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It’s Okay to Need Help

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<p>Sometimes the biggest thing standing in the way of my own progress is my pride. Over the years, people have offered to help us monetarily and otherwise. In almost every instance (unless it was life-or-death), I’ve turned the help down. Something in me would rather count dimes at the Aldi checkout counter than accept help from a friend or family member. But, through the pandemic, I’ve realized something: It is okay to need help. Even more importantly, it is okay to accept help.</p>::Pexels

Sometimes the biggest thing standing in the way of my own progress is my pride. Over the years, people have offered to help us monetarily and otherwise. In almost every instance (unless it was life-or-death), I’ve turned the help down. Something in me would rather count dimes at the Aldi checkout counter than accept help from a friend or family member. But, through the pandemic, I’ve realized something: It is okay to need help. Even more importantly, it is okay to accept help.

Giving Up Power

A lot of the struggle with receiving help from friends or family is giving up the power behind the situation. If I receive help from someone, they are now involved and I owe them something in return (or at least that is how my mind has always worked). I also have to admit I’ve lost control of the situation at hand and need help.

For those times, I have to step back and give up wishing for power over the outcome. Then they can be allowed to help to the best of their abilities, whether it is monetarily or otherwise.

Reaching Out When You Need Help

That being said, most of the time people are not going to offer up help unless they see you are struggling. You may have to reach out and ask your loved ones for assistance. Here are some things you need to consider doing when you reach out for help…

  • Show that you have tried to help yourself. If you need help, your friends and family will be more likely to assist if you have tried to solve the issue on your own.
  • If they have given you advice, demonstrate that you’ve taken it prior to asking for more help.
  • Think about the timing of your request and consider how it may impact them.
  • Don’t make them guess. Just ask for what you want.

These four tips will help guide your discussion in a productive way. Remember, if the answer is no, don’t be upset. No one is obligated to assist you financially or otherwise. Simply tell them you understand.

Conclusion

When it comes down to it, more people need help now than ever. The global pandemic, in conjunction with several other national crises, has made it difficult.

I wanted to share these reflections with you all today because I’ve spoken with a lot of people who are feeling defeated. More of my friends are being forced to move back home or significantly change their lifestyles just to scrape by. There is no shame in it.

There is no shame in packing up and moving home if that is what you need to do to get further ahead.

There is no shame in receiving money from a relative in a time of need.

There is no shame in needing someone else’s help.

Readers, can you think of a time where you had to rely on others to get by? How did it change you? 

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Discount Insurance and More! 8 Effective Strategies to Reduce Healthcare Costs

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Discount Insurance and More! 8 Effective Strategies to Reduce Healthcare Costs

<p>Let’s face facts — Americans face some of the highest healthcare costs in the world. The average American spends over $10,000 per year on healthcare. That’s no small number, and many people struggle to make ends meet because of these expenses. For many people, the high cost of healthcare means you either need to take on new debt, pull from savings, or just hope you get better. Financial stress like these can make things worse by impacting your physical health. The good news is that there are steps that you can take right now to reduce the impact of healthcare on your wallet. Read on for some effective strategies to reduce healthcare costs!</p>::Pexels

Let’s face facts — Americans face some of the highest healthcare costs in the world. The average American spends over $10,000 per year on healthcare. That’s no small number, and many people struggle to make ends meet because of these expenses.

For many people, the high cost of healthcare means you either need to take on new debt, pull from savings, or just hope you get better. Financial stress like these can make things worse by impacting your physical health. The good news is that there are steps that you can take right now to reduce the impact of healthcare on your wallet.

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Do My Medical Debts Expire? The Statue of Limitations on Medical Billing

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Statue of Limitations on Medical Billing
Improving your credit seems like a full-time job. You have to be concerned about paying your bills on time, catching up on payments and beginning to pay your current debts down. If you’re working on paying down debt you may be wondering about which items are going to be expiring soon and which aren’t.

Medical bills are something that effects many people’s credit scores. If you have medical debt piling up you may be wondering if your medical debts expire. What are the statue of limitations on medical billing?

Do My Medical Debts Expire?

Many debts expire after a few years, medical debts being one of them. Not many debts will remain on your credit report after seven years. Medical debts are a bit different though. There is a statue of limitations on medical billing that varies from state to state. In some states a medical debt may remain on your credit report for 15 years if it remains unpaid.

Do Other Debts Expire?

Other debts expire as well and generally vary from remaining on your credit report for two years all the way up to 15 years. The best possible thing you could do is pay off your debt unless you are a year or less from it falling off your credit report.

What Are the Statue of Limitations on Medical Billing?

