Saving Face: Keeping Up Appearances Saves Money

One of the major costs that inevitably creeps into the budget for me is medical and dental expenses. This is because the expenses are often hard to plan for and vary widely, depending on the services required. Despite the fact that I know these expenses are coming each year, I still often find myself surprised by them. This is frustrating because there often seems to have been something that I could have done a little better to save myself the hassle and the expense.

Smile, thats 500 dollars please

Of course, a quick visit to the dentist can easily top a few hundred dollars if you have any kind of work done and just a few hours later you notice that you are much lighter in the wallet or purse than you were coming in. It’s not to say that you’ve been bilked out of the money by this professional. Instead, it is likely that you, like me, have put off some of the basic maintenance i.e. brushing and flossing as much as you should. And the unfortunate result is that you have not ended up with a perfect, no-cavity, cheap dentist visit.

A Stitch in Time

Taking the time to make sure that your health (including your teeth) is taken care of is critical. Prevention is much less expensive than the cure and in the case of dentistry, most likely it is less painful. I struggle with this myself, but when you consider the facts, it seems like a no-brainer.

A large portion of bankruptcies are related to medical costs. This should be a huge indication to us that we should be trying to stay healthly. In addition, anecdotal evidence of pricey bridges, crowns, and restorative dental work can shock even the most steady financiers.

3 Simple Tips For Prevention

Assuming that you are sold on the idea of prevention and maintenance, but you are like me and have a hard time figuring out how to change your habits. Here are some basic tips that can help you stay motivated to remain on track.

1. Place a small note or index card in your bathroom or near your bedside table reminding you to brush, floss, take the pill that you forget etc. This small nagging reminder might help you remember to do this when your normal routine lands you in bed without brushing or running out the door before taking a pill in.

2. Make your appointments in advance. Instead of leaving your visit without planning the next appointment, make sure that you ask the secretary to get an appointment before you leave. Write it on your calendar and make arrangements to keep it. This will help you stay on track for regular cleanings.

3. Plan to spend money for the appointment. Now that you know when the appointment will be, you can set aside five or ten dollars on a regular schedule to prepare for that expense. And if you are lucky, you can do it through a flexible spending account to ensure that you get the most out of your money.