For a while now I have been very concerned as to how I will pay for SRS, I had to go back to school as my income for the past 5 years can't even pay rent. So I should make better money when I get my diploma but with all the high costs of things I'm still worried. How have others paid/saved for there surgery? did you borrow money? how many years did it take to save? did you have to live in poverty to save? I'm so lost as to how I can get together 10,000+ dollars to get this done.

How to pay for it? through a personal loan, 401K distributions, savings, credit lines, working two jobs, etc.  that's how you save for it.

tink

I know a loan will do it, however in my case I don't know if that's possible as I had credit card problems in the past. I'm just confused when others around my age go to have it done, I just can't figure out how they got the money.

I am not sure how old you are but in my early 20's I was going to college paid for by Ma Bell as a technician and working a lot of over time enough to buy a new car cash that today would cost $40k all in one year. True there was no social life and little sleep. I believe I did not see a minute of TV that year.

Quote from: Ember L on October 07, 2007, 02:36:54 PM
I know a loan will do it, however in my case I don't know if that's possible as I had credit card problems in the past. I'm just confused when others around my age go to have it done, I just can't figure out how they got the money.

Well, in my case, I saved the money over a number of years.  People sometimes refinance their homes (if they own one); others cash or borrow money from their 401K plans.  I have heard one or two people from this site say that their parents paid for their SRS; many travel overseas where the costs are cheaper, etc.

You may find this link helpful:

http://www.tsroadmap.com/

You can also purchase some workbooks that show you how to save or what to do to accomplish your goals:

http://www.tsroadmap.com/reality/finance/index.html



tink

At my current rate of savings VS expences I figure its going to take me 5 to 10 years to save up for GRS at its current US rate of 20k.....  My credit is pretty much shot... and you cant get credit if you dont have credit so Im shot there too...  Seriously Im going to be takeing a 2nd and maby even a 3rd job to try to obtain my goal before Im 30...  <Im 26 almost 27 at the moment>

I just had to get an appartment, cheapest one I could find... its 300/mo... Im having to give up allot of other things too...  Its going to be a few years of living on the barest means necicary and working my cute butt off to get the kind of funds necicary together... Its daunting to say the least... Specialy when you dont have a degree of any kind and live in a low income, high cost of living part of the country...

I say just work at it, and work at it some more and eventualy youll get there...  and maby luck will strike and put you in a better position to accomplish your goals sooner than later 

Good luck.

Do what you can to improve your money flow like looking for a new job and looking for word outside of the area you live in now. A friend of mine sold off everything that she could and lived like a pauper for two years. Coupons, coupons, coupons for shopping. Only travel when you have to and put as much as you can into accounts that have an interest rate. Clear small bills and, as you do, put the old monthly payment amount into savings for SRS.

Can you sew? Make small items and sell them on ebay. Make clothing? same thing.

Multiple jobs. While I was in college I worked more than on job to make ends meet. One semester I had a full time job and two part time jobs along with 16 credit hours.

If you can do computer tech work then do a self study for A+ and Network+ certifications, great for entry level work. It may not pay great at first but within a couple of years you should be able to move up enough to where you are making decent money. Have the employer pay for additional certs in the arena of Computer Security and Forensics.

Network as much as you can and do it on the cheap. Book clubs at local book stores, LGBT get togethers, etc, etc.

Do not eat out. Cook large meals and freeze the leftovers. Carpool if you can.

Do treat yourself every so often. Small and rewarding but not expensive.

I tried to find a job that paid more than minimum wage and aside from labor work no one called me back. I got so fed up and started a Social Service Diploma course that will end around Sep 2008, at the same time I need to get my last 2 high school credits. I should be making good money when I graduate but the cost of Srs is so high I am still worried. How any one can work more than one full-time job remains a mystery to me as my body will start to shutdown if I am under too much stress or dont get enough sleep. My dream is to meet a rich man who will pay for it all  Hey "It could happen". Thanks so much everyone I'm feeling much better knowing others are, or have been in the same situation as me.

If you go back to school, you could try to get student loans or something so you can get a low interest money and like pay when your done with college.  I don't know much about loans so I may be way off but I was just giving my .02c

Ember,

I got an EE degree as soon as I could after high school.  I worked hard and paid for school as I went, incurring no debt. Without the education, I knew that I would never get a good paying job.

When I started transition, I did not spend money on unnecessary items.  I saved everything that I could. I did not eat out.  I did not go to movies. I rented a room from friends.   My goal was clear and that was my highest priority.   Besides the costs of transition, I also had children to support.  I never missed a payment.

It is possible.  The cost of SRS is no more than a car.  Lot's of people have nice cars.

I don't want to come off as blunt, but you know what you want.  Go for it.  It usually boils down to the real passion behind your motivations.  If you want it, get it.  Don't let ANY excuse get in the way.

