tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-91838177903613343812024-03-19T00:20:12.191-04:00Living Frugally in the CityNew York is expensive, we hear that day in and day out. People live here on a range of salaries, what are some tips for living here without breaking the bank?Living in NYChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15668401267223384409noreply@blogger.comBlogger74125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9183817790361334381.post-52264525164020400642009-04-21T20:49:00.002-04:002009-04-21T20:52:52.720-04:00Long live the 2.9%Very slow reimbursement from both my insurance company and my FSA (because that's dependent on the former) and I was panicky because I definitely don't have $3,800. Enter the 2.9% that US Bank is still offering. Whew. It's the same deal I got in August and didn't realise amid the credit crunch that it was still there. Saving my bacon. Yes there's the 3% fee, but that's better than the 14% I'd be paying in finance charges on AMEX so we're good.<div><br /></div><div>Now back to paying down, but April is way lost. </div>Living in NYChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15668401267223384409noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9183817790361334381.post-52660054124036568892009-04-13T21:47:00.003-04:002009-04-13T21:48:42.296-04:00Well April is a lost monthI've given it up for dead already. Between the <a href="http://frugalcity.blogspot.com/2009/04/3800-at-dentist.html">dental work</a>, and some good value shopping this weekend, it's a dead month. All necessities and setbacks are normal, but oy.Living in NYChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15668401267223384409noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9183817790361334381.post-72021750086255131272009-04-07T22:09:00.003-04:002009-04-07T22:14:11.969-04:00$3800+ at the dentistWhile I hope to get a chunk of that reimbursed through my dental insurance and some of the rest of it covered via my FSA, that still hurts.<div><br /></div><div>What I'm hoping for...</div><div>$1195 reimbursed from dental insurance</div><div>$1979.28 to drain my FSA (damn, should have contributed more.)</div><div><br /></div><div>Leaves me to cover: $625.72</div><div><br /></div><div>I hope, if it all works that well.</div><div>I'm so done with all major dental work this year.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span></div>Living in NYChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15668401267223384409noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9183817790361334381.post-69452842278858427372009-04-02T21:37:00.002-04:002009-04-02T21:39:53.511-04:001.34 %Amazing how such a simple net worth increase can make me happy<div><br /></div><div>0.86% increase in assets. -0.87% decrease in debt. Don't think I could have made a better balance. </div><div><br /></div><div>Could have been so much better had this not been such a bad spending month. </div>Living in NYChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15668401267223384409noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9183817790361334381.post-36026354660775406822009-03-24T21:18:00.004-04:002009-03-24T21:23:10.729-04:00Groceries:Redux: Your GrocerAs I said in the <a href="http://frugalcity.blogspot.com/2009/03/what-gets-me-is-cost-of-groceries.html">last post</a>, the cost of groceries is a challenge. There's the temptation/draw of bulk purchases but the question of whether it truly is cheaper and then the efforts required to get the purchases home. I was looking through the <a href="http://www.valpak.com/coupons/home;jsessionid=FB786E20404EFDF136E4014F0DE5A7D2">Valpak coupons</a> that we get periodically in the mail and I came across one for <a href="http://yourgrocer.com/st_main.asp">Your Grocer</a>.<div><br /></div><div>I was intrigued by the option of a no-cost warehouse and the fact that they deliver. However when I looked at a smattering of prices, they don't appear competitive despite the "savings" they claim. Just shows you really need to know prices, I suppose. Sure, <a href="http://yourgrocer.com/Product-C2-P4913.html">it's cheaper</a> than buying a 20oz every morning at the convenient store, but it's not as well priced as the grocery store and it doesn't appear possible to use coupons. </div><div><br /></div><div>Suppose it's back to the drawing board.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span></div>Living in NYChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15668401267223384409noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9183817790361334381.post-45137948488781226182009-03-15T15:02:00.002-04:002009-03-15T15:11:54.450-04:00what gets me is the cost of groceriesor at least that's what's hitting me this week. I went into Key Foods, one of my local grocery stored and was very excited to see <a href="http://www.nabiscoworld.com/100caloriepacks/">Nabisco 100 calorie packs</a> on sale 2/$6 and I nearly bought them. I called mom from the store to see if she'd ever tried a certain one -- and she told me she'd just bought them at 2/$4! So I didn't buy them.