Beating Broke

What Can I Do If I Can’t Afford Dental Work?

June 26, 2023 By Erin H Leave a Comment

It’s no secret that dental care can be very expensive. According to reports, almost 50% of American citizens don’t have dental insurance coverage. Without insurance coverage, paying for dental care outside of your budget can be difficult, but not impossible. Read on to learn how you can get dental care even though you can’t afford it.

Get Cleanings and Fillings at a Dental School

Is there a dental school somewhere in your area? If so, it’s a great resource for free or reduced-cost dental care. About 26% of American adults aged 20-44 have cavities that still need treatment, according to the CDC. If you’re currently dealing with tooth decay, going to your local dental school may enable you to get fillings for free. Before any dentist graduates, there are certain procedures they must demonstrate to their teachers.

Continue Wearing Your Retainers

Are you someone that’s dealing with misaligned or crooked teeth? If so, you’re not alone, since one out of three orthodontic patients are adults. Do you have a retainer from your last treatment? You should continue to wear it as it will keep your teeth in line. If you stop wearing your retainer too early after braces treatment, your teeth may shift back to their old position and require costly care again.

Use Credit

Credit cards aren’t just for shopping and taking vacations. You can also use credit to handle medical and dental care fees as well. Matter of fact, there is a credit line specifically for such scenarios known as Care Credit. Visit the Care Credit website and apply online. Once you’ve been approved, you can quickly use your credit line to pay for any dental or medical services. Even if you have dental insurance, you’ll still have to pay something out of pocket. Luckily, with Care Credit, you can pay for any coinsurance, copay, or office visits not covered by your regular plan.

Set Up a Payment Plan

Did you know it was possible to set up a payment plan for certain dental procedures? For example, if you’re going to your orthodontist for braces treatment, it can take as long as two years to complete. If making those payments out of your pocket is too much to do up front, work out something with your orthodontist for the lifespan of your treatment.

The type of payment plan you can use depends on the dentist that you’re going to. Some may have payment plans for a few months, or some may allow you to stretch out your payments until treatment is complete. If a dentist has a payment plan option, they often list it on their website. However, if you don’t see a payment plan option on the website, don’t be afraid to go in for a consultation anyway and see if there’s something you can work out.

Check Special Programs

Many programs are available to assist people with various needs. Did you serve your country as a veteran? If so, the first stop you should make is your local Veteran’s Association office. Depending on your status, you may be able to get full or partial coverage for your dental care. If you’re over the age of 65, Medicare has programs to assist seniors with medical and dental care needs. People with physical or mental disabilities should check their local and state programs for help.

One of the ways to practice good oral care is by seeing a dentist regularly. Unfortunately, your budget may not allow you to get the care you need when you need it. If you’re dealing with such a situation, there are ways you can work around the high cost of dental care. Use this list for some tips, so you can keep your teeth as healthy as possible.

How Getting Ahead Saves Me Time, Money, and Mental Energy

June 19, 2023 By MelissaB 2 Comments

Since the pandemic, I’ve been working on getting ahead in my pantry and finances. It’s taken me a few years, but I’m finally able to reap the rewards of my hard work.

How Getting Ahead Saves Me Time, Money, and Mental Energy

The two most significant ways I got ahead were having a well-stocked pantry and using this month’s income to pay next month’s bills. Here’s how each saves me time, money, and mental energy.

Pantry

I have two large shelving units in our basement that hold canned and boxed goods. I’ve grown this pantry in the last nine months since we’ve moved. Now, when I go to the grocery store, the only items I “need” are fresh fruits and vegetables. The rest of what I buy is to restock the pantry when needed.

In addition to dry goods, I have two deep freezers full of dairy-free cheese (I only buy this when it’s on sale), meats, fish, and freezer meals I’ve made in advance.

A well-stocked pantry and freezer save me money and time because I don’t have to run to the store for one or two items. If I run out of an ingredient when cooking, I get another one downstairs. I call it “shopping in the basement.”

