Susan's Place Transgender Resources

Community Conversation => Transsexual talk => Male to female transsexual talk (MTF) => Topic started by: JenJen2011 on January 24, 2011, 10:10:45 AM

Title: How did you pay for FFS/SRS?
Post by: JenJen2011 on January 24, 2011, 10:10:45 AM
Did you just simply save up for it?
Did you max out all of your credit cards?
Did you obtain a loan?
Did someone pay for it as a gift?
Did you hit the jackpot?
Did you use your dog's life insurance money?
Other? Do tell  ;D
Title: Re: How did you pay for FFS/SRS?
Post by: Britney♥Bieber on January 24, 2011, 10:53:01 AM
Not sure if this will help, but here's my plan for the next two years! I'm planning on srs in September 2012. :) Maybe January 2013 or somewhere there

I can't save up srs money right now, I have to save up to change my name and once thats done I still need a new wardrobe and then electrolysis. Which who knows how long could take since I need it both on my face and woohoo. =X

But either way I'm hoping to have those things done before the years end and then I can start saving up for srs. Then in July 2012 I will see how much I have saved up, consider how much I'll need for a loan etc. If I'm close I'll try and save up even more, but it looks like a loan is where I'm heading. Just hope to death I can get one. =/
Title: Re: How did you pay for FFS/SRS?
Post by: JenJen2011 on January 24, 2011, 11:12:05 AM
Quote from: Britney♥Bieber on January 24, 2011, 10:53:01 AM
Not sure if this will help, but here's my plan for the next two years! I'm planning on srs in September 2012. :) Maybe January 2013 or somewhere there

I can't save up srs money right now, I have to save up to change my name and once thats done I still need a new wardrobe and then electrolysis. Which who knows how long could take since I need it both on my face and woohoo. =X

But either way I'm hoping to have those things done before the years end and then I can start saving up for srs. Then in July 2012 I will see how much I have saved up, consider how much I'll need for a loan etc. If I'm close I'll try and save up even more, but it looks like a loan is where I'm heading. Just hope to death I can get one. =/

That sounds like a good plan. I hope it works out for you.
I've been saving up already. I'm hoping to have one of the two by the end of this year. We'll see.
Title: Re: How did you pay for FFS/SRS?
Post by: Britney♥Bieber on January 24, 2011, 11:28:13 AM
Quote from: JenJen2011 on January 24, 2011, 11:12:05 AM
That sounds like a good plan. I hope it works out for you.
I've been saving up already. I'm hoping to have one of the two by the end of this year. We'll see.

Good luck! I really don't want to push srs into 2013 but if I have to I will. I'm between Dr. Saran (8000 dollars but in Thailand) or Dr. Bowers (22,000 but in San Francisco which is a long drive from here) I like both of their results so it's a toss up between price. Ideally I'd stay in the country and go to Bowers, but realistically it looks like I'm going to Thailand. Would love to visit their but I'd rather save such a big trip for when I'm not planning on coming back with a giant gaping wound between my legs lol. Should make the plane ride suck =/ But then the drive home would also suck. Oh well.

The way I see it is, if I have enough saved up, say like 8000 next July I'll try to get a bigger loan and go for Bowers. If I can't get the loan I'll save up and try for a loan in December, then I'll end up having to wait who knows how long to see Bowers. =[ Its like two years away though *trying not to stress about it*
Title: Re: How did you pay for FFS/SRS?
Post by: KillBelle on January 24, 2011, 02:52:20 PM
I worked while i was in college, i got mine last year. I am ashamed to admit that my dad paid for it, he just threw his hands up in the air and just caved.
Title: Re: How did you pay for FFS/SRS?
Post by: Amazon D on January 24, 2011, 03:14:17 PM
13 yrs of scrimping and saving and building homes and renting them to recovering addicts for 13 yrs and holding 6 mortgages and then selling everything to transition and then give away my last 20k to open trans safe homes then becoming homeless and broke and hitchiking the USA and then taking care of the elderly in Calif and Pa and ex amish and finally the Good Lord gave me a pension from the VA when i was totally broke and still i am scrimping and saving and sleeping on a couch and taking care of my 88 yr old mom and paying off this lil farm and rebuilding it so i can help others, maybe some like me maybe not that all depends on fate. 
Title: Re: How did you pay for FFS/SRS?
Post by: Rock_chick on January 24, 2011, 05:10:30 PM
I went on a crime spree that spanned 17 solar systems.
Title: Re: How did you pay for FFS/SRS?
Post by: AmySmiles on January 24, 2011, 05:16:01 PM
I haven't had them done yet, but I've saved up almost enough for both.  Hopefully insurance will cover SRS by the time I reach that point so I don't have to spend everything.

