Beating Broke

Personal Finance from the Broke Perspective

What Can I Do If I Can’t Afford Dental Work?

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It’s no secret that dental care can be very expensive. According to reports, almost 50% of American citizens don’t have dental insurance coverage. Without insurance coverage, paying for dental care outside of your budget can be difficult, but not impossible. Read on to learn how you can get dental care even though you can’t afford it.

Get Cleanings and Fillings at a Dental School

Is there a dental school somewhere in your area? If so, it’s a great resource for free or reduced-cost dental care. About 26% of American adults aged 20-44 have cavities that still need treatment, according to the CDC. If you’re currently dealing with tooth decay, going to your local dental school may enable you to get fillings for free. Before any dentist graduates, there are certain procedures they must demonstrate to their teachers.

Continue Wearing Your Retainers

Are you someone that’s dealing with misaligned or crooked teeth? If so, you’re not alone, since one out of three orthodontic patients are adults. Do you have a retainer from your last treatment? You should continue to wear it as it will keep your teeth in line. If you stop wearing your retainer too early after braces treatment, your teeth may shift back to their old position and require costly care again.

Use Credit

Credit cards aren’t just for shopping and taking vacations. You can also use credit to handle medical and dental care fees as well. Matter of fact, there is a credit line specifically for such scenarios known as Care Credit. Visit the Care Credit website and apply online. Once you’ve been approved, you can quickly use your credit line to pay for any dental or medical services. Even if you have dental insurance, you’ll still have to pay something out of pocket. Luckily, with Care Credit, you can pay for any coinsurance, copay, or office visits not covered by your regular plan.

Set Up a Payment Plan

Did you know it was possible to set up a payment plan for certain dental procedures? For example, if you’re going to your orthodontist for braces treatment, it can take as long as two years to complete. If making those payments out of your pocket is too much to do up front, work out something with your orthodontist for the lifespan of your treatment.

The type of payment plan you can use depends on the dentist that you’re going to. Some may have payment plans for a few months, or some may allow you to stretch out your payments until treatment is complete. If a dentist has a payment plan option, they often list it on their website. However, if you don’t see a payment plan option on the website, don’t be afraid to go in for a consultation anyway and see if there’s something you can work out.

Check Special Programs

Many programs are available to assist people with various needs. Did you serve your country as a veteran? If so, the first stop you should make is your local Veteran’s Association office. Depending on your status, you may be able to get full or partial coverage for your dental care. If you’re over the age of 65, Medicare has programs to assist seniors with medical and dental care needs. People with physical or mental disabilities should check their local and state programs for help.

One of the ways to practice good oral care is by seeing a dentist regularly. Unfortunately, your budget may not allow you to get the care you need when you need it. If you’re dealing with such a situation, there are ways you can work around the high cost of dental care. Use this list for some tips, so you can keep your teeth as healthy as possible.

4 Career Shifts You Can Make Without Paying for School

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Making money from a job you enjoy is important, but sometimes a career shift can result in having to learn new skills, experience, and theories related to the industry. It may also require enrolling in a college or school. The good news is there are career changes you can take on without having to go back to school and docking out cash for it.

1. IT Support and Security

IT support and security for companies are crucial jobs. When running a business, there is always documentation and private information that is stored in the system’s archives. If a company is hacked, they risk losing sensitive information, not just their own but also of their customers or clients. Phishing attacks, according to The Hill, have increased by 600% since the beginning of the pandemic.

Phishing scams often come in the form of emails or sms notifications. Usually, the attacker will send an email or other form of contact that appears to come from a legitimate company that you are familiar with. The message may prompt you to click a link that takes you to the scammer’s website, and it’s there where your personal details may be stolen, or they may ask you to give your social security number and other sensitive information.

According to more statistics and records, researchers believe that within the first half of 2019, data breaches exposed over 4 billion records of people. This is quite alarming, especially when information is held at various businesses like banks and other industries. Not to mention, many people have their details linked to online shops and social media networks.

A job in the IT industry may be a great career change, especially because many short courses are available online and via YouTube. Learning online may eliminate your having to go to school. You will always be needed to help businesses with various aspects of their online engagements.