Using This Month’s Income to Pay Next Month’s Bills

Getting ahead financially has been my goal for some time, but it was only over the last year that we’ve been able to do so. Having all the money I need to pay this month’s bills at the start of the month saves me mental energy, time, and money.

What I Used to Do

When I didn’t have extra money, I would assign each paycheck to specific bills I had to pay. Since my husband is paid every two weeks, this could get tricky. Our house payment is due on the first, but sometimes, depending on how the paychecks fell, I wouldn’t have the money to pay that bill until the very end of the month, which stressed me out. I had to keep an eye on all my bills to avoid missing any due dates.

What I Do Now

Now, I’m one month ahead on all bills in my budget. So, when June 1^st hit, I had all the money I needed to pay June’s bills. I can pay my house payment anytime during the month because the money is waiting for me to make the payment. Also, on June 1^st, I have the entire amount of grocery money for the month at my disposal, so I can buy groceries whenever I want or need to, rather than waiting on my husband’s paycheck to come.

When my husband was paid on June 1^st, I went to July’s budget and added his paycheck to those expenses. I can’t express the comfort I get from having all the money for this month’s bills ready as soon as I start the new month. It also saves me time because I can sit down to pay my bills at once without waiting for more paychecks to come in.

Final Thoughts

If you’re financially able, I highly recommend getting ahead on your pantry and your budget. You may find, as I do, that getting ahead saves time, money, and mental energy.

Read More

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5 Tips to Save on Groceries This Year

6 Items You Should Never Pay Full Price For

4 Career Shifts You Can Make Without Paying for School

June 12, 2023 By Erin H Leave a Comment

Making money from a job you enjoy is important, but sometimes a career shift can result in having to learn new skills, experience, and theories related to the industry. It may also require enrolling in a college or school. The good news is there are career changes you can take on without having to go back to school and docking out cash for it.

1. IT Support and Security

IT support and security for companies are crucial jobs. When running a business, there is always documentation and private information that is stored in the system’s archives. If a company is hacked, they risk losing sensitive information, not just their own but also of their customers or clients. Phishing attacks, according to The Hill, have increased by 600% since the beginning of the pandemic.

Phishing scams often come in the form of emails or sms notifications. Usually, the attacker will send an email or other form of contact that appears to come from a legitimate company that you are familiar with. The message may prompt you to click a link that takes you to the scammer’s website, and it’s there where your personal details may be stolen, or they may ask you to give your social security number and other sensitive information.

According to more statistics and records, researchers believe that within the first half of 2019, data breaches exposed over 4 billion records of people. This is quite alarming, especially when information is held at various businesses like banks and other industries. Not to mention, many people have their details linked to online shops and social media networks.

A job in the IT industry may be a great career change, especially because many short courses are available online and via YouTube. Learning online may eliminate your having to go to school. You will always be needed to help businesses with various aspects of their online engagements.

2. A Plumber or HVAC Technician

Another good career that does not require going to school is getting into hands-on work like plumbing or specializing in AC and HVAC systems. HVAC systems are in high demand, especially because a furnace typically lasts only between 15 to 20 years. HVAC systems and furnaces also need to be serviced regularly. Regular service and maintenance will ensure the longevity of the system and its components.

Getting work in the plumbing and HVAC industry requires a lot of physical experience after training under another professional. You may need an apprenticeship, and some companies may offer this as part of their package if you remain employed a few years after completing the apprenticeship.

3. Landscaping and Gardening Services

If you love gardening and know more than the basics, then you may flourish in a career to do with landscaping and gardening service. You don’t have to go to school to learn, instead, you can make money in this career shift by training online and through YouTube videos. You may even choose to do a short-term course in this industry to help you improve even more. All this training without setting off to school again.

4. Become a Nanny

If you love working with children and enjoy helping parents who need someone to care for their children while they’re at work or out on date night, becoming a nanny might be your career choice. You don’t need further studies for this other than a certification in CPR and first aid.

Sometimes, the path in our lives changes, and we must adapt to the new venture, which may include changing careers. The good news is that you don’t need to break the bank to make a career shift.