If you are looking at paying medical debts specifically be sure you know the statue of limitations on medical billing in your state. The average statue of limitations in the United States in six and a half years, according to Savvy on Credit.

Paid medical bills will have no effect on your credit score. The only way the bill will effect your score is it it hits your credit and remains there until you or your insurance company comes to a settlement with the doctor or hospital. As far as the statue of limitations on medical billing goes it really depends on the type of medical bill and your financial situation.

Statue of Limitations on Medical Visits

Most states have about a seven year statue of limitations on medical collections. You may want to check this chart to view your state’s specific laws regarding the statue of limitations for billing.

Statue of Limitations on Hospital Bills

Hospital bills are oftentimes much more expensive than regular medical bills (doctor’s visits, urgent care, checkups, etc). Because of this, many people find that hospital bills remain on their credit longer than other medical bills.

You always want to pay off your debts rather than try and ignore them. If you are looking at your credit report, however, you will want to have a plan of attack when it comes to paying things off that are already in collections. Of course, if something will fall off your credit in a year or less you may be better off spending your time paying items that are newer.

Have you had to pay off a huge amount of medical debt? Share your story with us!

Photo: ABC Advantage

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What to Do When You Need Extra Cash This Month

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It’s a horrible feeling when you can’t pay your bills or you run out of money before the end of the month. When you’re not even half-way through the month and already know for sure your account will be hitting zero soon it can be even worse.

Before depression sets in or you hit panic mode, stop and take a deep breath. There are solutions when you need extra cash this month.

Sell Stuff

When you need extra cash this month, start your spring cleaning early. Take an hour or two to go through the clutter in your home or apartment.

If you are like me chances are you usually put it off until you have time. But what better time than when you need some extra money?

Tackle that closet or dresser that is stuffed with clothes that don’t fit or new items you never used and won’t miss. Then, go online to eBay, Amazon, Letgo, or some other site and give it a new home.

Fill Out Surveys

Have you ever considered filling out surveys to make some extra money? There are plenty online to choose from that are willing to pay for your opinion of their products or services.

Some pay more than others, of course, but you could make anywhere from an extra few dollars to $90 or more. Regardless of the amount, if you have a computer already and a little extra time on your hands you could be making money in no time.

Ask for a Raise

Another thing to do when you need extra cash this month is ask for a raise. Obviously you will want to make sure you have been doing an exceptional job before you approach your supervisor. But this is one way to get some extra money in your budget when you need it.

Drive for Uber or Lyft

If you don’t mind driving you could use your car to earn some extra money. Sign up for Uber or Lyft and within a few days you could be chauffeuring others around and earning money for it.

Don’t worry if you don’t have a car. You can still sign up through HyreCar. Just fill out the paperwork and they will do a background check before matching you to a car you can rent.

Rent Your Extra Bedrooms

Having an unused bedroom can help when you need extra cash this month. With a little time and preparation you could rent it to other people such as vacationers or those traveling for business.

Check out the requirements with Airbnb to see if your home qualifies. You can either be absent or present when guests are there as long as you notify them before they rent.

You might be able to offer travelers additional services for extra money too, such a meals or transportation. However, if you do offer extras, make sure the prices are stated up front.

Offer a Variety of Services

Often people just need someone to fill the gaps in their lives. You could be that person. Advertise on Facebook, Twitter, and other places so that your community knows you are available.

The services you could provide are only limited by your imagination and what others need. You could babysit, animal sit, clean houses or businesses, paint, detail cars, tutor, clear snow, clean gutters, wash windows, buy and deliver groceries, run errands, and more.

Mend and Alter Clothes

If you have a sewing machine and are good at sewing you could tailor, mend, and alter clothes for other people to bring in extra cash. Some communities have a need for these services with no one to fill it.

Check with bridal shops, dry cleaning services, and clothing stores to see if you can get referrals. You may even be able to turn your temporary side-hustle into a permanent side business.

Bake or Cater

If you love to spend time in the kitchen and are a good cook, turn it into a money maker. Decide if you want to cater full meals or bake cookies, cakes, and other sweets.

Then, advertise and share a few samples to get customers fast. Before you know it you will be raking in the dough.

As you can see, when you need extra money in pretty short order there are things you can do to get it. Choose one or two of these ways to add to your income and help you breathe a little easier.

Have you ever fallen short on cash before? If so, what did you do to solve the problem?

Jeanne is a married mother of 2 children who works as a full-time freelancer and also helps out occasionally on the farm she and her husband own together. Her background is mostly finance and medical office management.  She’s currently working to improve her financial well-being and hopes to help others improve theirs as well.