Decent job + low cost of living + 3-4 years of frugality = moneys
Title: Re: How did you pay for FFS/SRS?
Post by: JaimeJJ on January 24, 2011, 05:17:05 PM
Quote from: Britney♥Bieber on January 24, 2011, 10:53:01 AM
Not sure if this will help, but here's my plan for the next two years! I'm planning on srs in September 2012. :) Maybe January 2013 or somewhere there

I can't save up srs money right now, I have to save up to change my name and once thats done I still need a new wardrobe and then electrolysis. Which who knows how long could take since I need it both on my face and woohoo. =X

But either way I'm hoping to have those things done before the years end and then I can start saving up for srs. Then in July 2012 I will see how much I have saved up, consider how much I'll need for a loan etc. If I'm close I'll try and save up even more, but it looks like a loan is where I'm heading. Just hope to death I can get one. =/

Are you really gonna change your surname to Bieber??
Title: Re: How did you pay for FFS/SRS?
Post by: Britney♥Bieber on January 24, 2011, 05:46:19 PM
Quote from: jennifer90 on January 24, 2011, 05:17:05 PM
Are you really gonna change your surname to Bieber??

LOL no.
Not until we get married that is! ;) lol.
Title: Re: How did you pay for FFS/SRS?
Post by: Amazon D on January 24, 2011, 05:52:51 PM
PS: My transitioning cost well over 112k  :o and i did it all in 13 months time
Title: Re: How did you pay for FFS/SRS?
Post by: Kaelleria on January 24, 2011, 06:10:57 PM
At this time last year I was making quite a bit less (50%~) than I am now. My cost of living is about the same and I've been banking the extra/month. I got pretty darn lucky with my job.
Title: Re: How did you pay for FFS/SRS?
Post by: lostmagic564 on January 24, 2011, 07:34:01 PM
oh god i hav'nt even tought of the costs D: i so need to get a part time job
Title: Re: How did you pay for FFS/SRS?
Post by: ClaireA on January 24, 2011, 08:08:59 PM
2012 will not be leaving me without giving me my SRS!

Quote from: Britney♥Bieber on January 24, 2011, 11:28:13 AM
Good luck! I really don't want to push srs into 2013 but if I have to I will. I'm between Dr. Saran (8000 dollars but in Thailand) or Dr. Bowers (22,000 but in San Francisco which is a long drive from here) I like both of their results so it's a toss up between price. Ideally I'd stay in the country and go to Bowers, but realistically it looks like I'm going to Thailand. Would love to visit their but I'd rather save such a big trip for when I'm not planning on coming back with a giant gaping wound between my legs lol. Should make the plane ride suck =/ But then the drive home would also suck. Oh well.
Those are my thoughts, too. Bowers would be my first choice if money was not an issue, and, as prejudice as this may sound, I just feel safer having surgery in the western world. Sadly, 2012 might be hard to do financially if it came down to Bowers. Thailand is not only a cheaper option but Supron's technique, IMO, might be a better overall option.

Wanna save up? Cut your expenses! When you cut the excess, you'd be surprised how much money you actually save!
Title: Re: How did you pay for FFS/SRS?
Post by: marcy319 on January 24, 2011, 08:10:23 PM
Get rich slowly, the hard way:
Quit borrowing money.
Get a job. Or two.
Start saving even if it is $20 bucks a paycheck.

Best of luck to you!
Title: Re: How did you pay for FFS/SRS?
Post by: Shang on January 24, 2011, 08:13:38 PM
I'm starting to save up.  Any extra money gets funneled into an account for my dog because I won't touch it there, unless she winds up needing to go to the vet.  I'm hoping to land a part-time job soon so I can have more money saved up.
Title: Re: How did you pay for FFS/SRS?
Post by: Britney♥Bieber on January 24, 2011, 08:31:31 PM
Quote from: ClaireA on January 24, 2011, 08:08:59 PM
2012 will not be leaving me without giving me my SRS!
Those are my thoughts, too. Bowers would be my first choice if money was not an issue, and, as prejudice as this may sound, I just feel safer having surgery in the western world. Sadly, 2012 might be hard to do financially if it came down to Bowers. Thailand is not only a cheaper option but Supron's technique, IMO, might be a better overall option.