<div><br /></div><div>I'm a big coupon clipper -- and because enough people I know get the Sunday paper(s) and aren't coupon clippers - I don't have to buy them. I use them, but sometimes I think I'm blowing into a hurricane! It's like the breakfast bars I like -- usually $3.99 at Duane Reade but they're almost always 2.50 or less by Mom or at Wal-Mart so even when I have a $1 off, it's still not competitive. I need to get better about monthly or at least bi-monthly <a href="http://frugalcity.blogspot.com/search/label/walmart">trips to Wal-Mart</a> -- $$ goes further even when you factor in the $6RT bus fare to Secaucus. </div><div><br /></div><div>I also need to look more closely at Drugstore.com for things that may be cheaper on there -- even when I can't use coupons. I think, however, it's a lot like Amazon in that it encourages overspending so we'll see. </div><div><br /></div><div>I'm going to make progress -- but this month isn't it.</div>Living in NYChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15668401267223384409noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9183817790361334381.post-10462714884530794892009-03-14T21:07:00.003-04:002009-03-14T21:15:27.598-04:00Quick Post: Cost of LivingFound this very interesting <a href="http://www.bankrate.com/brm/movecalc.asp">cost of living calculator</a> via <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic; ">Get Rich Slowly's </span><a href="http://www.getrichslowly.org/blog/2009/03/14/kansas-or-bust-considering-cost-of-living/">recent post</a> about Osage County, Kansas - which interesting made me think of <a href="http://www.augustonbroadway.com/">a play </a>that someone just mentioned.<div><br /></div><div>I know New York is expensive, I know Manhattan is the worst, but I never realised how negatively it compared with other metro areas until a friend in Los Angeles was talking about buying a home and I realised what was available there.</div><div><br /></div><div>I'd have a hard time leaving, but sometimes it's amazing to realise how much we over pay to live here. </div>Living in NYChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15668401267223384409noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9183817790361334381.post-81999067254150059852009-03-12T21:18:00.004-04:002009-03-12T21:30:59.817-04:00Student Loan Payoff<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSYJknzFAPPpJnbmCClHSt1wSd9AaFxT5m8k7rONRkkI25PMLxpVv6tftQA7DYM9w7843RYDMYq0TkbVFZPS3g-4pNehTTEAuER_cScWznLOujgpGlJuC_uQAyhW4JpLfObW8L243AWD8i/s1600-h/loan+recalc.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 366px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSYJknzFAPPpJnbmCClHSt1wSd9AaFxT5m8k7rONRkkI25PMLxpVv6tftQA7DYM9w7843RYDMYq0TkbVFZPS3g-4pNehTTEAuER_cScWznLOujgpGlJuC_uQAyhW4JpLfObW8L243AWD8i/s400/loan+recalc.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5312478291069439330" /></a>Specifically the savings and the new end date. I know the "real savings" is a crap shoot due to inflation but that's a sizable chunk of interest saved and a time cut off. It's not precise. My overpayment amount could change, but it's nice to know there's progress to be paid.<div><br /></div><div>There's a light at the end of the tunnel and it's not a train!<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span><br />as a follow up to<a href="http://frugalcity.blogspot.com/2009/01/death-by-interest.html"> this post</a>, I've been digging into how I can make that look less miserable. I found <a href="http://www.drcalculator.com/mortgage/">Karl's Mortgage Calculator</a>, which was recommended somewhere. I put in the numbers I've been using and got the following:<div><br /></div></div>Living in NYChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15668401267223384409noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9183817790361334381.post-68800048219840411682009-03-07T23:48:00.003-05:002009-03-07T23:51:50.549-05:00Fiscal and Physical Diet Starting NowBoth going well-ish. Been bringing lunch more often than not, although having a tooth removed also helped with that. Spring weather helps with the physical diet as I walk more, but then spring brings a more active social calendar, which, of late, have been somewhat pricey days. Am sure that will balance out in the end. <div><br /></div><div>For now, all of my tax refund is in my savings account earning ~ 3% APY. Not perfect, but better than the market crap shoot while I decide what I want to do with it. </div><div><br /></div><div>Made an odd cc payment today that should take me below the next 1K milestone. While I know it's all processed automagically and no one notices/cares what the amounts are, I find myself wondering if they think there's anything odd about amounts paid month to month.