I've been there, done that, and lived it. Many fail because they are victims of their own circumstance. Figure a way to get out of the mud, then get out of the rain.  Take a shower, get dressed, and take control of your life.

Cindi

Thanks for the help, I love to socialize and go shopping and out for dinner It's part of who I am and a nessecary part of my coping mechanisms. So it's hard to find the balance between both, and In Canada we have OSAP student loan which I am with, so I won't pay a penny till I leave school. I drive a Moped and don't plan on getting a car. It's funny but i'm 25 now and prior to me actually transing I did'nt care about furthering my education, I guess I have a life to live now and need to be responsible. So I feel i'm on the right path, and it's so true where theres a will theres a way. I love reading your responses so keep them coming.

Hugs+Kisses

Quote from: Ember L on October 08, 2007, 06:06:37 PM
Thanks for the help, I love to socialize and go shopping and out for dinner It's part of who I am and a nessecary part of my coping mechanisms. So it's hard to find the balance between both, and In Canada we have OSAP student loan which I am with, so I won't pay a penny till I leave school. I drive a Moped and don't plan on getting a car. It's funny but i'm 25 now and prior to me actually transing I did'nt care about furthering my education, I guess I have a life to live now and need to be responsible. So I feel i'm on the right path, and it's so true where theres a will theres a way. I love reading your responses so keep them coming.

Hugs+Kisses

By the way Ember if that's you in your picture your freaking gorgeous. 

And the way I saved money and still am saving money (I'm really young with a crappy low paying job too) is that whatever I make with my tips I spend on food extra stuff, movies etc etc.  And my checks I deposit in my savings.  I've been doing this since I was roughly 14 (except I didn't get tips then but didn't need money either) and I've done pretty well.  I have never taken a loan, pay all my bills in the first month so no interest, and my nice little honda civic will never die on me!  Hopefully haha.  If I need to in the near future I can take a student loan for school or other stuff that needs to be done at the time, but for the most part I try to avoid stuff like that. 

If I ever get my family to pay me what they owe me for all the work Ive done and all Ive lent them... paying for GRS wouldnt be an issue.....  But like finding a rich SO to pay for it all, its a pipe dream and something your better off not holding your breath for...

So far as holding multiple jobs or working lots of OT you just learn to cope with it... you will have little to no social life, and youll learn to sleep just about anywhere you have a chance too... coffee will be your friend... I used to work 12-18hrs a day for a telemarketing company....

While you certainly look pretty enough to land someone with the bucks, many in that range prefer partners who are more than arm decorations so the education will pay off even if that route presents itself.

Just keep plugging away and save whatever you can and you will achieve your goal. I have found some of the articles and boards on MSN Money to be pretty good for me but not sure how well they would apply to those north of the US. Micro economics, budgeting, and personal finance classes would also be a huge help.

Please let us know how it goes for you.

Haleja

Oh, thanks I've never gotten so many compliments, and yes it's my pic but I'm not that happy with the lighting, I'll take a new one soon. In Canada OSSAP student loan is given to almost everyone who can't afford to pay for their education, it's a loan by the government. I had bad credit and I had no problems getting it, if you get a 80-85% average you only need to pay back a bit more than half the loan. My 11,000 loan will be around 7,000, and you do get some $ to live on but not enough to pay for srs or to cover laser. I think the best plan for me is to upgrade my education to make more money to accommodate my lifestyle. I could never have no social life as it would drive me insane, labor jobs and me don't mix I just don't have the body to do it. After I graduate I will be making much better money and if I get a cheap room I should be able to get the money in approx 2-3 years maybe less, I'm just taking into account my shopping addiction. I hope things work out, it's hard to say for sure how much money I will make with my diploma, but stats say around 40,000ca per annum. I often feel like crying sometimes I just think there should be some kind of assistance for trans peoples to get SRS and FFS as I see it as a vital part of mental well being. One thing I do know is when I get my SSW diploma, I will be pushing for more trans awareness.

Your profile says you live in Toronto -- Silly girl, move to Alberta and you won't have to pay for it! Most TS people in Canada come here for coverage. I know a lot of TS girls here from all over Canada. Sadly, the wait is a while, you can expect two years wait. But, if you decide to come to Alberta (I live in Calgary) message me and I'll tell you who to see and where your referrals should go so you won't spend months trying to figure out what to do once you are here.

I should also mention that there are lots of jobs here, too. I have a friend from Ontario who moved here and got a good paying job and is using that to pay down debts and save for FFS. I've heard Ontario is harsh for jobs. I have a few friends (non-ts) who are also form Toronto who came for jobs. One of my friends went from welfare in ON to a $20/h job here. Not that every job pays that well, it really depends on what you are looking for, actually. $10/h is pretty normal for retail, where I usually end up working.

