FTM: low budget & no healthcare, Trix and tips anyone?

[Skys_the_limit]

So I have very little income bc I practically live on my own, only 19 years old, and no family assistance and no healthcare for T injections, or heck, even a therapist. So if anyone can offer me help with binding, or talking more masculine, or anything! I'd really appreciate it.

Thanks-
Sky.

[xAndrewx]

Welcome to the site Sky Take a look around the ftm section and you should be able to pick up some good tips. If you don't mind saying where you live guys from that area might be able to point you towards cheap, free, or sliding scale therapists and doctors.

[Skys_the_limit]

I live in Magnolia, TX, but uh I'm willing to drive anywhere really in the Houston area. Woodlands, Conroe, Tomball, Houston, really I'm very versatile. Thanks for th warm welcome. Yeah if anyone has a therapists or dr. or anything it'd be super awesome to share! : ) 

[Arch]

Welcome to the site. Feel free to make an official introduction in the aptly-named Introductions section.

If you live in a large enough city, try the local LGBT center or the one in the nearest large city. They might have a support group--you'll get lots of advice that way, and a lot of centers have low-cost therapy options. You can also look into the Big Brothers binder program online--I can't remember the exact name, but you can get a free used binder if you have no extra money.

I also like the Hudson FTM site, and Susan's, of course.

[Heath]

Hey Sky: here's a website I found for free binders that have been donated from post-op FTMs. http://www.thetransitionalmale.com/BBUB.html

Hope that helps at least with the binding aspect. I've used ace bandages before, but I really do not advise that method! It may be cheap, but I didn't realize how harmful it can be.

In terms of other tips I can give, personal appearance is up to you. With voice, best I can do is recommend that you attempt to sing tenor. Mimic male vocalists who sing in a range that appeals to you and sing along.  I've personally never felt comfortable trying to speak lower because I think it just sounds fake, but years of singing at a lower register helps. I have a lower voice compared to other girls, so in that regard I kind of lucked out.

[Skys_the_limit]

Yeah I used an ace bandage for only a short date and dinner and it was terrible I had to take shallow breaths and could barely eat. I have like 42 size around my chest so it's really hard to bind and make it look like I have a male chest. Thanks so much guys for all your help and  links.

[Heath]

Sky: since it sounds like you have a larger chest (like me) I suggest layering a lot. Until you can get a free binder, try wearing a sports bra that's a bit smaller than what you're used to wearing and a tight undershirt (these come pretty cheap or you can buy them secondhand). Then wear like a baggy button down shirt over that. Should give you enough coverage.

[Nygeel]

Medicaid is a possibility, and it might pay for some of the transition costs. TransCircle.org has a binder program that I think is a little better than big brother binder.

[Darth_Taco]

Well, I haven't started hormone therapy yet so don't know what to tell you there XP. As for the binder, I made my own :'P. I just needed a couple of drill cotton aprons (that my boyfriend gave me for free, but should be available at any random thrift store), the knowledge of sewing, and patience XP. A sewing machine would help too xD. I did it all by hand ;_;. I used those strap things you use to tie around you and instead made it so it laced up on both sides of the binder so it was more like a corsette thing. Works well for me, and doesn't kill my breathing despite being asthmatic :'D.

[jmaxley]

For binding, I use sports compression tops I picked up at thrift stores for two or three dollars each.  You can also get them at Wal-Mart for $10.  I wear three of them, with the bottom two doubled up.  I get them in a size much smaller than I wear and cut out the sleeves and the neck.  I do want to get a real binder when I have the money.

Medicaid is a possibility, and it might pay for some of the transition costs.

I have Medicaid and Medicare.  Neither one will pay for transitioning costs, unfortunately.  Although, I think Medicaid is run by the state, so it's possible it could differ, depending on the state.  They do pay for my therapy; I'm seeing a regular therapist, not a gender therapist, and seeing her for other issues besides just GID (depression, anxiety, being suicidal).  So Medicaid could help in getting into therapy.

With some universities, you can get therapy through their psychology department, where your therapist will be a graduate student going into the psychology field.  I've gone that route before; they had a sliding scale fee so it was affordable.

[Skys_the_limit]

Thank you guys so much for the awesome tips. They are seriously gonna come in handy.