Funding the Noah Way: How I Keep the Bills (and Sanity) in Check

Let us be honest—raising a child like Noah comes with a little extra sparkle and a lot of extra expenses. From doctor visits to therapy sessions, home tweaks, prescriptions, and enough medical supplies to stock a small pharmacy, it all adds up faster than Noah can race to the fridge.

Luckily, I have picked up a few tricks along the way.

First, insurance. I am fortunate to have a solid plan with manageable co-pays. Noah has a top-tier team of specialists and therapists, and thanks to insurance, I am not trading in my kidneys to pay for them.

Next up: the mighty Flex Spending Account (FSA). Think of it as a magical pot of pre-tax money that can only be used for medical expenses. My employer deducts the funds before taxes, plops it into the account, and hands me a handy debit card. CVS, Walgreens—no questions asked. For other things, like random co-pays, I just upload a bill through the app or website. Easy.

Now here is where it gets really useful: when you commit to a yearly contribution (let us say $3,000), you get access to the entire amount from day one—even if the money has not actually been deducted from your pay yet. So if it is January 2nd and you suddenly need to pay $2,000 for braces (fun times), but you have only contributed $50 so far, you can still swipe that FSA card and walk away with a paid-in-full smile.

You can never spend more than you pledged for the year, and the max contribution limit still applies. But the ability to pay big bills early—before the cash is technically there—has been incredibly helpful for those surprise expenses that love to pop up at the worst possible moment.

One caveat—it is use it or lose it. If I do not spend it all by the end of the year, poof, gone. But the FSA keeps everything medical in one place and gives me a head start on expenses I know are coming.

There is also the Health Savings Account (HSA). I do not use one (my plan does not qualify), but it is similar to the FSA, except the money rolls over year to year. If you have one, congrats—you are fancy and financially future-proofed.

Now let us talk free money (the legal kind):

In Maryland, the Low Intensity Support Services (LISS) program offers grants through the Developmental Disabilities Administration. The application window opened on July 14, 2025, and winners are chosen at random—think of it as the least fun lottery.

If selected, you receive $1,000 to use on all sorts of approved goodies. We have used it for summer camps, respite care, a replacement iPad (after Noah’s Olympic-caliber iPad toss), a monitoring system, and even diapers.

Here is the link to the LISS information: https://pcis.health.maryland.gov/liss-service/apply

So yes, it takes planning, paperwork, and a sprinkle of luck. But with the right tools (and maybe some duct tape), you can manage the cost of raising a rockstar like Noah.