

[FancyChristine15 810]

I'm with sillykitty on this one. You may not actually spend less than you did before. I probably spend the same, if not more now, because I'm having to spend $80 a month on Protein and then so much a month on Vitamins and minerals, but I'm much healthier than I was before, so it's worth it to me.

[wjgo 272]

If you don't have the surgery, how much could you be paying in diabetic medication? Special items to accommodate your weight? How much do you value a better lifestyle? How much do you value having an easier life than being obese? The payoff is 20 years from now.

Sent from my XT1609 using BariatricPal mobile app

[wjgo 272]

$200 eating out? You can make that zero, and cook your food at home.

Sent from my XT1609 using BariatricPal mobile app

[She_whirls 204]

I spend more money a month on food, actually. Eating healthy is much more expensive than eating crap! We don’t eat out anymore so that helps cover the difference in our grocery costs.

[ObesityBlows 9]

1 hour ago, sillykitty said:

I don't think you're going to be able to get a good financial ROI on this. But is that what WLS is all about? Can't you justify it by improving your health? Feeling better? Does that not hold value?

It certainly does, and I'm not discounting that at all. I suppose it seems silly to think about finances to those who've had the surgery and are experiencing the results; and perhaps that should be proof enough for me; however, that's not how my mind works. I analyze everything.

And to others who say they actually spend more on groceries after the surgery because they're buying higher quality food, I'm already buying that type of food. We don't eat "crap" or junk food. I got big by the quantities I was eating, and many years of eating nothing but carbs as prepared by an Italian family. Now, carbs are already a reduced part of my life. I need to better control the quantity. I say this to say I hope my grocery bills don't increase since I'm already buying healthy food like mostly Protein, veggies, and even Protein Powder.

Thanks to all for the replies.

[Ernie D 44]

I for one cant look at the cost overall but I can tell you one thing. I was diabetic for 12 years. My Insulin cost $3,000 for 90 day supply. I couldn't afford that so I cut back to ration it made it last 5 months. That was NOT good for me as you can imagine. LONG Story short. Since the surgery my diabetes is soooooooooooo much better I am just about at the point where they are going to declare me non diabetic. that you cannot put a price on . I would say. For the longevity of your health in years to come with it being better and not worse I would say what you will pay will far be worth it rather than consequences from a disease from being over weight

[Apple203 1,314]

If you work, commit to pack lunches instead of eating out, and calculate that savings. Lunches are slim post-surgery -- for instance, yesterday I got a $5 costco rotisserie chicken and I pre-packaged make 5 lunches with it. Throw in some steamed veges and you are eating a meal for less than $2. I usually have an egg or 2 for Breakfast -- also pretty cheap.

[sillykitty 10,776]

2 minutes ago, ObesityBlows said:

It certainly does, and I'm not discounting that at all. I suppose it seems silly to think about finances to those who've had the surgery and are experiencing the results; and perhaps that should be proof enough for me; however, that's not how my mind works. I analyze everything.

I get it

I do spend more on groceries, more produce and Protein Powder, bars, etc. aren't cheap. But I spend a lot less on dining out and home delivery. Net net, I'm sure I spend less overall. I wasted a lot of money in the beginning with liquids, pureed, soft foods I stocked up on but didn't eat. Also I wasted money on Protein products that I couldn't stand the taste of. So buy as small of quantities as possible to avoid waste.

One savings is on clothes, after you replace your wardrobe of course. Regular size clothes are cheaper than plus size. Plus there are a lot more options, easier to bargain hunt.

[GreenTealael 25,439]

Meal planning will help save on food pre and post op, cooking your own food and freezing instead of wasting will save big time, only drinking filtered water- huge decrease in expenses especially if you pay a deposit fee per bottle/can, less money spent in excess on other self care things such as new hair styles, mani pedi etc all in an effort to mask the one thing you can't change- your weight, less money spent on cold allergy meds because you just won't get that sick as often when you are not straining your immune system, less money spent on indoor activities because you would rather walk hike bike etc, less money spent on alcohol just won't need as much ,
Less money spent on petro as you may walk more often... It will add up eventually

[GreenTealael 25,439]

And on the end of you really can't afford the 13k in the states... Medical Tourism

[ObesityBlows 9]

14 minutes ago, Ernie D said:

I for one cant look at the cost overall but I can tell you one thing. I was diabetic for 12 years. My Insulin cost $3,000 for 90 day supply. I couldn't afford that so I cut back to ration it made it last 5 months. That was NOT good for me as you can imagine. LONG Story short. Since the surgery my diabetes is soooooooooooo much better I am just about at the point where they are going to declare me non diabetic. that you cannot put a price on . I would say. For the longevity of your health in years to come with it being better and not worse I would say what you will pay will far be worth it rather than consequences from a disease from being over weight

WOW! You've almost rid yourself of diabetic issues in less than 3 months? I'm not diabetic; in fact, the only obesity related issue I have is blood pressure, unless my anxiety turns out to be related. I'm thoroughly impressed you've come so far in so short a period. CONGRATS!

[Toca19 33]

15 minutes ago, Ernie D said:

I for one cant look at the cost overall but I can tell you one thing. I was diabetic for 12 years. My Insulin cost $3,000 for 90 day supply. I couldn't afford that so I cut back to ration it made it last 5 months. That was NOT good for me as you can imagine. LONG Story short. Since the surgery my diabetes is soooooooooooo much better I am just about at the point where they are going to declare me non diabetic. that you cannot put a price on . I would say. For the longevity of your health in years to come with it being better and not worse I would say what you will pay will far be worth it rather than consequences from a disease from being over weight

16 minutes ago, Ernie D said:

I for one cant look at the cost overall but I can tell you one thing. I was diabetic for 12 years. My Insulin cost $3,000 for 90 day supply. I couldn't afford that so I cut back to ration it made it last 5 months. That was NOT good for me as you can imagine. LONG Story short. Since the surgery my diabetes is soooooooooooo much better I am just about at the point where they are going to declare me non diabetic. that you cannot put a price on . I would say. For the longevity of your health in years to come with it being better and not worse I would say what you will pay will far be worth it rather than consequences from a disease from being over weight

Hi Ernie could you share how long and how your diabetes is getting better? Thanks, my husband is considering the surgery just because diabetes and I want to know to help with his expectations