Debt Hater

Finished With The Dentist... For Now

Yesterday was my next to last dental visit.

Tuesday, dude filled FOUR of my teeth. Yesterday he fixed cavities in two.

My total for the last three visits was $569.50.

We're not quite done. We're waiting on my insurance company to approve (i.e. agree to pay for) some other thing for the last tooth that needs some help.

So, I'm still on the hook for close to $1,000 total for my dental, unless the insurance company picks up some of the slack, then, hopefully, it won't cost that much.

Still, I put about $600 left over from my third paycheck for the month in my e-fund. It'll just wait there until I know what's up with my teeth. If the dental costs don't require the entire $600 and I don't need it (and I shouldn't if I stick with my budget), then it'll just stay in the e-fund.

Man, this sucked. My mouth is sore and not being able to eat for hours and hours is just as unpleasant as it sounds.

I've also decided to floss just twice a day. Once after lunch and once before bedtime. At my next check up, I'll let the dentist tell me if that isn't enough. Because flossing 4 and 5 times a day was hurting almost as much as my achy tooth.

Ok, enough tooth talk on the blog. Yall know the deal and I know how I'm paying for it, so let's talk about more pleasant things, shall we!

DH

I am more important than my account balances

It's Day 4 of flossing and brushing after every meal and it's a pain in the @$$ (or, more accurately, a pain the mouth).

My gums are all tender from being flossed constantly and... and I just hate doing it! I'm telling you, this might be a great diet because every time I want to eat something, I remember that I'll have to floss and brush and I suddenly lose my appetite.

Maybe I am overdoing it though. I'll ask the dentist on Tuesday. I mean, do I have to floss and brush every time I eat something or just between big meals or what.

I figured out where the money will come from. This is a three-paycheck month. So, pretty, much, I'll use the third paycheck to pay for my dental work. What's left over I will put in savings. So far, I am in the black for the month and there's nothing pressing I need to spend money on, so this should work fine.

In my previous post about my dental woes, a commenter asked:
If I was still in debt, would I have gone to the dentist?

It was somewhat of a rhetorical question, but I'd still say that the answer is YES.

When I was still in debt, I tried very hard to skimp on a lot of things, including doctor visits and the like. But, see, part of the reason that I may be in this expensive mess now is because I skipped the dentist for so long. If someone was paying attention to my teeth, they would have seen what was happening BEFORE it happened and maybe, maybe, I would have taken some actions to prevent the development of these cavities to begin with.

Still, even when I was in debt, if something was wrong or I didn't feel right, I went to the doctor. I went to get whatever help I needed, including seeing a therapist for a little while (I was going through some stuff and I didn't really have the money, but damn if I was going to lose my mind to save a few bucks).

In this life, all you really have is you. Everything you hope to do, see, experience, accomplish or feel will require the use of your body in some form or fashion. And there is nothing more miserable than the misery of your body being on the fritz (anyone who has had the flu can attest to that -- feels like death itself). When you don't feel well, it's all you can think about.

I urge all you debt hater NOT to take your bodies for granted -- that includes your teeth. It's easy to go for YEARS without seeing a dentist. That's what I did. But it's unwise. If you're blessed with good teeth, then a visit won't cost you much at all, just budget for it. Go get that annual physical with the doctor. If you're in good shape, then you know you only have to pay for that ONE visit. It's worth it.

I get my physical every year (even when I was in debt) and, now, I guess I'll be seeing the dentist twice a year.

Some pennies just shouldn't be pinched.

DH

Flossing Will Save More Than Your Teeth

I went to the dentist this morning, for the first time in two years.
He told me I needed some work, LOTS of work (those weren't his words, but that's all I was thinking).
As a matter of fact, even with my dental coverage, I need more than a $1,000 of work.
And of course I had not budgeted for any such thing.

What the heck happened?!

Three years ago, I needed a wisdom tooth pulled. Long story behind that one, but ok. Fine. Then I went to get a cleaning and check up to make sure I was good to go. I was, but the dentist told me to FLOSS, especially between the back teeth because my X-rays indicated a shadow that could become a cavity without prevention. Yeah, yeah. I'll floss.

And I did. AND I did the brushing the teeth and Listerine thing every night before bed. I stopped the Listerine after about two weeks because it was doing strange things to my mouth. After a while, I stopped the flossing thing because it was annoying contorting my arms, hands and neck to push that thin little strip between my stubborn teeth. After a while, I stopped brushing before going to bed because, hey, I had beautiful teeth. The dentist said so himself.

I didn't go in 2007 just because I got lazy and let other things take priority. I didn't go this summer because, I just forgot. I finally went today because a tooth hurt when I ate certain things. I figured I might have a  cavity in that one little spot. So be it. No problem.

