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How to Finance your Children’s Braces

May 19, 2022 | Leave a Comment

Before most people can have kids, they think long and hard about all aspects of childcare, including expenses. This includes tuition fees, clothes, shelter, food, etc. However, brace treatment is another expense that most parents have to account for. More than 3.5 million teens and children get braces every year. That means there is a good chance your child will wear them too. Unfortunately, dental care is not cheap. Kids’ braces can cost from $3,000 to $7,000. This can be very costly, especially for a low-income family. If your child needs braces, but you are having trouble raising the amount, you can explore several financing options, as highlighted below.

 

Medicaid Dental Benefits and EPSDT

By law, any children from low-income households qualify for full medical coverage. If your family is eligible, you will not have to pay for any orthodontic treatment costs. Keep in mind that dental and brace treatments for cosmetic purposes are not covered. But if the treatment is to correct a medical issue, then the case will be approved. In most states, orthodontic treatments are covered by Medicaid through a program called Early and Periodic Screening, Diagnosis, and Treatment (EPSDT). Check with the local department of Children and Family Services and confirm whether the program can cover brace treatment for your child.

Check Whether Your Orthodontist Has a Payment Plan in Place

Because these treatments can be costly, most orthodontists have payment plans in place to help patients. Talk to your orthodontist and find out what is offered. You may also want to research other orthodontists in your area. Payment options tend to differ, and you might find a payment plan that meets your needs. The earlier you start your child on treatment, the better the outcome. Between the ages of 6 and 12 is when you might start noticing your child has an abnormal bite. However, orthodontic treatment usually starts between the age of 8 and 14. At this age, the child has lost most baby teeth, and permanent teeth have started developing. This gives you plenty of time to research which orthodontists have good rates.

Personal Loan

You can finance your child’s treatment by applying for a personal loan from a bank, online lender, or credit union. Look for lenders that provide medical loans. You will get the best rates if you have a good credit score. And the good thing about loans is that you do not have to repay all the money at once. You can spread the payments over a specific period to lessen the burden.

Low-Income Programs and Financing

If you do not qualify for the Medicaid orthodontic programs, check the ‘Smiles Change Lives’ program. If your household income is less than 100% of the federal poverty level (FPL), you may qualify for treatment. The child needs to be between ages 7 and 21. If you qualify, your child will get full orthodontic treatment for only a small fee of $650. This can be a huge relief for parents as they can start their kid’s treatment as early as possible. Ideally, the best time to start orthodontic treatment is from age 7. This ensures that any chewing problems and overcrowded teeth are fixed early.

Orthodontic Insurance

Another way to cover your child’s orthodontic treatment is through insurance. Invest in a dental plan that includes brace treatment. This may increase your premiums, but you will be reducing the financial strain of covering the whole treatment cost on your own. When crooked teeth are not addressed in time, they can lead to other dental issues such as bad breath. According to the American Dental Association, people ought to brush twice a day to remove oral bacteria and prevent bad breath. But when you have crooked teeth, even if you brush twice a day, it can still be challenging to reach all corners of your mouth. Rectifying the issue early on prevents other oral issues and saves you money in the long run.

Financing your children’s braces ensures that you raise confident and happy kids. Do not let the situation escalate due to money issues. Explore which financing option works best for your family and use it to cover your child’s brace treatment.

Filed Under: Money and Finances

How to Save Money During the Moving Process

May 11, 2022 | Leave a Comment

Moving comes with a lot of expenses and unforeseen costs, so it’s a welcome thought that you can save money during this process. Here’s how you can save money and enjoy moving to a home that you know your family will love.

Prepare Well in Advance

Proper preparation is important because it enables you to know what you need to do and how you will do it. From packing and keeping things in storage when necessary to negotiating with moving companies so they can give you a fairer price, there are many benefits to planning. Collect all the necessary things such as bubble wrap for sensitive items and markers or labels to ensure you know what is packed where. Don’t forget about the details of the house you’re planning to move into, because, with 40 million housing units belonging to HOA communities, you may need to make certain adjustments to fit well into your new place if it’s part of one.

