I'm getting some things paid off or close
to it and that feels good. DH's almost $1000 MRI bill from last year
(that went all to deductible) is down to $96. I have been paying $75 a
month and at the end of this month I will just pay it off in full. The
Lowe's credit card that I got for $300 and charged (part) of the new
washing machine on last February was paid off at the end of August (6
months no interest promotion). One of my dental work visits (the fun
root canal portion of the work) that I charged on the Care Credit card
was paid off in August. There is still part of the vet bill and the
dentist bill (for the crown) I charged, but I have until next May and
August to pay those off with no interest.
I also canceled the pet wellness plan we had our younger dog on the past year. I don't want to keep paying $36/mo when he'll probably only need one visit a year now for a check up/update vaccinations. I took our older dog into his vet earlier this year for a check up and it was only like $120 for everything to get updated.
It will be nice to have the $204/mo that I have been paying the radiologist, Care Credit, Banfield and Lowe's freed up, especially since health insurance is going up in January.
I also canceled the pet wellness plan we had our younger dog on the past year. I don't want to keep paying $36/mo when he'll probably only need one visit a year now for a check up/update vaccinations. I took our older dog into his vet earlier this year for a check up and it was only like $120 for everything to get updated.
It will be nice to have the $204/mo that I have been paying the radiologist, Care Credit, Banfield and Lowe's freed up, especially since health insurance is going up in January.
I got an email last night from my auto insurance company. My 6 month renewal is coming up and my rate went down again - this time another $25 per month! And
just as I make progress I get my Comcast bill and apparently my
promotional period has expired and my bill has gone up $20/mo. Guess I
will be putting in my annual call to them to ask for a better price or
downgrade a bit. So, far they have always given me another promotional
deal, so it pays to call and ask. A few years ago, when my bill went up
after we had been on Comcast for a year, I got put on a package that
was the same price I had been paying - but it included Starz and Encore
channels. Each year, when my promotional period ends, I call to switch
back to the next lower plan (that doesn't offer those channels) and they
end up keeping me on the same plan at same price I have been paying. In
the past I wouldn't have been willing to pay extra for those channels,
but DH has been watching those channels quite a bit the past year, so
they might be worth keeping, as other than being on the internet,
watching tv is about his only other form of entertainment.
I
also need to get in to have an eye exam done and new glasses. My
bifocal vision is getting worse and I realize it has been 3 years since I
last had an exam/got these glasses. I thought it was 2 years. Even with
insurance it will probably cost me a $300 out of pocket, since I need
progressive lenses. I won't be going to Walmart, that's for sure. I
really don't want to go to the eye doctor that I went to 3 years ago
(and the same one I ended up having DH get his glasses through). They are
very expensive and really don't have a very large selection of frames.
There is an eye doctor in the same building where our family doctors are
at. They have quite a large optical shoppe, it looks like, and they
can't be anymore expensive than the other place. My insurance is contracted
with them and from their website I see they also accept the Care Credit
card for payment. I was waiting until after the first of the year, when
I could get $300 or so set aside for my costs, but my vision is getting
worse and bothering me to do my all day computer work, so if I can put
it on the card (and get no interest again for 6-12 months) that will
work out good. I don't want to wait another couple of months to see better.
I had the worst experience going to WalMart for my annual eye exam. The ophthalmologist did not care at all. I have had way better luck at smaller independent eye clinics that are ran by one or two docs. They seem to care so much more.
ReplyDeleteWe had a terrible experience with DH trying got get his first ever pair of glasses (progressives) at Walmart. They just did not care and kept telling him there was nothing wrong with the glasses he couldn't see with. I got a refund and his new glasses at the independent eye place worked great first time he put them on!
DeleteI learned this a bit late, but you can just go for your vision appointment at a place you like, and waive the frames. I wish I had known/done that before. It always seemed to me that there was no choice and I had to get basic frames from the doc's office, even though they sucked and were expensive. I think proper eyewear is essential. The repercussions are not pretty.
ReplyDeleteTanner, do you mean just get new lenses put in my current glasses? or take the prescription somewhere else? but that's kind of been our whole problem -we tried the cheaper alternative (Walmart) to get DH's lenses and frames and it was a big disaster.
DeleteDH just spent 1100.00 for frames/progressive lenses and an exam at the local small town clinic. I was lucky that they ran a deal last month where you could buy up to 4 "coupons" at pay 40.00 for an 80.00 coupons.
ReplyDeletePatti - if they tell me $1100 I won't have to worry about getting glasses - I'll just have a heart attack and keel over! If they are that expensive I surely won't be buying them through their optical dept. I'm only planning on a few hundred out of pocket (my insurance pays $100 towards frames/lenses plus a 20% discount).
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