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span></div>Living in NYChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15668401267223384409noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9183817790361334381.post-23264025512184150792009-03-02T20:51:00.004-05:002009-03-02T20:58:57.888-05:00Feb 2009 Spending<div>A good and bad month... </div><div><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCkgwcD3aukEhfpQLvy9kkZvCNNo1m1Lz0J49-ggdR5G4PQOXHXiAHuZnKE0G7fFJYiKfxnEtSRRyTEHJdW7qiy2oXln_e_zneCSDv6t4A1pkInbzpVPh86ifgsOyhhzHOianE1CnhJkc6/s1600-h/feb+2009+budget.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 288px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCkgwcD3aukEhfpQLvy9kkZvCNNo1m1Lz0J49-ggdR5G4PQOXHXiAHuZnKE0G7fFJYiKfxnEtSRRyTEHJdW7qiy2oXln_e_zneCSDv6t4A1pkInbzpVPh86ifgsOyhhzHOianE1CnhJkc6/s400/feb+2009+budget.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5308774389301665058" /></a>Fast food is high because it's how I filed most Hawaii meals when I got sandwich, etc. to go. Student loan is truly $500, just last payment didn't hit yet. Restaurants higher than the were shaping to be -- a night out Saturday. Need to learn to account for credit card payments that aren't double -- i.e. accounts I'm paying down. Not sure how to do that, but I'll figure it out.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>Living in NYChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15668401267223384409noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9183817790361334381.post-29760290016050887622009-03-02T20:43:00.004-05:002009-03-02T20:49:31.047-05:00February Net Worthis <a href="https://www.networthiq.com/people/frugalcity/2009/02">posted here</a>. Not great, but not as bad as it looks. The tax refund helps, but the pending reimbursement for my dental work means the dental work is showing on my credit card balance because the one check I've received has not posted and I'm expecting a mid-month direct deposit of the rest, which means the dental work will be paid off before the bill is due. But in the mean time, they show in my credit card balances. I suppose it will balance out because my dental work Wednesday will then be on the card until I get reimbursed. Insurance reasonably speedy so I can't complain, too much.<div><br /></div><div>Now that my paycheck has been right I can see the difference in my FSA. Last year's election: 200, this year's, 3000. Total difference in 2x/month paycheck? $50 or $1200/year. I think that works out well in my favor. It also makes paying for the dental work far less painful. Further, the fact that I'll use the bulk of my FSA combined with my 2K dental insurance limit on dental work scares me. </div>Living in NYChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15668401267223384409noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9183817790361334381.post-78688974004247391202009-02-28T17:35:00.004-05:002009-02-28T17:40:45.039-05:00A good coupon day...$6.75 saved at Rite-Aid - $3 on mouthwash, $.75 on toilet paper and $3 rebate<div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">Total Spent</span>: $12.72</div><div><br /></div><div>$6.58 saved at Duane Reade - $4.58 on shampoo (Pantene on sale 2/$7 and coupon or $1 off 2 expiring today), $2 on razors. Plus 25 bonus points in addition to the 15 earned on purchases.</div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">Total Spent</span>: 13.22</div><div><br /></div><div>All stuff I needed and on sale/with coupons. Of course I'm headed out to dinner so today won't be a total win financially, but better than nothing :)</div><div><br /></div><div>That said, hate Rite Aid's rebates. I don't like the store and the rebate is such that it can only be used in store rather than Walgreens where you have the choice of cash or store credit, which comes with 10% bonus. My local Rite Aid is skeevy, skimpy stock and generally out of the way, but I had to go there to use the $3 rebate.</div><div><br /></div><div>Good month cash wise, more to come on that in the next post once some pending transactions clear. </div>Living in NYChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15668401267223384409noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9183817790361334381.post-65388989187479302892009-02-15T14:34:00.003-05:002009-02-15T14:36:38.426-05:00Atypical way of beginning fiscal diet...Leaving gym and stopped at Hallmark (half-price Valentine card) and when I went to pay (and debated putting $2.81 on credit for points or just paying cash) I realised I didn't have my wallet. After a momentary freak-out I realised it was probably in my coat from last night. I got home, and it was indeed, but now the "need" to stop at Subway is aside for the moment. We'll see how long it lasts.<div><br /></div><div>Calories burned: 350 with 33 min on rower and 15 on Precor. </div><div>$ spent: 0</div>Living in NYChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15668401267223384409noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9183817790361334381.post-66312945713657423052009-02-14T21:17:00.002-05:002009-02-14T21:27:01.303-05:00Fiscal and FInancial Diet Starting Now<div>While I'm actually semi-OK with the state of the emergency fund, I want to get more aggressive with paying down debt. I'm not OK at all with the state of my waist and I'm vowing to do something about that. Starting now.