Uh, no. Old boy showed me my x-rays and then my teeth with that little round magnifying glass they poke around in your mouth. My back teeth were f#*%ed up! There were little cavities between a bunch of them. The surfaces of the molars were jacked. One tooth that needed a lot of work when I was a kid (I won't go into my traumatic dental experience in the fifth grade. I remember that mess like it was yesterday. *Shudder*) needed MORE work now. A porcelian onlay. I didn't even know (and still don't know) what that was.

Today, he took care of two teeth on the left side. It was painless, thank God, but the price I paid for that is this awful numbness in the jaw and the left side of my tongue. That and it cost me $210.

Apparently, I only chew on the right side of my mouth because teeth top and bottom need fillings over there. So much so that it will require three more visits to the tune of more than $800 total.
And no, I did not have a budget for this.

I couldn't see any of this rot in the mirror when I brushed my teeth every morning. Hmm... it now seems pretty useless to brush my teeth once a day BEFORE I eat anything. That must be the worst possible to brush them.

So what's the plan?

• I don't want to dip into emergency savings. I put the dental work on my credit card and can pay it off with my next paycheck (I could go into regular savings and pay it off right now, which I might do). If I don't want to go into emergency savings, then I will need to find the money elsewhere in my budget or use my emergency find and "repay" myself with money I find elsewhere in my budget.

• I "invested" in toothbrushes, toothpaste and floss to keep at work to brush and floss after lunch (super annoying and inconvenient, but not nearly as annoying and inconvenient as drilling, filling and paying!).

• Starting today, I will try to rewire my brain and get in the habit of brushing (and flossing) in the morning AFTER breakfast, rathern than before, which is what I usually do. I'll start brushing (and flossing, ugh) after lunch at work. AND, I will brush (and floss, man this is not exciting) before bed. I will try, try, try to make this so routine that it feels like I've always done it -- though my teeth will tell on me and say "Naw she didn't!"

To recap:
I am grateful to have dental coverage because then I'd be paying more than this. Thankya Jesus!

I am grateful to have found this out NOW to take care of it before I had teeth rotting out of my head that required far more expensive work.

I am grateful that it didn't hurt.

I am MAD that I have to fork over that much cash! And MAD that I didn't sign up for that flexible savings account through work. I could have saved in there and at least got some tax benefit out of this... Anyway -- woulda, coulda, shoulda.

I will pay for this, hopefully without having to set my emergency fund goal (3 months of living expenses) back about two months. But, if I have to, so be it. That's (kinda) what the fund is for.

I will reassess my budget and figure out if I need a much bigger allotment for medical care... I am getting old after all.

Ok y'all, back to work for me. I am hungry and can't really eat until my mouth isn't numb (did he said a couple of hours? As in, more than one? Man!).

DH

Why is spending money so much fun?

I had a GREAT weekend!

First of all, I love this time of year. I love the crisp air with the slight chill and the bronze brilliance of sunlight against the intensely blue sky. Autumn is the best.

My brother and my best friend came down to visit me and my guy Saturday and we took a LOOONG drive to Williamsburg, Va. to go to Busch Gardens (an amusement park where people walk around with open beer bottles, standing online to ride coasters that toss their stomachs into their throats -- yet no one pukes. Uncanny.)

First, I was worried that it would rain as the clouds were dark grey and there were no peeps of sunlight breaking through. And it was cold, cold as brick. And I was wearing a hoodie over a long-sleeved T like that would help.

We got there in the gloom, but it was great because the place was in full Halloween regalia, so the gloom added something to the phony cob webs, ghosts in the trees and plastic spiders creeping up the walls. We rode roller coaster (including my childhood favorite, the Loch Ness Monster and a new coaster, the Griffon, which dangled you over a 205 foot, 90 degree drop before plummeting toward the people walking below you. FANTASTIC!!).

We screamed as we races along metal tracks and bought pictures of our contorted faces. We ate popcorn. We ate caramel apples. We bought Pop Rocks. We ate cotton candy. We went project-style on a buffet (we only paid for one, but we sent my friend to pile the one plate high and then we spread it out on napkins and all ate. Frugality... in a somewhat vulgar way).

We went through a "haunted" maze of teen park employees dressed in mummies and reaching out and grabbing skittish little girls whose screams startled everyone.

It was so much fun! We drove back singing along to my personal 80's hits mix (so I wouldn't fall asleep behind the wheel). I got a room for my brother and friend at a hotel not far from our apartment (we live in a studio and there was no room at the inn).

Sunday morning, we went to brunch at one of my favorite spots. I dropped my girl off at the airport, dropped my guy at home and hung out with my brother at the Museum of Natural History until it was time for him to catch the bus home. We walked the streets in the October chill with bright sunlight raining through the crunchy colored leaves still hanging from the trees.

My brother got on his bus and I got home, exhausted and satisfied, though my wallet was nearly $300 lighter.

But man, it was so worth it.

