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Dental Costs, Budget Progress, Big Picture Thinking

January 22nd, 2012 at 06:01 pm

The dental appointment went very well! Since I have been a patient for a long time (decade or so), and since I was paying cash, they gave me a special rate. $75 for my cleaning and x-rays! That was slightly less expensive than paying $80 for insurance, then $36 at each bi-annual cleaning.

The dental copay for J was just $10. I'm going to mention to ex-h that J went to the dentist, but I'm not going to ask him to kick in half. I don't want him to feel nickeled and dimed, and I need him to come through without a fuss when larger expenses roll around. (We don't split everything. For example, I buy all of J's clothes. I receive child support, so we agreed that was fair. But we agreed that medical copays and extras such as summer camp would be split.)

My mammogram had no co-pay at all! Quite reasonable. Smile

I'm on track to come in at or under budget on every category for January. The only "overage" is on the mortgage, because I chipped $5. I don't mind that at all.

Now that I plan to refi and start all over on a 30 year mortgage, I think I need to face the reality that I likely will not have my mortgage paid in full by age 65. Hopefully though, I will have a nice chunk of equity at that point. So perhaps a better plan for me is to downsize. I may have enough equity to purchase a 2 bedroom condo outright.

Posted in Budgeting, Spending, Retirement Dreams | 4 Comments »

4 Responses to “Dental Costs, Budget Progress, Big Picture Thinking”

  1. Jerry Says:
    January 22nd, 2012 at 07:37 pm 1327261037
    1327261037

    Wow, it seems like your insurance plan is pretty reasonable overall, and it's great that your mammogram visit didn't even lead to a copay charge! I hope everything is going well to start the new year for you...
    Jerry

  2. patientsaver Says:
    January 22nd, 2012 at 08:47 pm 1327265251
    1327265251

    That price for dental was very good. My dentist charges $150 for a cleaning alone, and it's the hygienist who cleans my teeth; I get about 2 minutes with the dentist.

    All mammograms are now 100% free, courtesy of Obama's healthcare reform.

    Is a 15 or 20-year loan doable?

  3. Petunia 100 Says:
    January 22nd, 2012 at 10:31 pm 1327271519
    1327271519

    Hi Patient Saver Smile,

    The 20 would be right about what I pay now. The problem is my present savings rate is inadequate. A large unplanned expense or a (gulp) job loss would leave me choosing between draining savings and taking on debt. The more I think about it, the more I think I need more cash.

    The 15 is out of the question.

    I think if I found the right condo, I would be very happy in one.

    I didn't know mammograms are now free. Good to know, thanks!




  4. gamecock43 Says:
    January 23rd, 2012 at 12:07 am 1327277255
    1327277255

    I like the long term plan to maybe downsize if the mortgage is not paid off by retirement. Its nice to be adaptable.

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