Breaking Even, Inc.

Why I Don't Have Television

The good news is that I wrote an entire post on this.

The thing is I put it on someone's blog. Peter (he writes for the blog Bible Money Matters) has had some family medical trouble and a fellow blogger (Lynnae at beingfrugal.net) is organizing guest posters to keep his blog going. I put in my efforts for a guest post this morning. Keep him and his family in your thoughts and if you want to guest post, contact Lynnae.

If you want to read why I willingly don't have television, click here. That's right, twice in one day. It can't happen often, folks so enjoy!

Hi My Name Is Nicole And I'm In A Support Group

It's coming up on six months since my dad died. (If you'd like to be brought up to speed, the paper covered it better than I could at the time (with a creepy headline though) here.)

So far, my way of dealing with this is throwing myself into work, writing, going to the gym... basically everything but dealing with it. My mom, likely sensing this, sent me a book called "I Wasn't Ready To Say Goodbye." I get a huge lump in my throat just looking at the front cover, which is a picture of a calm lake. When your loved one has drowned, these sort of pictures can really set you off. Especially when you are a certified lifeguard. And swam in college. And were on the Masters swim team until Novembter. (Clearly, I seem to have some issues with water.) Reading Chapter One is as close as I've come to doing something to deal with this. Though now I'm beginning to take step two...

I joined a support group at the local hospice last week. I thought hospices just dealt with people who were dying and their families but they also have programming for after the fact, too. I'm thinking of this is sort of "free counseling", time that I allot myself every week to think of my father and to have my feelings about his death evolve in some way.

I was really nervous about going initially. I mean, what are the manners for support groups? Going though was a real relief. The main point that was driven home is that our culture doesn't deal well with death. We sweep it under the rug so we aren't very supportive of people who are going through loss (most jobs, including mine, don't seem to have bereavement leave for example). It's really quite isolating, which is one way it helps to be with other people going through this. I get it! I was really dreading the first meeting the whole day before it but this week, I'm ready.

If you are going through anything like this, I urge you to seek out the resources in your area. They are often free and not only include support groups but counseling and general guidance that friends and family may not be in a position to help you with (though don't worry Mom, I'll eventually get through that book!). In Ellsworth it's the Hospice of Hancock County. It's important for your mental, physical, and financial health to be dealing with anything keeping you from happiness.

So now I can admit it. My name is Nicole, I lost my dad, and I'm in a support group. Anything you should be admitting to yourself?    

Sick Day

I guess everyone is entitled to a sick day. Mine involves a case of laryngitis and a splitting headache. (Trying to tell the dog firmly to get away from the cat's food might have put my voice over the edge.) I'm going back to bed and depending how it goes, I might drag my butt into work for the afternoon. Hope your day is better than mine.

And I thought laryngitis was just a dumb go-to plotline for sitcoms or an excuse for a pop star's inability to perform. Who knew.

Medical Insurance Blues

How To Avoid Paying A Lot (Unless You Absolutely Have To)

Two months ago, I went to the doctor. I was having some health issues, the doctor ordered the bloodwork to rule things out. How much will it cost? I asked. He said a few hundred dollars. I asked him further about the tests he was prescribing. Was this one necessary? What did that one rule out? (Hey, if I have to pay $30 just to talk to him, I’m not going to be shy!) I decided it was probably worth my health to get the bloodwork done.

Two months later, there is nothing apparently wrong with me… and I have a $450 bill to prove it.

I guess the bill doesn’t bother me. I do realize these things cost money: the doctor’s time, the technician’s time, the tests, the equipment. What bothers me though is that over two months later, I still have no name for a condition that feels very real to me. A day or two after, the New York Times comes out with this essay: Many Doctors, Many Tests, No Rhyme or Reason, making me even more paranoid about paying too much for medical tests I don’t need.

A friend offered to consult her doctor boyfriend (who happens to live across the country) about my symptoms and what he would have a patient do. His list paralleled my doctor’s, which helped me feel like I hadn’t been duped. Of course, I don’t want to consult him about everything. How am I supposed to keep medical costs low in the future?

CNN Money had a good article about the “new medical rules”. Here are a few that could apply to everyone:

-         Keep costs low, even if you do have insurance. When your doctor suggests a procedure, don’t be afraid to ask about how much it costs and why he/she is asking you to do it. You have the right to be satisfied with the answer; you are the one who is going to pay for things one way or the other.

-         Ask your company about health-related cost reductions, like keeping a low BMI or not smoking. Your healthy habits are saving them money and there may be incentives for that, even if it is $40 a year.

-         Ask your company who oversees your health plan. While employers aren’t allowed to fire you if you are going to cost the company big money in health care, it’s pretty hard to prove they have done this. It’s better if your company hires another company to handle this.

-         Know your insurance’s prescription policy. That’s 10% of the average person’s medical costs.

In the end, many of us stay with our jobs in part because of the health insurance. And sometimes you do have to pay to find out you’re ok. But the good thing about hospitals is they don’t usually charge interest and you can pay off your bill slowly. I’ll be paying off mine at $30 a month, which is much less painful then it could be.

Image from: www.masternewmedia.org

Filling A Hole

Yesterday I left work early to go to the dentist. One of my teeth has been hurting for about a month but, like most people, I ignored it until it got uncomfortable.

A teeth cleaning ($100) and 2 x-rays ($20) later, I have a cavity, which will be filled ($85) about a month from now. The only way I could have avoided this is if I would floss everyday (and if you do that, please comment below. I'd like proof that one person on Earth does this).

I asked up front about how much everything would cost, something I've never done before until this past year. The hygenist answered all my questions and didn't make me feel bad. Now, I know how much I need to save up to fix my little problem.

In a less positive interaction, I did this at the doctor's office last month, too. My doctor wanted me to have a test done "just in case". When I asked how much it was, he estimated about $350. When I said no, he began to lecture me, "This is your health!" he kept saying. "That's my salary for a week." I said. I left angry.

I went home and did a little research on my condition, and ended up talking to another doctor for a follow-up appointment a the women's health clinic. I didn't need the test. It was then I realized that it is my right to ask how much things cost, and if a doctor, dentist, or any other medical professional can't give me a good reason why to do something, I will refuse to do it. I am perfectly willing to follow every whim, but only with good health insurance.

My teeth money will be obtained from the selling of some gift certificates from Christmas ($50) and returning a couple gifts I don't need ($50). I also subscribed to a grocery coupon site so over the next month, if I save another $50 in groceries, I can use my $30 cushion for two months to pay the difference. I can probably cut back on expenses further I'm sure. But I'll only do it for those health things that are really necessary, like things that make my mouth not hurt. Happy Friday!