DH

I Love Automation

Ok, so I sat down with my budget and new pay stubs to readjust some thangs.

Mostly, since my taxable income is lower I keep more money in my check, which I will automatically have deposited into my emergency fund.

My bank is offering 4% 6-month CD soooo, I will stick what I saved so far in one of those to get a wee bit more interest than what I'm getting now.

The loveliest part is that I can do all of that right at my laptop. It took me about 15 minutes. And I don't have to wait weeks for it to take effect on my direct deposit. It'll be reflected in my next check. Niiice!

I should also be able to save 3 months worth of living expenses in the next 7 months.

And today, I am going out with my beau, my brother and my best friend! I am so excited!

DH

I'm Out of My Debt Hole and On To Better Things

Single Ma had a great post yesterday called 10 Phases on the Journey to Financial Freedom.

Click the link above to check it out -- it's worth the read.

Each phase describes me nearly to a T!

I was never really in phase one. I always had the money to pay bills (thank God), but, somehow, I missed the fact that once I paid bills, I had NO MONEY left for anything else. And yet, I charged things, thinking I was paying it all off just because I could make the minimum monthly payments on my credit cards. Silly rabbit.

My phase 2 moment came when I was asleep in bed and my cell phone rang at 6 a.m. with a hostile little man on the other end of the line, calling on behalf of one of my credit cards demanding payment. I went off on that little man, because I HAD BEEN paying the card. Their software screwed up and wasn't pulling my payments from my checking account. But, still, I realized that there was no reason that creditors should be calling me. I didn't have a Ferrari. I didn't live in a Penthouse. I didn't have any Prada bags or Jimmy Choo shoes. I had nothing but some clothes I bought while I was still in college, accessories from Target and a car I didn't realize I couldn't afford. I knew I was using my charge card too often and I knew I wasn't paying them off monthly. I knew I was hamstringing my future. But it took me months before I got to phase 3.

This whole blog, until recently, was about me being in phases 4 and 5! I couldn't STAND how long it took me to pay down just a little debt. Some days, it didn't seem worth it. And the debt demon on my shoulder would tell me lies like "Girl, EVERYBODY is in debt! Do other people look like they stressin' about it? Do you see anyone else STRUGGLING to pay it off like you? You stupid."
Get thee behind me Satan!

I also wrote many posts about trying to save while paying off my debt. About a year and a half ago, I decided to just stick to the debt repayment. One mission at a time, that was my new motto. For me, it worked like a charm. I paid off ALL my consumer debt ahead of schedule! Sometimes, I forget that I'm out of debt. And when I remember that I am, it's like Christmas, My Birthday and New Year's Eve all tied into one!

So now I'm trying to save 3 months worth of living expenses. Eventually, I'd like to work up to 6 months, but one step at a time! As far as investing -- I ain't there yet. I ain't even thinking about it. But I will. I know it!

Where are you on your financial journey?

DH

The Shrinking Paycheck (and Tax Liabilities!)

My paycheck is much smaller than it used to be. Thank goodness!

For one thing, I re-adjusted my direct deposit so that all the money I have allocated for my emergency fund goes there straight from my paycheck. I don't have to transfer the funds and the money never appears in my checking account.

I also signed up for the new transportation reimbursement program at work. I put aside money every month for my Metro expenses. It comes out of my paychecks PRE-TAX.

I decided to leave my 401k contributions alone. I don't contribute so much that it would make a huge difference if I rerouted the contributions to my emergency fund, so I'll just keep putting into the 401k, buying up shares while they're in the toilet, hoping for the payoff when the market finally (cross your fingers and pray to God) recovers.

So, my Net pay is about $200 smaller a month than it had been before. That's a good thing. With less money going to checking, there's less money to create a "money mirage." That's what I call it when it looks like you have TONS of money in your checking account, but you really have squat because all your recurring payments haven't been debited yet. All the money you see, therefore, has already been spent and is not available for shopping, traveling or eating big expensive meals out.
Money mirages used to get me in a lot of trouble before I started managing my budget with a spreadsheet. Now they'll get me into even LESS trouble because less money is going into that account to begin with.

I currently sent up automatic transfers for my vacation fund and my Christmas spending fund too, but, I may try to get those direct-deposited, straight from the paycheck, too.

The biggest upside to this is how my tax liability has shrunk! I have to check my old pay stubs for the correct amounts, but it looks as though I'm paying about HALF what I was on federal and local income taxes. And it's all legit and up front. I don't have to try and get my money back when I file taxes. I kept it all along. Lovely!

DH

Cut Me Some Slack, It's For Charity

Okay, so how do you spend money at work without leaving the building... besides stalking purses on e-Bay (which I have never done... yet)?

You participate in the office charity auction.

I think when it comes to auctions, it's not the item you might get that gets people bidding -- it's the competition of "winning" the item. I always thought that was ironic. How did you "win" if you have to pay for it?