</div><div><br /></div><div>I won't post the amount of my waist goal, but I will do for the fiscal budget when I crunch some more numbers. I swear that's all I've been doing in the last month as I was calculating watching refunds owed by my FSA. Ick. I really want to boost the emergency fund. I'm not worried about my job per se, but with the state of the economy, I'd rather have a bigger emergency fund since my consumer debt is 2.9% and 3.9% for life. I'm making above-the-minimum there because I want to retire them, but I think I need to snowball if I want them gone. </div><div><br /></div>Taxes are done and with my refund I'm going to replenish a recent loss on my emergency fund stemming from emergency car repairs, put a little more in savings, and then put the rest in my Roth IRA. Yes, refunds are bad, I get that, but I really am bad about calculating withholding especially as it relates to student loan interest, etc. That said, my refund isn't large enough to retire a significant enough portion of the above-mentioned consumer debt, and I don't want to pay it on student loans in the event that something happens and I need it. <div><br /></div><div>So stay tuned... Hopefully.</div>Living in NYChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15668401267223384409noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9183817790361334381.post-74948110437979217822009-01-29T21:23:00.004-05:002009-01-29T21:33:32.505-05:00Death by interest<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi514g0bAX0T6jI6bCmXPHQcupMD7VWrL3Ede6RMgXaFOzBF6J83yqB5LERMwSraWLyNpxywvS9Hp89p8gBCSLJHj3zvpI6TRW-6ec4uK7la5IqFqfnLEN9koJY-Suqh06VfvAb3sQQD0VW/s1600-h/student+loan+death+by+interest.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 83px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi514g0bAX0T6jI6bCmXPHQcupMD7VWrL3Ede6RMgXaFOzBF6J83yqB5LERMwSraWLyNpxywvS9Hp89p8gBCSLJHj3zvpI6TRW-6ec4uK7la5IqFqfnLEN9koJY-Suqh06VfvAb3sQQD0VW/s400/student+loan+death+by+interest.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5296907939568120642" /></a><br />No doubt an awful title due to some people's financial situation causing them to think death is preferable but seeing how much of my payment goes right to interest hurts. I'd never be making any headway if I was only making the minimum, and I don't feel like I'm making much headway now!<div><br /></div><div>The 11/20, 12/16 and 1/27 payments are all extra payments. I'm still trying to figure out whether immediately after or immediately before the full payment posts is the best timing of an extra payment to have it hit principal the most (I don't have the option to apply it right to principal).</div><div><br /></div><div>Total due: $60,149.28 as a pay-off amount. It's better than the 60,351 that was my pay-off amount at the end of December, but still. And no, I don't think I'm actually going to pay it off, but I use that in tracking Net Worth. </div><div><br /></div><div>And yet I'm considering going back to school in 2010!</div>Living in NYChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15668401267223384409noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9183817790361334381.post-9050871732827622982009-01-10T17:10:00.002-05:002009-01-10T17:15:08.834-05:0083 cents!Got a letter today from Direct Loans and I was surprised, wasn't expecting any notification re: my consolidated loan. It was notifying me of a change in my payment amount. Previous payment was $382.84 and now it's $382.01 Whee, 83 cents.<div><br /></div><div>It's fairly irrelevant for me, I always pay at least $450 and try to pay closer to $500 but it's good to know what "catch-up" I have to make in order to make it add to that amount. I honestly wish they'd take the postage, printing and labor costs that it takes to send all these notifications and just subtract them from the cost of my loan. It's NUTS that they don't allow you to receive e-notifications if you're enrolled in automatic debit.</div><div><br /></div><div>On another note, sold back some books at Strand today and made $35. W00t!</div>Living in NYChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15668401267223384409noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9183817790361334381.post-58918649528532770782009-01-06T23:13:00.003-05:002009-01-06T23:18:00.900-05:00Fiscal and Physical DietsWell to be honest, neither is going that well.<div><br /></div><div>Had to buy lunch and dinner both days and went to a store because of an evil coupon *cough*Borders*cough* to buy things I didn't need but really really wanted. Books will always be my downfall. Oh well, there's always tomorrow.