I should mention, also, that only GRS in Montreal is covered. Meltzer is also covered, but only if there's a medical reason you can't see Bassard in Montreal. Electro/laser is not covered. FFS is not covered. Breast aug is not covered. I think that you also need to be a Canadian citizen and live in Alberta for the coverage (you can move here, get a referral for the GID Doc in Edmonton, with your ON Healthcare Card, but you will have to give up your ON card for an Alberta healthcare card and pay the premiums -- $44/month, but you can get it subsidized depending on your income). and yes, you have to live here until after your SRS. There's a rumor that you have to live here after for a time, but I've heard different and know people who've moved out of province after GRS.




Posted on: October 09, 2007, 08:48:15 PM

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As for other provinces, I don't know what it's like or how to get coverage. The only source i have is this:

http://www.egale.ca/index.asp?lang=E&item=1086

Saying that, I don't know how long the wait lists are in other provinces or which doctor does what or how many GRS's are covered a year. Also, the site is from 2004 and things change constantly. The site says that Breats aug is paid for, but I've heard differently (but breast deconstruction for FtM is covered). I've head mixed things about BC and it's coverage (I hear that it's lacking, but you can get it -- according to the vhc, you need to be full-time for two years, where Alberta requires one year -- I don't know the wait time to get into the system). BC info: http://www.vch.ca/transhealth/

Alberta's is a year full-time. However, you also need to see a GID certified psychatrist. At this time that is Dr. Warneke. The other doctor has retired, so so they are looking for a replacement (I hear several could be coming soon). The wait time for Dr. Warneke is a year, which may go down when they find another doctor(s). Then from the time you see Dr. Warneke to GRS is about a year (give or take a couple months, depending on the case and how ready he feels you are for GRS). That is assuming you have started full-time before you visit his office. If you are not full-time before, your year's wait doesn't start until you start. So, if you start right away, it's the same, if you start six months down the road, you still wait a year seeing him.

Ontario delisted coverage in 1998 (I think), although they also made people to go the evil Clarke Centre! A lot of people in Ontario are pushing for coverage, so coverage might be sometime, but who knows when. Right now they are researching to see if there is a "need" for TS to have SRS. Here's an article that was written this summer that explains where the issue is: http://www.xtra.ca/public/viewstory.aspx?AFF_TYPE=3&STORY_ID=3317&PUB_TEMPLATE_ID=4

good luck,

--natalie

Ya, as far as I know it was 98 that they took it off. I thought about moving all last night and most of today, but it's hard for a city girl like me to move to a smaller city. I think I will need to give this one carfull consideration as my heart has always been in major citys like Toronto, New York, Chicago, L.A. I love the diversity, and all that a larger city has to offer. I guess I should take my time to decide cuz I have to stay for another year to graduate anyway. I will have to do a lot of research too so I can find out if I should give up my Ontario Health Card, I know so many things are covered by it free of charge and it's such an asset. There's one thing I do like so far about Calgary, and that's the Tram that you don't have to pay for. For me to travel to the downtown core from where I live costs me $10.50 round trip. "Thanks for your advice it's helped so much" 

Yeah, it is a smaller city. It's not too bad. I've never lived in a larger city, but I always though it would be interesting. The C-train is free downtown, but outside of downtown it's $2, unless you get a day pass, which is like $5 or you can get a monthly one, but I forget how much it costs. $10.50! And I sit and complain that I have to shell out $2 bucks! LOL

But, yeah, it's up to you if you want to move, and like you said, you have a year until you graduate to figure things out. And you might get a really good job after you graduate and not have to move at all, and be able to afford SRS off that. Plus, Ontario could always bring back coverage sometime.



Posted on: October 10, 2007, 08:16:46 PM

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Another thing you can do: loans and etc. I know people who have gotten loans for way more than $10,000 and so on. It can take time to build up your credit high enough to do that. I basically do it by taking out money and paying back the bills on time, but not paying the entire principle. It kinda puts you in a bit of debt, but then your credit gets higher because the bank is making money off you. It's weird like that. You can try and get a credit line if you can hold a credit card and pay the minimum for a year. Try and go for a $10,000 credit line with low interest.

I am trying to see if I can remedy my bad credit, I owe alot of money. I'm going to see if I can get some help to cover SRS from my family the problem is they don't know I'm transing yet, or atleast I've not said anything. But I was asked "if I wanted to be a girl" and said nooo, ya I lied. I am FT so they must know, hopefully I can get some financial help from them even a loan but in there name. In Toronto we have clubs just for trans and queer community and so many support groups, so leaving would be hard but not impossible.

Quote from: Ember L on October 11, 2007, 08:54:11 PM
I am trying to see if I can remedy my bad credit, I owe alot of money. I'm going to see if I can get some help to cover SRS from my family the problem is they don't know I'm transing yet, or atleast I've not said anything. But I was asked "if I wanted to be a girl" and said nooo, ya I lied. I am FT so they must know, hopefully I can get some financial help from them even a loan but in there name. In Toronto we have clubs just for trans and queer community and so many support groups, so leaving would be hard but not impossible.

What's FT?

Fully transitioned?