Of all the things that can keep a person from seeking treatment for drug or alcohol abuse, finances are probably near the top. It can be an expensive endeavor, especially if you’re going to enter a residential treatment facility, but there’s also the consideration of all the debts and responsibilities you’re leaving behind. If you’re living on your own, or if your spouse or partner doesn’t make enough money to keep the household running on their own, what can you do? Are your chances of recovery over before they even begin?
Luckily, there are some things you can do to make sure the lights stay on in your absence. First of all, if you do have enough money to cover everything but just aren’t sure how to keep up with payments, you can set up automatic recurring payments for most things online. For example, your electric and phone bills can be taken directly out of your bank account without you even having to be involved. Another option is to appoint someone to be in charge of your money. This can be a trusted family member or a friend, or it can be more of a legal arrangement, where you appoint someone called a financial guardian to handle your affairs.
If you know that you won’t have the money to take care of things if you aren’t working for a month or two, there are a few ways you can get your hands on some funds. The easiest and most obvious is to ask friends and family to chip in; you can make it a loan instead of straight up asking for money. If they’re concerned about handing over the cash – for instance, if you have a history of misusing money to buy drugs – you can see about having it sent directly to the treatment facility. If you have decent credit and collateral, you can try for a personal loan from a bank. You’ll pay this back in fixed monthly installments over the course of a matter of years. Just make sure to pay attention to the interest rate, as they can get outrageous.
Another option is crowdfunding. You can go to a site like GoFundMe and set up a fundraiser that you share on Facebook or other social media. You can explain what you need money for and how much, and anyone who chooses to can donate. Studies have shown that only nine percent of crowdfunding projects fail to deliver.
Finally, if you’re employed, see if you have any work benefits that might help cover your costs. You could have paid vacation days or personal days saved up, or maybe you can qualify for short-term disability through your employer.
If you or a loved one need help with quitting drugs or alcohol, consider Asana Recovery. We offer medical detox, along with both residential and outpatient programs, and you’ll be supervised by a highly trained staff of medical professionals, counselors, and therapists. Call us any time at (949) 438-4504 to get started.