</div>Living in NYChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15668401267223384409noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9183817790361334381.post-88407557787582204242009-01-04T15:19:00.002-05:002009-01-04T15:24:43.242-05:00Emergency FundAt the time of writing, my emergency fund (in a Citibank Ultimate Savings Account, so fully liquid and accessible) is just north of $7k at $7,013. That's approximately an $1K increase in <a href="http://frugalcity.blogspot.com/search/label/emergency%20fund">six weeks</a>. While I think that's a good amount, it's well less than the recommended, which is keeping me from using that to pay down debt. On many levels, it doesn't make sense to do so -- credit cards are 2.9% and 3.9% respectively for life. Student loan is higher but it doesn't make sense to pay that down more than the ~$100 over the set payment I'm making already I don't think. <div><br /></div><div>That said, I couldn't pay myself first out of the last paycheck (expected due to holiday spending) and I'm not sure what the 1/15 check will look like with the change in FSA contributions. We'll see. We'll see. </div><div><br /></div>Living in NYChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15668401267223384409noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9183817790361334381.post-66509535086670021692009-01-04T15:04:00.004-05:002009-01-04T15:16:47.385-05:00December 2008 Net WorthMy figures <a href="https://www.networthiq.com/people/frugalcity">are posted</a>.<div><br /></div><div>Not great, but about what I expected. Fiscal and physical diet have started and I'm trying my best to make a list of payoffs to make and prioritize. Tax refund will make a dent, but not sure yet a) the amount b) how I'll apply it.</div><div><br /></div><div>Here's to 2009 more in the black!</div>Living in NYChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15668401267223384409noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9183817790361334381.post-72414212353776823572008-12-28T23:40:00.002-05:002008-12-28T23:44:35.848-05:00Dental MaxAs <a href="http://frugalcity.blogspot.com/2008/12/back-on-track.html">I mentioned</a> a few weeks ago, I found some unspent dental monies and since I wasn't eligible for the rollover (have to have $799 or less in claims) I decided to spend it poste-haste. Or rather put in a claim since it had already been "spent" and paid on my AMEX in August. Very happy to log in and see that a check has been cut for $673, the remainder of my eligibility. <div><br /></div><div>Debating where to put that since the root canal itself is on a 2.9% for life, which I've been paying down. I guess per the snowball I should put it at the 3.9% one, but I don't religiously snowball, instead pay over the mininum on both. Thinking about being better at SNOWBALL for 2009, or better yet throwing this as an extra principle paydown on my student loan. Decisions, decisions...<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span></div>Living in NYChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15668401267223384409noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9183817790361334381.post-88649685715361895512008-12-28T15:41:00.002-05:002008-12-28T15:44:47.158-05:00Christmas on Credit...Yes, I used credit cards to pay for Christmas gifts this season. <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">However</span>, as soon as a payment scheduled for 1/08 posts to my Amazon Visa, Christmas will be paid off!<div><br /></div><div>I won't use cash -- I like the benefits of rewards and purchase protection, plus I don't like carrying a lot of cash. But I also will not have paid a cent of interest on Christmas. On the plus side, I also pre-emptively paid for Feb's flight to Oahu out of my Cancun funds, which I used less than one third.</div><div><br /></div><div>I think this is closing out 2008 on a good note. Happy Holidays!<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span></div>Living in NYChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15668401267223384409noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9183817790361334381.post-16899775780978964632008-12-18T20:41:00.003-05:002008-12-18T20:47:19.576-05:00Back on track...I think... Or at least back to actual time to read and post. I checked the balance of my dental claims and realized I had ~$600 unused that I can't roll over. Without any trouble, I was able to get the paperwork for an August root canal that I hadn't submitted because I was "saving" the insurance reimbursement for the planned crown. Since all will happen after January 1, this wasn't an issue. So this should be good. <div><br /></div><div>I have to turn in my FSA form tomorrow and I think I've decided the contribution amount. Or I thought I had until I started re-obsessing over it today. I have an idea that I should put in $3300 and somehow split the crown payments between the card connected with my FSA and my credit card. Therefore I can be reimbursed by insurance for some without fully burning through my FSA funds. I'm afraid to fund the FSA with the full estimated cost of three crowns in the event that it doesn't end up that hight -- but then on the other hand I know the odds of my escaping a year without some other dental treatment is slim to none.