Pack Essentials Nearby

Moving can leave you exhausted and wanting to simply settle down first before you start the process of unpacking and organizing your new home. For this reason, you need to ensure that you have some essentials nearby, from a few kitchen and living room items to beddings. This will allow you to get a short break and re-energize yourself before you need to start digging through boxes. If you can use your own items and avoid having to buy others for a quick fix, this will be money you’ve saved.

Take Advantage of Free Moving Boxes

Check in local stores and other places if there are any offers for free or cheap moving boxes. Some moving companies may even offer free boxes and cheap packaging solutions, and you can make use of these to save some money during your move. Whether you’re among the 85% of Americans that move to the same state or the 15% who move to a different state, you will be happy to make some savings by getting free or affordable packing, so take time to look for some.

Move in the Low Season

If you can help it, move during the low season, which is between October and April. Doing this will see you spending less money as moving companies usually charge a lower price as demand for their services is lower. Most people move during early fall, summer, and late spring, so these will be high moving seasons and truck rentals will cost a bit more. There’s money to be saved when you move in early spring, late fall, or winter if the weather is friendly enough to move in.

Leave Items You Don’t Need

There’s no point in paying to move or store items that you haven’t used in a while and that you’re not likely to use in the future. While packing, take time to sort through your items and either sell or donate those that you haven’t used in months and aren’t likely to use in a while. A fully loaded semi-truck can weigh up to 18,000 pounds, and this is a substantial weight that shouldn’t comprise items that won’t have any use in your new home. You will find it easier as well to organize your new home when you don’t have to make allowances for things that you have no use for.

Follow these tips to make savings while you move and enjoy settling into your new home with your family. You can use the money you saved in other ways, such as having a night out to celebrate your new place!

Filed Under: Money and Finances

4 Outdoor Sports for the Whole Family

May 9, 2022 | Leave a Comment

As the summer months are quickly approaching, you and your family are likely looking for activities that you can do together while soaking up the sunshine. Playing sports as a family is a great way for parents and kids to bond while staying active and enjoying the outdoors, all at once. If you are a parent who finds that you aren’t in as good of shape as you used to be, playing some light sports with the kids is a great way to sneak a workout into your busy summer schedule. To replenish nutrients and improve your sports performance, check out IV nutrition therapy from https://inhstl.com/. Here are 4 outdoor sports that your whole family can try. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Money and Finances

Why Has Fast Food Become So Expensive?

May 5, 2022 | Leave a Comment

Why Has Fast Food Become So Expensive?

Our family hadn’t had our favorite fast food, Chipotle, since the pandemic began two years ago. When my daughter asked for Chipotle for one of her birthday meals this year, we happily bought it. But boy, were we surprised by the experience! We were shocked to hear our final total for four meals–$53! We were left wondering, why has fast food become so expensive? Our order total was significantly higher than when we bought Chipotle two years ago.

Why Has Fast Food Become So Expensive?

Fast food prices are increasing due to two variables.

Higher Priced Food Items

The United States is currently experiencing high inflation not seen in 40 years. The price of everything is going up including gas and basic goods like the food supplies fast-food chains rely on. When basics like lettuce, tomatoes, and meat increase, most fast-food chains have no choice but to pass those costs onto consumers.

Labor Shortage

In addition to higher food prices, fast food chains are experiencing a labor shortage, which has a ripple effect on the restaurants.

Shorter Hours

Some fast-food restaurants have cut their business hours because they don’t have enough staff. If the restaurant is open fewer hours a day, fewer workers are needed. However, the restaurant is then bringing in less money.

Fewer Items on the Menu

Some restaurants are offering fewer items on the menu to consolidate their business. For instance, Burger King is focusing on “menu simplification, removing low-volume items” (Insider). This streamlines the number of ingredients they need to buy and store.