How We Paid Off $65,000 of Debt In 11 Months on a Single Middle Class Income

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Part 1 of a 3-Part Series

My husband and I decided to pay off all of our debt, including our mortgage, as quickly as possible.

We understood it was a huge endeavor and estimated that it would take us about eight years to do, but we knew the feelings of freedom and achievement once we met our goal would be well worth the dedication, sacrifice, and hard work in the end.

As the saying goes, “How do you eat an elephant? One bite at a time.”

[Read more…]

Birthday Reflections: How Last Year Changed the Way I Look at Life

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<p>January 29 is my birthday. Every year, I take a moment to reflect on the previous year, how I grew, changes that happened, and so on. This year’s birthday reflections left me feeling thankful and glad for the life I have.</p>::Pexels

January 29 is my birthday. Every year, I take a moment to reflect on the previous year, how I grew, changes that happened, and so on. This year’s birthday reflections left me feeling thankful and glad for the life I have.

Why I Reflect Every Year

Many people take the time to reflect at the end of the year and the beginning of the next. While I do love to reflect around January 1 like everyone else, reflecting around my birthday has always been important to me. Every year, the number associated with how long I’ve been on this planet goes up. People often associate your age with certain milestones. Next year, the year I turn 30, is a big one for many people. You’re “supposed” to have met so many milestones by the age of 30. It’s easy to feel like you’re falling behind peers your age.

That is one of the biggest reasons I sit down and reflect every year: not to compare myself to others but to compare myself to who I was last year. It gives me a version of myself to say, “Wow, I’ve come a long way.” My 28th year of life was kind of crazy, but in the most special way. I grew closer to my husband, we grew in our careers, and we welcomed our daughter into the world. It was truly an amazing year, but how have I personally changed?

My Birthday Reflections: Year 28

This year was definitely one to remember. Now granted, I spent most of the year pregnant and preparing for the birth of my child. However, that experience and other things I went through last year have completely changed who I am fundamentally as a person. I grew in more ways than one. Last year, I started practicing yoga, which has become an important part of my life. I did a lot of things that made me uncomfortable to improve myself as a person (including taking new classes, meeting new people, and going to the doctor more).

Financially, I’m nowhere near where I’d like to be, but our finances grew in 2021. We were able to save, set up everything for the arrival of our baby, and spend a solid eight weeks with her after she was born without having to work. That was fantastic. Honestly, money has become less important to us as a whole. Spending time together is where we’ve been focusing our efforts.

The biggest change for me this year was the idea of family was altered in a huge way. I’ve always had a large family (my dad is one of nine children). There have always been aunts, uncles, cousins, out there somewhere. The family I’m talking about is a bit different though. Leading up to my 29th birthday, I learned a new sense of family. My husband, daughter, and I have such an amazing, close-knit support system. Seeing how these individuals rallied around me, around us, last year was amazing. Twenty-nine is starting out to be an interesting year already. Change is in the air and I’m excited to see what the next year brings.

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How to Cover Dental Emergencies

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<p>It never fails. Things seems to be going great and then you are hit with something that costs an arm and a leg. For me, last month, the unexpected costs were related to dental emergencies. If you don’t already know, dental insurance is a racket. So, when it comes to covering the cost of an emergency, it usually falls on you. How do you cover it if you don’t have the cash upfront?</p>::Pexels

It never fails. Things seems to be going great and then you are hit with something that costs an arm and a leg. For me, last month, the unexpected costs were related to dental emergencies. If you don’t already know, dental insurance is a racket. So, when it comes to covering the cost of an emergency, it usually falls on you. How do you cover it if you don’t have the cash upfront?

Types of Dental Emergencies

Believe it or not, just because it seems urgent to you doesn’t mean your situation is a dental emergency. There is a set of criteria the dentist uses in order to decide whether or not your problem is an emergency or not. Some common dental emergencies include:

  • Unexplainable toothache – this is your body’s way of telling you there is something wrong in your mouth
  • Swollen jaw or mouth – swelling in the jaw or mouth may indicate infection
  • Exposed nerves – when this happens it can be extremely painful and needs attention immediately
  • Missing tooth – if they are contacted quickly the dentist may be able to preserve the tooth
  • Missing filling – without the filling your tooth can easily break or chip
  • Broken crown – any broken dental work in your mouth needs fixed as soon as possible
  • Abscessed tooth – a tooth abscess is an infection and needs medical attention
  • Food stuck – being unable to remove food from your teeth is annoying but it can cause infection and even shift your teeth if stuck too long

At the end of the day, your dentist will be able to tell you whether or not the situation is an emergency. They will usually be able to get you in within 24 hours for issues that need immediate attention. That being said, dental work is crazy expensive. How do people pay for this stuff?