</div><div><br /></div><div>Decisions, Decisions....<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span></div>Living in NYChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15668401267223384409noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9183817790361334381.post-82607964126384256582008-12-12T23:58:00.002-05:002008-12-13T00:06:45.600-05:00I yucking ate my yeef...Which was essentially what I said a few years ago while undergoing root canal on a bottom molar. I have AWFUL teeth. Case in point, that root canal is currently being retreated along with one on an adjacent tooth. Not to be left out, the tooth on the other side also decided it needed a root canal. Needless to say I am far above the $800 max in claims to be eligible for the dental rollover. I thought I'd get one of the crowns started this year so had been saving the $850 I had left of the $2000 eligibility for that. That isn't going to happen so instead I'm getting statements of services rendered that I hadn't submitted to use up the difference.<div><br /></div><div>This was also exacerbated last week when the crown on the second molar from the right on the bottom broke while eating... an M&M. Perhaps that was my diet's way of telling me I shouldn't eat that. I got an emergency appointment earlier this week and a dentist reattached it. It lasted all of two days when, I think, the clamp from the root canal the specialist was finishing, knocked the crown off. Oops. So another appointment Tuesday. Because this crown broke as well as the one on the adjacent tooth (which had already broken twice before), I now know I need to get three crowns. Enter my excitement at <a href="http://frugalcity.blogspot.com/2008/12/fsa-open-enrollment.html">learning how I can use my FSA</a>. I'm going to use it to pay for the dental work that's over and above plan limits. </div><div><br /></div><div>Yes, I have $2k available in 2009 however crowns are covered at 50% out of network. I know the 30% "discount" in-network (although I looked at prices and it's not 30% because the out of network dentist is cheaper) and that it would then be covered at 60%, but I'm not changing dentists for the three teeth they're already working on. Maybe after the fact but I'm not changing mid procedure.</div><div><br /></div><div>You know, it's not NYC rent that's killing me so much as my teeth!<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span></div>Living in NYChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15668401267223384409noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9183817790361334381.post-51392050411324985562008-12-12T23:51:00.003-05:002008-12-12T23:58:19.921-05:00FSA Open EnrollmentYeah I've been bad, both posting and spending. Or bad about not spending. <div><br /></div><div>Cancun was fabulous and I actually came in way under budget there, which was good. Yay. Christmas shopping is over budget and I'm not done. Since I have extra in the "Cancun fund", I may put that money towards it since it's not earmarked for anything else. I also payed an extra $110+ toward the principle for my student loan, woohoo. Baby steps.</div><div><br /></div><div>We had a presentation this morning from our benefits reps and I found it to be worthwile. The main reason I haven't used up my FSA contributions is apparently that I didn't realise how it could be used i.e. co-pays and uncovered medical/dental expenses. So now that I know that, and I know what the dental bills I'm facing are (more on that in the next post), I think I've worked out how much I'm going to contribute. I found <a href="http://www.myshps.com/fsa/calculator.stm">this calculator</a> to be great for breakdown of what the tax savings, etc. will be.</div><div><br /></div><div>Plus they announced today the grace period until March 2009 to use 2008 monies, which makes me happy. I was not looking forward to stock piling OTC meds to use up the monies.</div>Living in NYChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15668401267223384409noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9183817790361334381.post-60693500815106303372008-11-29T23:42:00.003-05:002008-11-29T23:45:34.844-05:00Behaving on Amazon.comOne of Amazon's downsides is its "related items" function which encourages the shopper to spend more than s/he wanted to on stuff s/he didn't need. I'm proud to say I declined all the related items and checked out with only the thing I intended to buy. Said item was $10 cheaper than it had been on Amazon earlier this week and cheaper than at any reputable online dealer, including B&N with my member discount there.<div><br /></div><div>Sweet small victories.</div><div><br /></div><div>Remaining to purchase:</div><div>Mom</div><div>Friend</div><div>Grandma</div><div>Brother's Girlfriend</div><div><br /></div><div>Taken care of:</div><div>2 friends</div><div>Brother</div><div><br /></div><div>Total: $90</div>Living in NYChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15668401267223384409noreply@blogger.com0