Higher Wages

Finally, most fast-food restaurants have no choice but to raise wages to attract employees. Many chains have had to raise wages by 10 to 15%, which affects their bottom lines and requires them to raise food prices.

How to Combat High Fast-Food Prices

In our busy society, more and more families rely on fast food. However, if you no longer can afford fast food regularly, you have some other options:

Make Slow Cooker Meals

Why Has Fast Food Become So Expensive?

If you’re too tired to cook when you come home from kids’ activities or work, put a meal in the slow cooker in the morning before you leave. When you come home, a hot meal will be waiting for you.

Have Freezer Meals Ready

Another idea is to make meals to freeze. Thaw them the night before and reheat them when you get home. If you don’t have time for that, buy ready-made, family-size freezer meals from the store. They’re much cheaper than buying the whole family fast food.

Bulk Cook on the Weekends

Or, you could make several meals on the weekend. Then, during the week, reheat and serve. For busy nights when you won’t be home to eat, pack sandwiches and chips. It’s not fast food, but it is quick and easy.

Final Thoughts

Why has fast food become so expensive? The simple answer is that inflation is hitting all aspects of our lives. If you can no longer afford fast food regularly, you can try some other strategies to get a meal on the table quickly. Remember, inflation doesn’t last forever; eventually, you’ll be able to once again afford your favorite fast-food meal without such a punch to your wallet.

Read More

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Melissa Batai
Melissa Batai

Melissa is a writer and virtual assistant. She earned her Master’s from Southern Illinois University, and her Bachelor’s in English from the University of Michigan. When she’s not working, you can find her homeschooling her kids, reading a good book, or cooking. She resides in Arizona where she dislikes the summer heat but loves the natural beauty of the area.

Filed Under: Money and Finances Tagged With: eating at home, eating out, fast food, inflation

Tips for Ensuring a Cost-Effective Home Build for Your Family

May 5, 2022 | Leave a Comment

A home is the most important investment you can make for your family, and also the biggest one. However, it’s a good idea to try and save costs if possible so you have some funds left over when all is said and done. Here’s how you can enjoy a cost-effective home build for your family and get amazing results at the same time.

Work With Professionals

While this may sound strange, you can make savings by working with an expert rather than cutting corners and working with cheaper but inexperienced people. This is because when you have your work done by an expert, they will often get it right the first time and in the easiest way possible. When you don’t have to redo work that’s been done already, it’s obvious that you will spend less money. For the best results, work with a team that has a project manager, whose work is to oversee all the phases of a construction project and make sure that the job gets done on-budget and on-time for the very best results.

Go With a Simple Design

A complex floor plan and an overall design that’s complicated can see you spending more money than you would have had to spend on a simpler one. This may be a result of the need for additional materials, more expensive pieces, or unique labor demands that call for specially-trained people. You will find that a simpler design will be faster, easier, and more affordable to complete. If you want to spice it up and give it an edge, you can always add some fun features with a future upgrade or look for topical additions you can make to improve both the function and aesthetics of your new home.

Shop For Deals

Another way in which you can make savings while building your home is by shopping for deals and asking for discounts whenever you buy. For this, you will need a lot of time because, while you can predict seasonal sales, you cannot always predict flash sales and similar ones. Leave ample time to buy the materials you need, therefore, and you will enjoy saving an impressive amount of money on purchasing parts and pieces.

A recent report by the Bank of America Homebuilders said that while the pandemic is expected to have a little impact on buying patterns, just around 18% of the respondents surveyed said that Covid-19 potentially acted as a catalyst for moving. All the same, there was little difference between those living in urban areas when compared to those in the suburbs. So, no matter where you live, look out for deals that help people moving and building their own new homes like yourself!

Set a Budget and Stick to It

This tip may have been repeated so often that it has almost become a cliche, but there’s a lot of help you can get from it. When planning your project, take the time to write a budget and work hard to stick to it. You can do so by avoiding changing things while working, as this is a major reason why construction gets expensive. Also, reuse and recycle, as you can get good use out of something that’s not brand new. As a plus, you will also leave a smaller effect on the environment.

