NashvilleDiva_83

Another thing...do not use your economic incentive pack for paying down debt. The reason that the government is sending this money out is for us to spend on consumer goods to help ward off a recession...which in my opinion with gas at $3.40 per gallon, we are already there. So...our job is to spend this money on the crap we don't need like TVs, video games, and purses. We are spending ours on an Xbox 360 for my stepson, with the remainder to go to a purse or something cool for the apartment. If everyone paid off debt with this money, which I admit is probably more financially sage, the whole purpose of the refund is defeated.

Just, don't sign a promissory note or anything. When you get the bill in just start sending them $5 at a time...if they have a problem with that, they will call you...to which is the point where you tell them you are in school and cannot afford to just pay them.

When I was in school, I had to have a root canal and did not have health insurance because I got married (not to my current husband) and was in school and so could not stay on my parents plan. After root canals, normally you have to have a crown. Well, I went to the endontist and they got me to get this credit card (CareCredit) where I had one year to pay off a $950 procedure. Not too bad, I could swing it...well then I found out that a crown was another $850 if you didn't have insurance.

I was sad, and I worked at the bank. A dentist was one of our daily customers and he asked me why I was down one day. I told him why and he was like...well...what can you afford? And so I told him $300-$400 was all...so...he did the crown for $350...and let me pay over seven months.

Ironically, my dad didn't give me the money for any of this, and I got it all paid off relatively quickly (one year) Even more ironic is the fact that my current husband mailed off my last payment late and I had to pay all the accrued interest (no interest if it was all paid in 12 months) which totalled something like $250...but at that point I was graduated and had a job and could "afford" it.

That said...don't stress about it. They won't put this on your credit report (I have never seen any medical bills on mine or my husband's and we have had plenty) unless they send you to collection and they cannot send you to collection without contacting you by mail or phone and really can't do anything if you are paying them some sort of payments.

Another thing...Dillard's gives their employees benefits at 32 hours (or at least they did when I worked there in 2003/2004) so if there is a Dillard's near you you may want to check in to it. Another thing...check with your car insurance company and see if they have health insurance as well. You guys need to have a major medical umbrella policy in case you get really bad injured. These usuallly have a high deductible (usually kick in after bills hit $10,000 or $25,000) This way if something catastrophic happens to you or your husband you at least have some sort of insurance and the good hospitals will be more likely to keep you as patients than just stabilize you and move you to the city hospital (eek).

I hope all works out for you. I hate the medical field and how they exploit people who do not have insurance. It's amazing to see my EOB's come in...the insurance company knocks usually around 40-50% off the top of what the hospital can charge!

I'm also not telling you to not pay...I am simply advising you to take your time paying until you have a great full time job where you can afford an extra $100-$200 to knock this out.

__________________
Wish List: New Monogramoflauge Bag, LV Monogram Canvas Montorgueil GM, LV Multicolor Monogram Wallet, Coach Tote