Resources for THE Most Expensive Disease

$895.2 billion. That's the global cost of cancer.

Imagine being a young adult and attempting to pay for your share of that cost. Imagine how many more YAs will be facing this challenge, given that the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) reports that AYA cancers will increase from approximately 104 million in 2000 to 115 million in 2030.

These are sobering statistics for The SAMFund and the YA support community. We often wish our services were not SO desperately needed. With your help, we are working harder than ever to make sure today's and tomorrow's young adults have the chance to survive and move forward.

Certainly, we have hope given progress in healthcare reform.  But we're also realists; insurance access does not necessarily equal medical cost decreases. As we move through our 2012 grants cycle, we are reminded that we are instrinsically and forever linked to the voices of the YA community.

We know YAs need support now more than ever. That's why we're conducting a Financial Mentoring Needs Assessment Survey for a new program we're developing.

It's also why this post offers budgeting ideas and tips from "Regaining Control of Your Finances Post-Cancer," part of our Moving Forward With Your Financial Health webinar archive. We thank George Padula CFA®, CFP® for providing them.

• Put a budget in writing
• Track the “little” expenses
• Build savings into your budget
• Pay yourself first
• Develop an emergency fund
• Use an online personal finance and budgeting tool
• Know your FICO score: Get a free credit report from each credit bureau

As always, thank you to The SAMFund community -- our donors, partners, alumni, and volunteers -- that helps us do what we do! Your support enables us to make a difference!