Wanna save up? Cut your expenses! When you cut the excess, you'd be surprised how much money you actually save!
Yeah I might go with Suporn.
Title: Re: How did you pay for FFS/SRS?
Post by: Debra on January 25, 2011, 05:12:28 PM
I took a loan out from my 401k. (Max I can take out is HALF)

Then I took a hardship distribution out for last bit.

And my adopted mom is paying for my Trach Shave and I'm paying her back over 10 months
Title: Re: How did you pay for FFS/SRS?
Post by: ClaireA on January 25, 2011, 06:48:56 PM
Quote from: Jerica on January 25, 2011, 05:12:28 PM
I took a loan out from my 401k. (Max I can take out is HALF)

Then I took a hardship distribution out for last bit.

And my adopted mom is paying for my Trach Shave and I'm paying her back over 10 months

I've thought about the 401k idea, especially since I've been putting a lot of money in there. Isn't it true that you need to wait until 5 years of contributions? That would kind of exclude me as I only became eligible to make contributions about a year and a half ago - maybe I shouldn't put so much in :(

Also, does anybody have experience with taking money out of a PERA?
Title: Re: How did you pay for FFS/SRS?
Post by: Debra on January 25, 2011, 08:26:01 PM
Not sure if that's true about 5 years before you can take a loan out. I've been at this company < 5 years so yeah.

Now that I've taken the loan out though, I can't do a deferral again for 6 months.
Title: Re: How did you pay for FFS/SRS?
Post by: juliemac on January 26, 2011, 05:45:02 AM
I can thank my daughter actually. I bought a classic car for $600 and started to restore it. Placed it on classic insurance and set the premium etc.
One day, my daughter called..... "Moommm..."
Some non english speaking jerk cut her off and took off the front end of the car. She was ok, bruised and saddened at killing the car. Sigh. Good she wasnt hurt.
Then the insurance Co called. "Theres a problem with the insurance...."
A check arrived for $14,600 a week later. (they confused the 81 with the 85 and both had high premiums.....)

Soo.. One car down and I am currently sitting on my latest investment  :)

It took 20 years (to the month even) from transition to....
Title: Re: How did you pay for FFS/SRS?
Post by: Sadie on January 26, 2011, 08:47:11 AM
Though it's a ways off for me, I am hoping/praying I get on as permanent employee (currently a contractor) at my current job.  Their revised 2011 benefits cover transgender surgery. If not it will be just a matter of working and saving. 
Title: Re: How did you pay for FFS/SRS?
Post by: jennajane on January 26, 2011, 02:31:51 PM
I moved to Quebec, Canada where it is covered under public health care.  It was actually covered in Alberta, the province I moved from until last summer when it became de-listed there and a lot easier to get funded here.  Hopefully it happens at the end of the year or early 2012!

Jenna
Title: Re: How did you pay for FFS/SRS?
Post by: bethanypahl on January 26, 2011, 03:51:27 PM
401k loan  credit cards  savings and refin house  then you got to pay it all back  but definitly worth it
Title: Re: How did you pay for FFS/SRS?
Post by: juliemac on January 26, 2011, 07:07:50 PM
Quote from: Sadie on January 26, 2011, 08:47:11 AM
Though it's a ways off for me, I am hoping/praying I get on as permanent employee (currently a contractor) at my current job.  Their revised 2011 benefits cover transgender surgery. If not it will be just a matter of working and saving.

Good G#d. Who do you work for and can I...
never mind
Title: Re: How did you pay for FFS/SRS?
Post by: annette on January 26, 2011, 07:32:18 PM
In the Netherlands public health care insurance cover all the costs of hrt and srs, even when you're not having a job.
So, they have payed my surgery, thankfully.
I'm still counting my blessings for it.

hug
annette


Title: Re: How did you pay for FFS/SRS?
Post by: tekla on January 26, 2011, 07:44:21 PM
I went on a crime spree that spanned 17 solar systems.

A girl after my own heart, my crime spree was only international.
Title: Re: How did you pay for FFS/SRS?
Post by: CaitJ on January 26, 2011, 09:02:14 PM
Bank loan + savings + windfall from IRD (IRS for you Americans).