So in my young life I have not had the pleasure of dealing with medical insurance a great deal. But in such a short time I feel like I have learned the hard way.
I consider insurance (along with an emergency fund) to be a foundational block of your financial picture. However, now I realize that it is not only important to HAVE inusrance, but you have to UNDERSTAND your insurance.
I knew I had dental so I scheduled an appointment. My insurance covers 100% of reasonable costs. I ended up learning the hard way that my insurance didn't cover the whole amount from this dentist and I ended up having to shell out some major money that I wasn't expecting.
If you have some type of medical appointment make sure you request for them to pre-qualify their expenses with your insurance company in advance. This is a must, especially if this is a new dentist or doctor you are going to.
Wednesday, August 29, 2007
Tuesday, August 28, 2007
I do love Vanilla Coke
For those who haven't heard (and yes I know most do not care) Vanilla Coke is back!
I am pumped about this and even more pumped that they have commemorated the return with a buy 1 vanilla coke get 1 free coupon!
Vanilla Coke Coupon
If drinking a vanilla coke brings back fond memories, now you can do it for free!
I am pumped about this and even more pumped that they have commemorated the return with a buy 1 vanilla coke get 1 free coupon!
Vanilla Coke Coupon
If drinking a vanilla coke brings back fond memories, now you can do it for free!
Monday, August 27, 2007
Watch out for Identity Theft
I used to not really take this idea seriously because I thought that it would not happen to me. I did not go to questionable websites nor did I give out my information to anyone that I didn't have 100% certainty what it was used for.
However, it is getting trickier and tricker to protect yourself from Identity Theft. For instance, I use paypal on a monthly basis but not a ton. I got this email a week ago saying that my account was frozen due to inactivity and needed to unfreeze my account. The e-mail looked EXACTLY like the paypal e-mails. Then when I clicked the link it took me to a site that had a web address that looked legitimate and had "paypal" in it somewhere. The page even looked exactly like the paypal website.
It asked me for my ss#, bank card #, and other things that paypal might normally ask for. Then I questioned what I was doing because I wanted to think twice before I put this information in. I hovered my mouse over the page to see where the links on the page would take me and came to find out there were no links at all on the page. The entire page was just paypal graphics.
On the page before they had me "log in," so I decided to click back and log in again but this time use an incorrect password. I came to find out that it still let me through. It was a scam.
I notified paypal immediately and change my password. I am thankful that I did not click submit and give out all my information.
Be on your guard against identity theft because it would be easy to fall in a trap if you are not careful. Matthew 10:16 actually tells us to be shrewed as snakes. Jesus was telling his disciples when sending them out to not be taken advantage of. I think this is still very insightful in today's age.
However, it is getting trickier and tricker to protect yourself from Identity Theft. For instance, I use paypal on a monthly basis but not a ton. I got this email a week ago saying that my account was frozen due to inactivity and needed to unfreeze my account. The e-mail looked EXACTLY like the paypal e-mails. Then when I clicked the link it took me to a site that had a web address that looked legitimate and had "paypal" in it somewhere. The page even looked exactly like the paypal website.
It asked me for my ss#, bank card #, and other things that paypal might normally ask for. Then I questioned what I was doing because I wanted to think twice before I put this information in. I hovered my mouse over the page to see where the links on the page would take me and came to find out there were no links at all on the page. The entire page was just paypal graphics.
On the page before they had me "log in," so I decided to click back and log in again but this time use an incorrect password. I came to find out that it still let me through. It was a scam.
I notified paypal immediately and change my password. I am thankful that I did not click submit and give out all my information.
Be on your guard against identity theft because it would be easy to fall in a trap if you are not careful. Matthew 10:16 actually tells us to be shrewed as snakes. Jesus was telling his disciples when sending them out to not be taken advantage of. I think this is still very insightful in today's age.
Friday, August 24, 2007
Is Christmas time here yet?
No, it is not...but it will be.
I love Christmas time; not only is it a cool time to remember Jesus but just to be completely honest I get really excited about getting presents (and giving). Don't get me wrong the Lord and Savior of all creation should be #1 on the list and He is, but that is everyday. On Christmas the only thing that changes is I get presents and I am okay with that.
I think Michael Scott said it best "Christmas is awesome. First of all, you get to spend time with people you love. Secondly, you can get drunk and no one can say anything. Third, you give presents. What's better than giving presents? And fourth, getting presents. So, four things. Not bad for one day. It's really the greatest day of all time."
It quite possibly could be the greatest day of all time, Michael. If you are like me, you like to go all out. And afterwards you end up feeling a lot of pain in your bank account right afterwards. I never want to go through that and do not want you to go through that ever again. The simple solution is this:
Christmas is 129 days away. Right now figure out how much you are going to spend on presents...it's really easy to do just try it. Then put it in your monthly budget and plan for it, in fact if you put it in an www.ingdirect.com account you could get 4.5% interest until you spend it.
Christmas is not an EMERGENCY. It comes the same time every year. Can you imagine how great it would be to get to enjoy all the great things that come with Christmas AND to not have buyers remorse!