But, still, people were serious about winning their items. One girl actually took the pen and blocked our CEO from getting to the auction sheet for the Starbucks item (someone donated free coffee every morning for 5 days)! Is it that serious.

People were bidding in 25 cent increments just to edge out late bids. And I went and bid on a bottle of red Spanish wine.

I "won" the bottle for $34.

Yeah, $34 is a little out of my price range for wine  -- but I'm willing to splurge a little when I'm really willing to try something.

But whatever, it was for charity! And shoot, I'll be sipping my tax deduction with great gusto.

DH

PS -- I also spent $17 on eye shadow at the CVS across the street from the office. Why? Because I liked the color, that's why. Lord, help me.  :-)

The Wannabe Fashionista

I look in the mirror and don't even recognize myself these days.

I am standing there looking at a brown beauty who's lower eyelid is colored blue and the upper eyelid a stunning gold. She's wearing a chic little outfit and platform booties, contemplating just what lip color to coordinate with the whole look.

Who is this person?

Surely not me, who was always happiest in a pair of jeans and sneakers. A hoodie instead of some fussy jacket. A cute T-shirt instead of something that required ironing. And pants, always pants, never, NEVER a dress or skirt.

Since debt freedom, I'm morphing into this chic who actually LIKES to go browsing at the stores, cruising boutiques on the way home from work and stalking the cosmetics aisle at Target to see if some new eyeshadow, lip color, nail color, SOMETHING catches her eye. "Ooh, that would be HOT with the shadow I bought last week."

I watch Project Runway because it's like fantasy window shopping. I will never own anything like most of that stuff, but sometimes, sometimes, I think "I'd rock that. It'd be hot to death too."
I watch America's Next Top Model, not because I want to be a model, but because I'm interested in spectacular use of hair,clothes and and make-up to achieve more than a look, but a statement.
I flip through Essence magazine and see photos of models and stars looking for make-up looks to try. "Jill Scott looks nice with that eye color... I'll try it!"

Who is this person I seem to be now?

In the last few months I have bought about 7 pairs of shoes -- previously, I may have purchased 7 pairs of shoes over two years (yeah, shoes did not add to, nor create, my debt). I always thought of my fashion aesthetic as anti-fashion, pro-comfort. But, my new shoe collection would belie that -- the only things I own now that don't hurt are three pairs of ratty sneakers, all Skechers.

Lately, I've been stalking jackets and handbags (Handbags? I always HATED handbags. Give me a backpack that everything fits in and that I can wear evenly distributing the weight over two shoulders). Big handbags. Shoulder bags. I always hated big bags. They seemed so, so, old lady. Now they seem so chic.

I just bought two pairs of tights in fashion colors. What if I wore my gray dress with wine colored tights AND my wine colored shoes? What about this yellow skirt with a dark purple top and... and...him, guess I'll need new shoes to go with this one. Cardigans (didn't even know what that was until, like, last year), skirts (what?!!), heels -- high heels (eep!), and accessories! Earrings (which I've always been into), rings (never), necklaces (great BIG ones), bracelets, handbags, clutches (whozits?).

I swear I feel like Jekyll and Hyde.

On the one hand, it's just plain weird. On the other, while I seem to be having immense fun, I sometimes think "I got out of debt. I am saving my money. Why am I spending $12 on HIP eye shadow paint and $15 on purple tights... just because I want to see how they might work?"

In other words, why am I suddenly compelled to spend money on things that, previously, I couldn't care less about?

In the last three weeks I've spent about $30 on manicures. Now, I'm sure many women reading this are like, "Yeah, and?" But I didn't do manicures. For what? Now I just had to have someone do something about my cuticles and, ooh, I LOVE that super dark purple color. I want that one!

Then I went back to get the color changed because it just would not have matched the dress I wore to my friends wedding. Wedding over, back to the dark purple please. Whoa. Who is this person.

Man. Somebody explain to me what happened to my brain!

DH

Gift Cash Infusion, albeit in Crazy Cards

My guy and I need to check the mailbox more than once a... month.

Well, we check it a little more often than that, but I mostly only check it when I'm expecting a DVD from Netflix.

Yesterday I opened the mailbox and, as usual, it was stuffed to the brim with circulars, credit card offers, school loan statements, 401k statements (in this market, I can hardly stand to look), and other random tidbits.

But there was also envelope from my mother and and a birthday card from my father. My mother sent me a check for $131 (because I'm 31!).

My father, well, remember when I was tripping about the fairy Barbie birthday card my grandmother sent me? Well, my father sent me a cool, dark pink card with Happy Birthday written on the front and when I opened it, a crisp $100 bill was tucked inside AND the card loudly played "Brick House" by The Commodores. What?!

What's with these people and the crazy cards they send me? Ah well, it's love of another kind.

DH