Buy Modern and Energy-Saving Appliances

Finally, when looking for appliances, shop for energy-efficient ones that will give you better service over time. Consider this an investment for the long term, as you will spend less on energy than you would have spent if you used less energy-efficient appliances. Shop for appliances with the Energy Star label, which denotes high energy efficiency. They will use 10-15% less water and energy than standard models will.

Use these tips and you will enjoy saving money while building a home that you and your family will love for a long time to come.

Filed Under: Home and Living, Money and Finances

Simple Tricks to Save Money on Orthodontics

May 4, 2022 | Leave a Comment

Orthodontic treatment, while necessary for many people for a number of reasons, can also be extremely expensive. Have a look at these simple tricks that can help you save money on orthodontics and get a healthy, beautiful smile for you and your family.

Come up With a Payment Plan

Many people who need orthodontic treatment don’t pay for it out of pocket or in a lumpsum. Instead, they first put down a downpayment and then spread the rest of the payment over a certain period as agreed upon between the patient and the orthodontist. This eases the pressure of having to find a large sum of money and can enable you to get the right treatment from a professional of your choice if they will agree with your payment plans. You will be glad to have undergone professional treatment given the fact that 47% of teens who use Invisalign said in a survey that they experienced a self-esteem boost during the treatment process when compared to 22% of teens who used metal braces.

Ask For a Discount From Your Orthodontist

Never miss the opportunity to find out from your orthodontist if they can give you a discount for the treatment you need. They’re also human, and so they understand that people can face different situations that leave them unable to pay for basic needs such as health care. You may be surprised when they agree to offer you the treatment with a discount, making it a bit more affordable for you.

Start Your Treatment Early

Rather than be one of the 44% of Americans who admitted that they wish they took better care of their teeth, take action right away. When you find out that you need to undergo orthodontic treatment, it’s best to start your treatment early. This will not only help you get the treatment you need faster and improve your life, but can also make it more affordable. That’s because you may need less work done if you start early enough, which, needless to say, will be more affordable and less involving.

Visit a Dental School

If you live near a dental school, you could pay them a visit or give them a call and find out if they offer orthodontic treatment. Since their services are usually discounted, they may be in high demand, so you also need to find out if they have a free spot to see you. The reason why they can afford to discount their treatments is because they’re done by dentists practicing to become orthodontics. This makes them affordable while at the same time being professional. You don’t need to have any apprehension as the treatment will take place under the watchful eye of a professional orthodontic trainer.

Shop Around and Compare

Finally, get quotes from different orthodontists so that you can get the best price that you will be able to work with. This is because there are many professional orthodontists in the market, and each of them charges a different price based on a number of variables. While shopping for an affordable one, however, don’t compromise on quality as you may end up having to pay twice to correct something that’s done wrong by an inexperienced or even unqualified orthodontist. Check their certifications and licences to make sure you’re in good, capable hands. Stay safe, as the Journal of the American Medical Association or JAMA shares a report that says around 225,000 people die every single year from medical complications.

Use these tips to be able to get the best and most affordable orthodontic treatment both for yourself and your family.

Filed Under: Money and Finances

How to Plan a Kid-Friendly Wedding on a Budget

April 21, 2022 | Leave a Comment

Kids can make any event fun, especially one that’s as focused on family as a wedding. It’s important to make sure that yours is kid-friendly if you plan on involving kids. Read on to see how you can plan a kid-friendly wedding on a budget.

Set Up a Kid’s Table

With the average wedding hosting 131 guests, according to The Knot, there will possibly be fewer kids than adults at your wedding. Once you have a good idea of how many kids will attend, set a table where they can sit by themselves, without the adults. Doing this will help them enjoy the wedding a bit more as they will be amongst their peers, with whom they can freely interact. While they may get up to mischief, you can minimize the chance of disruptions by giving them some activities to do at their table, based on some tips below.