I love Christmas time; not only is it a cool time to remember Jesus but just to be completely honest I get really excited about getting presents (and giving). Don't get me wrong the Lord and Savior of all creation should be #1 on the list and He is, but that is everyday. On Christmas the only thing that changes is I get presents and I am okay with that.
I think Michael Scott said it best "Christmas is awesome. First of all, you get to spend time with people you love. Secondly, you can get drunk and no one can say anything. Third, you give presents. What's better than giving presents? And fourth, getting presents. So, four things. Not bad for one day. It's really the greatest day of all time."
It quite possibly could be the greatest day of all time, Michael. If you are like me, you like to go all out. And afterwards you end up feeling a lot of pain in your bank account right afterwards. I never want to go through that and do not want you to go through that ever again. The simple solution is this:
Christmas is 129 days away. Right now figure out how much you are going to spend on presents...it's really easy to do just try it. Then put it in your monthly budget and plan for it, in fact if you put it in an www.ingdirect.com account you could get 4.5% interest until you spend it.
Christmas is not an EMERGENCY. It comes the same time every year. Can you imagine how great it would be to get to enjoy all the great things that come with Christmas AND to not have buyers remorse!
Thursday, August 23, 2007
Learn the Magical Word
The great word that we as Americans need to tell ourselves is "NO!"
It may sound simple but it is so NECESSARY. It doesn't matter how much money you make you still need to tell yourself "NO." For whatever reason the trend is to always spend a little bit more than what your income is; it could be a $30,000 income, $300,000 income, or $3,000,000 income you still end up living paycheck to paycheck.
I was reading an article in ESPN the magazine I think like a year ago. And it had an article on John Daly and how he was in debt $4,000,000. He turned to casinos to try to keep his head above water and was running himself into the ground by trying to make it to so many appearances.
It doesn't matter how much your income is, you need to learn to tell yourself no. That is the toughest thing for me. If I want something (or talk myself into "needing" something) I want it right then; it is the mentality we all have in America. I want it right now, my way or I am pissed.
When I make a plan I need to stick to it, the next month I can make a new plan; I can figure into the new plan the thing I want (and it might take multiple months saving for it!!!!). It is so worth it; to be financially free allows you to live life the way Christ designed it (not in bondage). There is so many warnings throughout scripture; they are not there for show, its truth.
It may sound simple but it is so NECESSARY. It doesn't matter how much money you make you still need to tell yourself "NO." For whatever reason the trend is to always spend a little bit more than what your income is; it could be a $30,000 income, $300,000 income, or $3,000,000 income you still end up living paycheck to paycheck.
I was reading an article in ESPN the magazine I think like a year ago. And it had an article on John Daly and how he was in debt $4,000,000. He turned to casinos to try to keep his head above water and was running himself into the ground by trying to make it to so many appearances.
It doesn't matter how much your income is, you need to learn to tell yourself no. That is the toughest thing for me. If I want something (or talk myself into "needing" something) I want it right then; it is the mentality we all have in America. I want it right now, my way or I am pissed.
When I make a plan I need to stick to it, the next month I can make a new plan; I can figure into the new plan the thing I want (and it might take multiple months saving for it!!!!). It is so worth it; to be financially free allows you to live life the way Christ designed it (not in bondage). There is so many warnings throughout scripture; they are not there for show, its truth.
Wednesday, August 22, 2007
Free Chicken and a Coke!
http://www.freechickenandcoke.com/
By now you probably know that I love free stuff; what you might have no known is my extreme fondness of chick-fil-a chicken sandwiches. Every once in a while God allows us to get a glimpse of heaven by putting the two together.
If you go to that site and fill out your info they will mail you a coupon for a chicken sandwich and a coke. Enjoy!
By now you probably know that I love free stuff; what you might have no known is my extreme fondness of chick-fil-a chicken sandwiches. Every once in a while God allows us to get a glimpse of heaven by putting the two together.
If you go to that site and fill out your info they will mail you a coupon for a chicken sandwich and a coke. Enjoy!
Tuesday, August 21, 2007
Should I borrow from my parents?
I recently got an e-mail asking me if it was okay to accept a loan from this person's parents. This person believes it is okay and actually borrowed money on two occasions from family members and it worked out.
Check out my previous post to understand my point of view on borrowing money from family. Out of Bounds.
I thought he had a valid point that I wanted to address on the blog. I am glad that borrowing money from your family worked out. However, what I am still saying is truth and it's good advice. You can drive down the road 100 miles per hour and get where you are going in one peace; but that does not prove it was a good idea.
In most instances families can produce strain on those involved and usually will be followed by regret. The borrower is always slave to the lender (Proverbs 22:7) and Thanksgiving Dinner tastes different when you are eating with your master.
Check out my previous post to understand my point of view on borrowing money from family. Out of Bounds.
I thought he had a valid point that I wanted to address on the blog. I am glad that borrowing money from your family worked out. However, what I am still saying is truth and it's good advice. You can drive down the road 100 miles per hour and get where you are going in one peace; but that does not prove it was a good idea.
In most instances families can produce strain on those involved and usually will be followed by regret. The borrower is always slave to the lender (Proverbs 22:7) and Thanksgiving Dinner tastes different when you are eating with your master.
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