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January 4, 2009

Pinching pennies to survive

<a href="mailto:avanvalkenburg@pressrepublican.com">By ANDREA VanVALKENBURG</a>

PLATTSBURGH — Steve Nadeau still remembers the comfortable lifestyle he used to have — dinners at nice restaurants, seasonal trips to professional football games and pricey vacations.

But those are now distant memories in a life that’s taken on new meaning and hardship.

Years ago, the 51-year-old Plattsburgh man went from being a high-school dropout to a three-time college graduate with a master’s degree.

He survived a bout of cancer that doctors thought might kill him, became a youth counselor and then dabbled in advertising.

But when a heart attack landed him in the hospital a few years ago, his life took a sudden turn and has been spiraling downward ever since.



HEALTH ISSUES

After his heart weakened, his eyesight deteriorated to the point of legal blindness. On top of that, doctors found that muscular dystrophy was to blame for the body pain that has plagued him since childhood.

The accumulating health issues, including diabetes, made it impossible for Nadeau to work, and he found himself trying to survive on dwindling savings and a fixed monthly income of Social Security disability benefits.

“I went from making like $35,000 a year to about $8,000,” he admitted.

He now gets $740 a month.

“It’s challenging to make ends meet.”



HOMELESS

This fall, after breaking up with his girlfriend, Nadeau found himself homeless, living at state parks and occasionally staying with friends.

“And then I got sick and got hospitalized because I wasn’t taking care of myself.”

Nadeau spent a few weeks revolving in and out of the hospital and was finally able to find a place to rent with the help of the Plattsburgh Salvation Army.

“They helped me with the security deposit. And I couldn’t have done it without their help. It would have taken me months to save that much money.

“Do you know how hard it is to try to save money when you don’t have any?”



RISING COSTS

He said it’s always been tough to live on a fixed income, unable to qualify for welfare, but it’s increasingly difficult under the changing economy and constantly rising prices of necessities, like food and cab rides to his many medical appointments.

“Everything costs more now. I had to completely scratch Christmas off this year. I bought myself one present — a $2 set of lights to put on my (house) plant. I couldn’t even buy a tree.

“I get about $100 in food stamps, but that doesn’t go very far for a whole month, especially when I have to eat healthy because of my diabetes.

“And it costs about $5 for a cab ride in the city, and that adds up really quick. The (county) bus is cheaper, but (because of the schedule) it takes, like, two hours to get to a doctor’s appointment right on Cornelia Street.

“I can’t even afford a regular phone. I have a TracFone, but $30 worth of minutes goes quick when you’re making appointments and trying to find apartments.

“I have to be so careful about every dollar that I spend, even buying stamps to pay my bills.

“By the end of this month, the way I figure, I’ll have about $10 in my checking account. There’s just no way of getting ahead. I’m a penny pincher, but what choice do I have?

“It’s getting harder and harder, and I’m always so nervous at the end of the month. I don’t want to get arrested because I wrote a bad check.”



DAY BY DAY

He’s called government officials, frustrated with the system and bailout packages that are designed to help the economy but leave the average American struggling, he said.

“The economy sucks, and for most people, if they’re having a hard time, they can look for a second job. But what about the elderly and disabled, who can’t do that? Who’s going to bail us out?”

He said he can’t even plan for comfortable retirement years. He can only take it day by day and hope for the best.

Despite his mounting financial challenges, Nadeau said he’s thankful for what he has — good friends, faith and a roof over his head.

“Without the Lord, the Salvation Army and some good friends, I’d be screwed.

“I get up every morning and thank God for what I have and try to be thankful and keep a smile on my face.

“I always try to see the glass full. And I know not to take things for granted because any minute it can change.

“I know you need to appreciate what you have because no matter how bad you have it, someone else is always worse off.”



E-mail Andrea VanValkenburg at:

avanvalkenburg@pressrepublican.com

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