Get Child-Friendly Entertainment

Find out the average age of the children who will be at your wedding and plan for age-appropriate entertainment for them. This could be something as inexpensive as hiring a magician or caricaturist to keep the kids busy while the more serious parts of the wedding are in progress. You will have the room you need while the kids enjoy their entertainment in a way that keeps both adults and children happy while separate from each other.

Have a Few Lawn Games Ready

With an 11% increase in the number of outdoor weddings in 2020, you could be even more kid-friendly if your wedding is also an outdoor one. Including lawn games is a sure way to make things fun for kids at a wedding, given the high energy levels that most kids have. From giant Jenga and corn hole to lawn golf and even hanging up a piñata, there are endless fun options available for you. Rather than run around between guests, they will stay happily engaged in the games and have an amazing day full of fun.

Organize a Scavenger Hunt

You could come up with a creative scavenger hunt to keep all the kids occupied from the start of the wedding to the end. Having something to focus on will make time go much faster for kids at your wedding, and rather than get bored, they will have an amazing day working on the clues on the sheet. The adults at the wedding will also enjoy the freedom they will get to be fully immersed in the event, so it will be an all-around wholesome and fulfilling day.

Give Personalized Favors

Finally, end the day with personalized favors, some for adults and some specifically for kids. With the average budget for only the reception and wedding ceremony being $28,385, you don’t have to get anything that’s over-the-top. Crayons in a cute package or charms and toys will work well, depending on the age of the children in attendance. If there are vastly different age groups, you could even get different favors for each age group. Doing this will help make your wedding an amazing and memorable event for absolutely everyone who attends.

Follow these tips and you will be able to plan for and execute an amazing kid-friendly wedding on a budget. Everyone will enjoy the thoughtfulness that goes into planning such a wedding and they will likely talk about it for a long time to come. Plan well in advance so you can get the best outcome and have something for everyone!

Filed Under: Home and Living, Money and Finances

4 Steps to Make a Move Smoother for You and Your Kids

April 21, 2022 | Leave a Comment

Gone are the days when people lived all their lives in the same small community in which they grew up. Now, people move frequently and across vast distances. On average, Americans move 11 times in their lifetimes. I’ve moved many times, the most recent a 2000-mile move occurring nearly eight years ago. My husband and I are preparing to move our family again, but this time we’ll utilize four steps to make the move smoother for us and our kids.

Find a Realtor Before You Move

If you plan to buy a house in your new locale, find a realtor before you move. When we moved cross-country, we found a realtor and worked with her long-distance. She was essential in helping us understand the lay of the land and what suburbs would be the best fit for our family.

Visit Before You Move

I highly recommend visiting the new area before you move. My husband and I did this about two months before we moved. He was able to meet and talk with his new co-workers. We also were able to meet with the realtor and see potential houses. Though we didn’t buy a house at that time, the realtor had a much better idea of what house layout we were looking for, and we were able to narrow down the specific neighborhood we wanted to live in.

Once we moved, we bought a house and were able to move in within a month.

Research, Research, Research Before You Go

When we moved previously, I put a lot of time and energy into finding a house but nothing else. However, as we prepare to move again eight years later, I am still researching homes, but I’m also researching more.

Now, I’m researching potential dentists, orthodontists, doctors, and extracurricular activities for my kids. When we move, we want to be able to get started immediately with our new life in a new location. Last time we moved, finding these services took a few months. This time, because I’ve done the research ahead of time, I’m hoping that we’ll be able to jump right into our new life. I would like to have the kids enrolled in their extracurriculars within the first few weeks of relocating.

Join Local Facebook Groups

Steps to Make a Move Smoother for You and Your Kids

Finally, before you move, join local Facebook groups in the new area to ask questions and get a feel for the community.

We homeschool, so I’ve joined several homeschool groups. I ask about homeschool co-ops and available activities, what suburbs people prefer to live in, etc. When we move, the kids will already have groups they can join.

I’ve also joined some mom groups specific to the area.

Another fun group to join is a bucket list or scenic group for the area. You’ll learn about the best places to visit, hike, and explore in your new state.