How to Cover the Cost of Unexpected Dental Work

When it comes to covering the cost of dental emergencies, the numbers can be steep. For instance, I don’t have dental insurance. Because of this, I have to pay out of pocket for dental services. I pay $234 for “in-house insurance” with my dentist. This covers two cleanings a year, all x-rays, and discounts off any other services. However, it didn’t cover my deep cleaning gum therapy last Friday. The discounted bill that I paid out of pocket was $785. They drew up a plan for me to have all four wisdom teeth extracted as well (another $1,700 at some point down the road). Thankfully, I was able to get this paid, but if you are looking for ways to cover these astronomical prices, take note of these options.

  • Inquire about making payments: Smaller privately-owned practices may allow you to make payments on the services you receive. Ask about any payment options the office provides.
  • CARE Credit: CARE Credit is a credit card that you can use for medical services. If you get a CARE Credit card it can help you pay for anything medical, not just dental services. Be wary though, this is another line of credit that you’ll need to pay off.
  • Dental schools: One hygienist talked to me about going to a dental school for some of the work I needed done. If that is something you are comfortable with doing, check for dental schools in your area. They will give you huge discounts on services so their students can get the practice they need.

As a last resort option, you can always borrow money or get a small loan for dental emergencies. After all, anything that impacts your health is important enough to invest in.

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How We Paid Off $65,000 of Debt In 11 Months on a Single, Middle Class Income

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Part 2 of a 3-Part Series

At the end of July 2013, my husband Mike and I decided to pay off all of our debt, including our mortgage, as quickly as possible.

We understood it was a huge endeavor and estimated that it would take us about eight years to do, but we knew the feelings of freedom and achievement once we met our goal would be well worth the dedication, sacrifice, and hard work in the end.

As the saying goes, “How do you eat an elephant? One bite at a time.”

We still have a long way to go before we are completely debt free, but in this three-part series, I am taking you through exactly what we did to pay off over $65,000 from August 2013 through June 2014.

If you missed Part 1, you can check it out by clicking here.

If you want to skip ahead to part 3, go here.

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What is a Debt Validation Letter?

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<p>Have you ever been harassed by a debt collector? At some point, most of us have but what about if the debt you were being harassed about should be gone from your report all together? Though it doesn’t happen often, there are occurrences where an item a debt collector is asking you to pay is past its statue of limitations. If you feel like the debt you’re being asked to pay isn’t valid you can choose to send a debt validation letter to the collector.</p>::Pexels
Have you ever been harassed by a debt collector? At some point, most of us have but what about if the debt you were being harassed about should be gone from your report all together?

Though it doesn’t happen often, there are occurrences where an item a debt collector is asking you to pay is past its statue of limitations. If you feel like the debt you’re being asked to pay isn’t valid you can choose to send a debt validation letter to the collector.

What is a Debt Validation Letter?

If you’ve never heard of a debt validation letter before, don’t worry. It isn’t an extremely common thing. Debt validation letters, as previously stated, can be used to asked a debt collector to verify your debts.

These items usually won’t appear on your credit report because they’ve already fallen off due to the statue of limitations. Sending a debt validation letter requires the collector to either verify whether the debt is within or past the statue of limitations.

How Do You Know If You Need a Debt Validation Letter?

First, check your credit report. If the item you’re being asked to pay isn’t showing up there it is likely past the statue of limitations for that specific kind of debt. Whether or not you’ll need to send a debt validation letter depends on the statue of limitations on the debt you are carrying. Medical debts, for instance, have a different statue of limitations (oftentimes longer) than, say, credit card debt (seven years). The statue of limitations on debt collection is determined by the Federal Fair Debt Collections Practices Act or the law in your individual state.

If there is an item that appears on your credit report that does not belong there you do not need a debt validation letter. What you’ll want to do is dispute the information on your report with the credit bureau.

If you’re interested in more information about paying off debt, check out these great articles:

How to Use a Debt Validation Letter

If it turns out that you do need a debt validation letter you’ll need to know how to go about sending one. In the letter you’ll want to include important information up front, such as your name, address (city, state and zip) as well as the collection agency’s name and address.

Once you’ve provided the important information at the top of the letter, provide a subject line. For example, most people write “Re: Account Number.” Within the letter you will want to be sure that you are clear that you are not refusing to pay the debt you simply want validation. A great example of a debt validation letter can be found here.

Having to deal with debt collection agencies and debt validation letters is nerve wrecking but if it helps you to better your credit (or get those collectors off your back) it is totally worth it.

Have you ever had to use a debt validation letter? What was the outcome?

Photo: Graham Legal PLLC