Beating Broke

Should You Only Get Your Teens Braces If They Want Them?

April 18, 2022 By MelissaB 1 Comment

Do your kids have braces? If so, they join the nearly 70% of teenagers between the ages of 12 and 17 who have or have had braces (Kennell Orthodontics). Most orthodontic treatments cost between $3,000 and $7,000, representing a serious investment for parents. Unfortunately, many teens don’t appreciate this financial investment, which begs the question, should you only get your teens braces if they want them?

My Braces Story

When I was a teen, I didn’t need braces, but I did need a retainer. I found the retainer uncomfortable, and I had a lisp when I talked with it. I had to tell my teacher I was missing page 66 in a textbook, and with the retainer, what I sounded like was, “I’m mithin’ page thixty thix.” He couldn’t understand me and had to ask another student to translate.

I took the retainer out every day to eat lunch and wrapped it in a napkin. However, one day I accidentally threw it away. To this day, my mom thinks I did it on purpose, but I didn’t. She didn’t buy me a replacement retainer, and my brief stint in the orthodontics world was over.

My Children’s Braces Stories

I have three kids. The older two needed braces; the younger one did not.

My son disliked his braces. When the treatment was over, he never wore his retainer. My husband and I spent over $3,500 for his orthodontic treatment. We feel that we wasted money because, without a retainer, his teeth continue to shift. I wouldn’t be surprised if someday they’re back where they were before we started treatment.

Our daughter doesn’t like braces, but she fastidiously maintains them. Even though she’s in treatment, I do not doubt that she will religiously wear her retainer and maintain her new smile.

Should You Only Get Your Teen Braces If They Want Them?

That’s a tough question because I feel that I wasted my money on one child but not the other. Ultimately, I would say the decision comes down to how much will the child be impacted in the future if he does not get braces?

If the child has overcrowding or an under or overbite that may cause damage to her teeth in adulthood, then you should get them braces. However, if the teeth are simply overlapping or have gaps in them, perhaps you could gauge whether or not you should get him braces based on his interest.

Final Thoughts

I’m not a doctor, so I am only giving my opinion as a parent with two kids who had braces and had vastly different behavior towards those braces. As a parent, I’m frustrated by paying thousands of dollars for a child who won’t maintain that dental work. I’m sure my mom was just as frustrated by me.

Unfortunately, the optimal time for orthodontic work is during the teen years, when most kids aren’t particularly responsible. As for me, I sought orthodontic treatment in adulthood to fix my teeth, and I was much more responsible than I was as a teen, especially since I was the one paying for it.

The Importance of Fixing Things Sooner Rather Than Later

Why You Should Get Braces for Your Child When Needed

Don’t Let Your Minimum-Wage Job Take Advantage of You

April 4, 2022 By Erin H Leave a Comment

Working a minimum-wage job can be a trying experience, but one that’s necessary due to certain situations. It doesn’t have to wear you out all the time and leave you feeling used and abused, however. Read on to see some of the ways in which you can cope with a minimum-wage job and enjoy your life.

Give Yourself a Break

Everyone needs a break every now and then in order to avoid burning out. This is true for people working minimum-wage jobs, so find time to give yourself a break and recharge. You can take a break by spending some time doing something that you enjoy doing, whether it’s knitting, baking, or even just lounging indoors. Use your time off to recharge your energy and you will be happy that you took the time to do so when you get back to work. With the 40-hour-work week established by the Fair Labor Standards Act or FLSA of 1938, it’s possible to find time for a break if you manage your time properly. Make sure not to miss any deadlines, but get what you need to do out of the way so that it doesn’t hang ominously over your head and prevent you from effectively taking a break.

Speak Up

Whenever you feel like you’re being treated poorly or have a lot more on your plate than you can handle, try to speak up about it. While you may fear backlash and work retaliation if you do so, it’s good to plan in advance before you do so. Voice your issues in a way that doesn’t come across as combative and angry, so you don’t have to stifle endless issues that will cause you mental stress and strain. This way, you may improve your treatment and possibly even help to improve the conditions of your fellow workers who may be in the same boat but they’re unsure about what to do.

Learn More Skills

While working a minimum-wage job can be frustrating, you could use it as an opportunity to learn important skills and improve your chances of moving ahead. Whatever your designation is, you should make sure to go above and beyond, and even learn about other aspects of different positions. This initiative will enable you to stand out as an exceptional employee and you may be easily moved up the ranks, leaving the minimum-wage nightmare in your past. With around 60% of remote workers surveyed saying that they would leave their current job for a fully remote position that paid the same rate if they could, it’s clear that many people are looking for different opportunities. With a solid set of skills at your back, you will also have a better chance of getting another job as well, if you choose to look for it.

Make Friends at Work

One thing that will make it more bearable to check into work every day is having friends with whom you share interests. While you may feel frustrated and listless about working minimum wage, remember that most, if not all, of your co-workers, are also there due to similar circumstances. They’re not your enemies, so keep an open mind and allow friendships to form naturally if they will. This will help you enjoy the time you spend at work a little bit more.

Practice Your People Skills

Whether you work in the food industry or construction, where you will get to deal with people who need roof inspections, which, according to Zillow, need to be done at least once every year, you can practice your people skills. Polish them up and you will improve your likelihood of becoming easier to hire or even getting promotions. When you look back on the training you got, you will understand why most employers seek people with a certain set of experiences.

These tips should help you enjoy the time you spend working minimum wage. Try them out and you will see a positive change in both your personal finance and attitude!

Our Experience Bypassing Auto Insurance

April 4, 2022 By MelissaB Leave a Comment

A few years ago, my husband and I decided to travel with our then three-year-old to visit my alma mater. We were driving around, seeing the sites when we were rear-ended. The driver, a man in his thirties like us, was apologetic and gave us his license, name, and number. And then he said that he wanted to pay for the damages himself, bypassing auto insurance.

Our Experience Bypassing Auto Insurance

I don’t know the details of why this man wanted to bypass auto insurance. I assumed he already had some claims on his insurance and didn’t want to add more. Not only would that raise the price of his insurance, but if he had several claims on his insurance in a short time, his insurance company might drop his coverage.

My husband and I lived five hours from my alma mater, so all communication was done via phone.

Getting an Estimate

I went to a local repair shop and got an estimate for the damage. The total came to $1,462. I got a copy of the receipt and sent it to the man who hit us.

He didn’t ask for a second opinion. He accepted the quote and promptly sent me a check. However, when I received the payment, he had transversed his numbers and sent us $1,642, $180 more than the estimate.

I notified him about the overpayment, but he didn’t want to hassle with anything. He told me to keep the extra money. At this point, I think he just wanted to get the repair done.

We Were Lucky

Looking back, the man who rear-ended us was lucky because my husband and I are honest. I knew that the man was trusting us, so I went to a shop we had used for repairs before and that I trusted. I didn’t try to milk the man for more money.

We were lucky because the man who hit us was motivated to keep this accident off his insurance record and get the process over and done with. He paid us promptly.

Would I Do It Again?

Would I bypass auto insurance again? It depends. I recognize that I could have had an issue with the man not paying, but I didn’t. He was honest.

Still, when you bypass auto insurance, you take a risk. If I just had a minor fender bender, I may take that risk again. However, I would write down the other driver’s auto insurance company and policy number, so I would have recourse if he failed to pay.

If the accident was more than a fender bender, no, I would not bypass auto insurance. The repair cost would likely be higher than a thousand dollars, and I wouldn’t want to risk losing that much money. Also, a more significant accident would require calling the police. Then an insurance claim would need to be filed.

Have you ever bypassed auto insurance? If so, what was your experience?

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