Final Thoughts

Moving to a new location can be exciting and nerve-wracking. Reduce your nervousness by taking these steps to make a move smoother for you and your kids. In no time, you’ll fit into your new location, and it will feel like home.

Read More

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Things to Consider Before Moving

Can You Homeschool and Work from Home?

Melissa Batai
Melissa Batai

Melissa is a writer and virtual assistant. She earned her Master’s from Southern Illinois University, and her Bachelor’s in English from the University of Michigan. When she’s not working, you can find her homeschooling her kids, reading a good book, or cooking. She resides in Arizona where she dislikes the summer heat but loves the natural beauty of the area.

Filed Under: Family Time, Home and Living, Money and Finances, Parenting Tagged With: buying a house, Moving, relocating

How to Prepare your Child for the Audiologist

April 21, 2022 | Leave a Comment

With approximately two to three out of every 1,000 children in America born with a detectable degree of hearing loss in either one or both ears, it’s important to know the details of how to prepare your child for a visit to the audiologist if they have hearing problems. Here are some ways to do this and have a safe and fruitful visit.

Do Some Practice Wearing Headphones

One of the things you can do is to have your child practice wearing headphones and earphones or even earbuds. If you want, you can play some music on them, but make sure that it’s not too loud. Since they will need to wear headphones and listen to sounds at some point when they’re at the audiologist’s office, it’s good to make sure that they’re comfortable doing so. Inform them that this is one of the activities that will take place at the audiologist’s so that they don’t have a reason to get scared and feel like everything that will happen is unfamiliar and foreign to them.

Let Them Know What’s in Store

As mentioned, it’s good to give them an idea of what to expect. Don’t just stop at practicing with earphones, however, but take it a step further. Look online to see the different tests that will be conducted, or, if possible, call the audiologist you plan to visit and ask them for a rundown of what to expect during the visit. Share this information with your child in a way that’s easy for them to understand and that won’t leave them feeling apprehensive.

Doing this will take the unfamiliarity out of the process for your child, at least to some extent, and have them go smoothly through the process. With almost 16% of adults in the United States reporting that they have trouble hearing, you could ask around in your circles to find out if there’s anyone with first-hand experience with an audiologist. If possible, invite them over to give your child a first-hand account of the events to expect.

Try to Desensitize Their Ears

If your child’s ears are sensitive and not used to being touched when they visit the audiologist, they’re likely to have a hard time. When you know that you need to take them to the audiologist, therefore, try to gently desensitize their ears as early as possible. Get them used to having their ears touched and it will be easier for everyone when it’s finally time for the examination. Play pretend ear doctor with them and take turns examining each other’s ears, involving anyone else in the family who wants to get involved. This will help take the edge off the experience for your child when it’s finally time for the actual visit.

Stay Calm and Reassure Them

Finally, your child will be looking to you for comfort and reassurance, so put aside any anxiety you may have and be strong for them. Showing courage at this time will help them stay calm throughout the process and the visit will likely be a successful one. To make sure you don’t have issues weighing down on you, prepare for the process yourself well in advance. Make sure that matters like payment and insurance are dealt with and won’t lead to undue stress at the last moment. With Medicaid meant to serve individuals with low incomes, it does have fairly strict eligibility requirements. Ensure that you meet them all if this will be your preferred method to pay and you will have fewer worries on the material day of the exam.

With these tips, you can prepare your child for their visit to the audiologist and have it go through without a hitch.

Filed Under: Money and Finances

Tips for Saving Money when Buying a New Home

April 13, 2022 | Leave a Comment

There are many reasons you may want a new home; your family is growing big, you want to move closer to your work, or you just need a change of scenery. Whatever the reason is, buying a new home can be an exciting process but, at the same time, a very costly one. If you are not financially ready, buying a home can put a huge dent in your savings account. However, with a few money-saving tips, you can still get the home of your dreams without breaking the bank. Here are some tips for you; [Read more…]

Filed Under: Money and Finances

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