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12-04-2011, 01:10 PM | #1 |
YT 1000 Club Member Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Winnipeg, MB, Canada
Posts: 1,795
| Looking for advice from those wiser than me,... managing finances. Sorry this is long, but I want honest opinions, and there are a lot of factors to consider. So I've been having ALOT of jaw problems, just had an unsuccessful surgery (I'm in Canada btw so some health care is free). I just had a consult with a second orthodontist who gave me a 2 hour consult. It was free, but he explained exactly how he could fix all of my problems. I've been having terrible headaches, and I can only open my mouth about half way from the normal range. I see a massage therapist twice a month but that only masks the problem. So he wants 18 months in braces and a major surgery. The surgery is covered and free. The braces will be $7800, $7400 if I pay upfront. So now I'm trying to figure out what to do with myself. Also a side note, I worked my way through my university, paid cash for the whole 5 years. I don't have much debt, just credit cards and a very small personal line of credit, but not a penny to my name. Also my dad's insurance doesn't cover braces, even if it's all medical related So I'm brainstorming how I can pay for this, without sinking myself into crazy debt. My philosophy is, almost all of my friends have $40,000 loans to pay back, so if I take this little extra debt I'm not worse off than them am I? Ok so what if I take a student loan for law school (hopefully september), I'll still only have a little debt compared to my friends who are 2 degrees in, with a loan for both. Options: well if I pay $1500 up front at the dentist, I get $370 monthly payments for an 18 month term can't really afford that, plus don't have $1500 try and extend an extra $5000 for my line of credit and make a larger upfront payment and take minimal payments with the dentist, only thing is then my line of credit monthly payments would rise too. take out a loan, but I'm employed by contracts right now and I don't have a co-signer, so I don't think I could get one of those. pay on credit card which I know I need to avoid at all cost, cause I'm pushed to my limit with the credit card. Seeing that takes a hit with Harley's medical problems when my insurance for him doesn't cover it, I'd be in great shape if he hadn't been sick for four months. Ask the BF for a loan, I already owe him $500, he's started a stable job, so he's the breadwinner right now. I don't mind asking him for a couple hundred here or there, cause I always pay him back and we sign a contract when I do it, but that's a huge sum of money to ask for. We've been together for four years, but still... So I'm looking for any and all input anyone wiser than me can offer. I don't wanna go into crazy debt, but my brain is only focused on fixing the pain right now. I know I'm not thinking logically.
__________________ Kendra Harley, you were the light in my life, rest peacefully my love! |
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12-04-2011, 01:58 PM | #2 |
Donating YT 500 Club Member Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: South Florida
Posts: 8,008
| well.. the quality of life is important. I think this is important. I would get a second opinion about $7800.00 for the braces, it seams a bit high to me.. I had braces about 15 years ago and it was a LOT less.. but that was 15 years ago. Also.. I had the braces for 2 years... why do you have to pay it all upfront????? I would even get a second opinion on the procedure. Just to be sure. Could you take out insurance or add dental insurance and wait a few months or a year? (my braces were paid for through dental insurance due to tmj) Shop around for the best loan you can get... I have heard that medical loans are a bit easier to get.. just make sure you read the find print and don't get scammed. Talk to bf.. if he has a stable job maybe you could be added to his insurance .. of course you would have a waiting period for that. All said and done... if you are careful and this is needed for you to be healthy and happy I would say go for it even if you must borrow the money. Good luck
__________________ Shinja mom to Remy lil Sis to Bailey and Sammy |
12-04-2011, 02:21 PM | #3 |
And Rylee Finnegan Donating Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Metro Detroit, MI
Posts: 17,928
| I'm not really understanding your choices or how student loans work in Canada. If you were in the US, I'd be telling you to put whatever you can on student loans. Your friends may be $40K in debt, but this isn't bad debt. If you have to be in debt, students loans are really the thing to have... Then the money you earn goes to what you need it for and the credit card is for emergencies.
__________________ Crystal, Ellie May (RIP), Rylee Finnegan, and Gracie Boo🐶 |
12-04-2011, 02:59 PM | #4 |
YT 1000 Club Member Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Winnipeg, MB, Canada
Posts: 1,795
| To answer both of those... The $7800 is my second opinion. I need 3 things done with the braces, so they aren't regular braces, they are TMJ ones, the first opinion was $8400, so the second guy is definititely going to get my money over the first one.. To also clarify, I am not eligible for student loans until my second degree.. LOOOONG story. I honestly don't even know if they will give me student loans for law school. My boyfriend is on probation until february so he doesn't get medical benefits until then (he just started like a month ago). Plus most plans do not cover braces... which I think is really dumb. So yeah got myself in a sticky situation. Basically the banks, government, anyone has been unwilling to lend me money until 6 months ago.