2. A Plumber or HVAC Technician

Another good career that does not require going to school is getting into hands-on work like plumbing or specializing in AC and HVAC systems. HVAC systems are in high demand, especially because a furnace typically lasts only between 15 to 20 years. HVAC systems and furnaces also need to be serviced regularly. Regular service and maintenance will ensure the longevity of the system and its components.

Getting work in the plumbing and HVAC industry requires a lot of physical experience after training under another professional. You may need an apprenticeship, and some companies may offer this as part of their package if you remain employed a few years after completing the apprenticeship.

3. Landscaping and Gardening Services

If you love gardening and know more than the basics, then you may flourish in a career to do with landscaping and gardening service. You don’t have to go to school to learn, instead, you can make money in this career shift by training online and through YouTube videos. You may even choose to do a short-term course in this industry to help you improve even more. All this training without setting off to school again.

4. Become a Nanny

If you love working with children and enjoy helping parents who need someone to care for their children while they’re at work or out on date night, becoming a nanny might be your career choice. You don’t need further studies for this other than a certification in CPR and first aid.

Sometimes, the path in our lives changes, and we must adapt to the new venture, which may include changing careers. The good news is that you don’t need to break the bank to make a career shift.

How Can Starting a Rental Business Help You Out of Debt?

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Being in debt is one of the most overwhelming things to deal with. When most people are in debt, they only focus on how to repay it and not borrow more money for other projects. However, did you know that you could start a rental business to get out of debt? Debt shouldn’t prevent you from pursuing a venture that can streamline your finances. Although it’s challenging, it’s possible. Here’s how to start a rental business to get out of debt.

Identify Your Rental Business Niche

There are many rental businesses you can get into. The most important question is how profitable it’s likely to be. Ask yourself if the business can help you eliminate debt. Research the demand for whatever product you want to sell. For instance, the business of restroom rentals is one to consider as the need for portable restrooms keeps increasing.

With that said, you have to conduct market research. Where are these portable restrooms needed? They’re needed at weddings, corporate events, concerts, marathons, and much more! How many would one event need? According to the Knot, people are required to rent one bathroom stall for every 25 wedding guests. That means a wedding with about 200 guests would need 6 to 8 bathroom stalls. How do you plan to charge? For any rental business you opt for, ensure there is a need for it and that you can make a profit to help get out of debt.

Explore Your Finances

Starting a business requires capital. Unfortunately, this is tricky because you’re already in debt. The good news is that, with a good business plan, you can find a bank or investor that will give you the loan you need. For instance, your idea might be starting a car rental business. This business faces a lot of biases which can be a stumbling block in your pursuit of a loan. According to Drive Knowledge, every year, there are about six million car accidents in the U.S. That is such a huge number because your assets are at risk. An investor will want to know how you plan to protect yourself from such risks. You can do that through insurance coverage and being careful about the people you rent cars to. Give the bank or investor some confidence that their money is safe to increase your chances of getting the loan.

Choose a Location for Your Business

It’s important to find a location with a growing population and strong economy. How can you expect to make money if you don’t have customers? Plus, getting out of debt is impossible if you aren’t making profits. Take the example of starting a rental property business. Such a business can lead to positive cash flow, but only if you have customers to rent out to.

Check whether there’s demand for rental properties in the area where you want to start this business. For instance, the population of Birmingham City in Alabama is 192,557. In such a place, you can expect demand to be low, considering that real estate usually performs well in large cities with a growing population. With that said, the population may be low, but if the supply of rental properties is also low and the demand is high, your business can thrive.

Have a Debt Repayment Strategy

You’ll be expecting the rental business to generate income. This income is what should help you get out of debt. Create a debt repayment plan and stick to it. What percentage of your income will go towards repaying and reducing the debt over time? It can be 10 or 30%. Choose a reasonable figure that allows you to meet the other needs of the business and pay the debt at the same time.

If well managed, a rental business could be the solution to eliminating debt. You can get a steady source of income that can help you get out of debt gradually.