__________________ Kendra Harley, you were the light in my life, rest peacefully my love! |
12-04-2011, 04:02 PM | #5 |
YT Addict Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Ontario
Posts: 273
| So, is it possible to put law school off for another year? How about trying to find an additional contract? Really when it comes to money and weight there are only 2 solutions...make more, spend less (or exercise more, eat less). I would think, you can't think or function properly with the pain you are enduring...so I think your health comes first. That means, you either have to make the extra money to pay for it, or avoid going to law school which will decrease your debt load until you have paid for your braces. Only other solution I can think of is a kindly family member who might provide a no interest, as soon as I can loan option. (Not every family has one of those though) Good luck. |
12-04-2011, 04:07 PM | #6 |
Donating YT 2000 Club Member Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: New York
Posts: 3,896
| Have you tried a more conservative approach to the TMJ problem. I've had TMJ problems for years. The dentist made me an appliance that I wore at night when I would grind my teeth. Also some dentists prescribe Valium for nighttime to prevent grinding of teeth. An appliance would probably cost around 500 or 600 dollars. I don't know if this would help you. Good luck! |
12-04-2011, 04:17 PM | #7 | |
YT 1000 Club Member Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Winnipeg, MB, Canada
Posts: 1,795
| Quote:
__________________ Kendra Harley, you were the light in my life, rest peacefully my love! | |
12-04-2011, 04:25 PM | #8 |
YT 1000 Club Member Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Winnipeg, MB, Canada
Posts: 1,795
| Thanks everyone. I have a tendency to come here rant/ask for advice when I'm stressed out. I'm thinking if I extend my line of credit and ask the BF for help as well, he'll probably help me. I really hate money. it's a sore spot with me. It seems like every problem that arises can be solved if only you have enough money. Like I'd be in perfect financial condition right now if Harley hadn't been having his troubles (lots of vet bills).
__________________ Kendra Harley, you were the light in my life, rest peacefully my love! |
12-04-2011, 05:50 PM | #9 |
Ringo (1) and Lucy too! Donating Member Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: On the Edge of Glory
Posts: 3,447
| Be so careful when being treated for TMJ. Treatment is expensive and so many different schools of thought as to what works and what does not. Get a third and fourth opinion before you spend $8000. If the pain is bad enough - people will do ANYTHING to make it better. Some less than stellar dentists, oral surgeons, etc will prey on this ~ but you've probably already figured that out. That's just my own opinion as a TMJ sufferer myself with numerous visits to various oral surgeons, dentists, ENT's, etc. Best of luck.
__________________ Mommy to Lucy, Ringo, and Matthew |
12-05-2011, 03:31 AM | #10 | |
YT 1000 Club Member Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Winnipeg, MB, Canada
Posts: 1,795
| Quote:
I like this guy because he didn't just wanna fix my teeth, he also suggested a surgery which will fix the asymmetry, which is making everything a lot worse.The first guy I saw pretty much said, for $9000 I'll make the pain go away, end of discussion. They didn't even show me pictures of my mouth, they showed me other ppl's pictures. This second guy explained my xrays, took my pictures and gave me a 2 hour anatomy less. I learned a lot about what's causing a lot of my problems, and he pretty much showed me exactly where ever cent is going, which I felt far more comfortable with. My boyfriend also used this guy, and recommended him.
__________________ Kendra Harley, you were the light in my life, rest peacefully my love! | |
12-05-2011, 07:33 AM | #11 | |
No Longer a Member Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: Southwest
Posts: 68
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12-05-2011, 07:37 AM | #12 | |
YT 1000 Club Member Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Winnipeg, MB, Canada
Posts: 1,795
| Quote:
So I called my bf's mom, she's been my sober second thought often, cause she actually gave me a gift of some cash for my tuition a few years back. She told me a few more questions to ask the doctors, and that she thinks I should go for it if it all checks out (which so far it has). She is a nurse, so she answered a lot of my questions about whether it was just a scam, she paid for braces for my bf and also got braces as an adult so she had a lot to say.
__________________ Kendra Harley, you were the light in my life, rest peacefully my love! | |
12-05-2011, 07:41 AM | #13 | |
No Longer a Member Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: Southwest
Posts: 68
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12-05-2011, 07:45 AM | #14 |
YT 1000 Club Member Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Winnipeg, MB, Canada
Posts: 1,795
| Also had a good chat with the BF today, I've decided I am definitely going to go ahead with it, and he helped me pick a few options. First we think I may be able to get orthodontic coverage under his insurance when he gets it in Februrary, so if I need to wait until then, I will if I can guarentee even a little bit is covered. (going to call tomorrow) The only thing the bf said was he would want us to have a lawyer draft up a pre-nump type document between us, cause if we are actually going to claim as common law, he has a lot of money (inheritance) and I understand his want to protect that. Also he did tell me he would be willing to offer me a loan that is slightly more attractive than the bank. He said he'd do the same interest rate as the bank but 3 months interest free/no payments grace period, and he'd require a 100 minimum monthly payment, increasing that minimum in 36 months if I'm not paid off. He'd give me the full amount up front so that I can pay off my credit card and the braces all in one swing I guess it's funny, but we're one couple that isn't going to end up like those on judge judy... we always write stuff down and contract between ourselves. lol He laughed (he's in finance) and said lending to me would be a more attractive investment than some of his stocks, cause he knows I wont default, which is nice at least.
__________________ Kendra Harley, you were the light in my life, rest peacefully my love! |
12-05-2011, 07:47 AM | #15 | |
YT 1000 Club Member Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Winnipeg, MB, Canada
Posts: 1,795
| Quote:
__________________ Kendra Harley, you were the light in my life, rest peacefully my love! | |
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