Search Results for: life insurance

Personal Finance Reassessment

October 16, 2012 By Shane Ede 6 Comments

Occasionally, there comes a time when you have to take a look at your personal finances and do a little personal finance reassessment. While the need may arise to do a complete overhaul once in a while, a simple reassessment can usually suffice. All it takes is a little attention, and some dedicated time to making sure that your finances are in order.

Recently, my wife and I were, more or less, forced to do a little personal finance reassessment. That’s such a nice, delicate way of saying it isn’t it? Truth be told, our finances were (are) in a mess. The ripples from when I quit my job last November are still plenty big, and the new job that I have seems to have come just in time to keep us from completely going under. Combine the drastic decrease in income that event brought about with a couple of people who remained stubborn in their budget, and it was a recipe for disaster.

Luckily, we’re usually pretty good at talking about money with each other. Don’t get me wrong. There’s plenty of room for improvement. But, we’re good about not getting into any heated arguments with each other, and being able to figure out where we’ve gone wrong and correcting it.

So, we sat down and caught up our dreadfully behind budget. And, let me stop here to say something. What kind of idiot doesn’t keep doing the budget when he quits his job and is making a fraction of what he used to? This guy. Dumb. So, yeah, we caught up the budget. About 6 months worth of financial data entry. Some by hand because our bank doesn’t keep history online over 90 days. So, one by one, directly from the statements I printed off. Did I mention how dumb that was?

In case you’re curious, catching up on about 6 months of budgeting takes about 6 hours. 6 HOURS! It’s done though.

One of the things that we discovered, after having done all of that, is that the reason that we were in the pickle that we were in wasn’t because of the loss of income, although that played a part, but more because of how badly we had slipped in the last few months with our spending. July and August in particular were well above what June was. In our defense, those are usually higher spend months because they’re usually the only real summer months we get up here in North Dakota, but it was still way off. And it cost us. The last several weeks have been pretty hairy, financially.

The scary part of all of that is that we haven’t had a bad financial situation like that for over 5 years. And, maybe, in that 5 years, we’ve become a little bit lax in our budgeting, and in our finances in general. No more. We’re taking the control back, and keeping our finances in order. Not doing so could mean disaster. It surely means stress, and that’s something we just don’t need.

During our little reassessment, there were several things that we picked up on. Like the fact that we didn’t have any life insurance on me. In my previous job, my employer kept a policy on me that would have been more than sufficient. For some reason, they decided to cancel that policy when I quit. 😉 So, we’re now budgeting for life insurance policies. Or, the fact that our spending on eating out and groceries had gone way up. A simple attitude adjustment helps with the eating out, and we’re going to start trying to use menu plans to keep our grocery bill down and to spread it out over the month. Another thing that seems to be part of the issue is the timing of some of our bills. Before, I made enough that it wasn’t an issue when the bills came due, we always had at least enough to make it to the next payday. Now, with my lower salary, it’s getting a bit tight right before the 15th (when my wife gets paid), and a few of the bills that come in right before the 15th are adding a little extra stress. I need to call a few of them and try to get them moved to a slightly later due date.

In the end, our personal finance reassessment came just in time. We kept a close enough watch on our finances to see the need arising, and were able to meet the need and keep things from getting any worse. Chalk it up to a lesson learned. The (almost) hard way.

When was the last time you had a personal finance reassessment?

img credit: Matt Mcgee, on Flickr

I Quit My Job: Where I Went Wrong

August 15, 2012 By Shane Ede 13 Comments

I tried, through my previous posts, to adequately cover the reasoning, and process, of quitting my job. One thing that I didn’t cover, however, was the mistakes I made along the way. I think that, partially, I couldn’t because I hadn’t had enough time to ruminate on them. I also think that I couldn’t because I didn’t want to expose my weaknesses. Now, I’ve had time to think about it, and I think I can easily identify the things that I would do differently should I have the opportunity to try again. Maybe they aren’t all mistakes (I don’t count some of them that way).

Quitting Your Job The Right Way

One of the biggest changes I would likely have made would have been to quit the right way. The decision I made, while necessary, was made quickly (over two days), and without much fore-planning. Part of the motivation was that I had wanted out of the job for quite some time. How much I wanted out wasn’t really clear until after I was out. In hindsight, I should have started making moves well before I did. Unfortunately, I was mired in the comfort of a position that I had held for over seven years. Lesson learned: comfort is nice, but freedom is nicer.

Have a Full Plan B

Because of the hastiness of my departure from my position, I didn’t have a full plan B. I had no idea where the money was coming from to even partially replace my income. What income I had wasn’t dependable. In a way, I was smart enough to at least get a part-time job. But, without a full plan B, I think it was likely doomed to fail.

Get After IT

This is probably the biggest mistake I made through the whole ordeal. I quit my job, without a plan B, and then didn’t get after it nearly as much as I could have. I wanted to focus entirely on my blogs and websites and grow them to at least a part-time income. I severely underestimated the time it would take to do so, and should have spread my roots a bit and taken on other small projects to fill in dead time, and especially, fill in dead income spots. Towards the end of this round of self-employment, I started to realize that I needed to pick up my game, but by then it was too little, too late.

Have an Exit Plan

Nobody likes to think that they are going to fail. Just like nobody likes to think that they are going to get into a car accident or die, but we still buy car insurance and life insurance anyways. While you can’t just go out and buy entrepreneurial failure insurance, you can have an exit plan so that you not only know when it’s time to move on to the next thing, but you also have a plan on how to get there. I had none of that. As a consequence, I probably waited several weeks too long to even begin looking for a new full-time job, and risked not getting something in time to fill in the income I needed when our savings was depleted. I got lucky. My first paycheck at my new position came only a few days after the last transfer from the savings account happened. Even so, we’re still struggling to keep up without that cushion that we had grown accustomed to.

I Would Do It All Over Again

Despite all those mistakes I made, I would still do it all over again. I know the mistakes I made, and am better able to prepare myself to not make them again. I’m not afraid of failing. At least not to such a degree that it prevents me from trying. It’s a little bit like riding a bike. You’re going to fall off. It’s going to hurt. But, you’re going to get back on the bike because you like riding your bike. I like riding the entrepreneurial bike!

img credit : Crystl, on Flickr

A Guide to Investing in Your Oral Health

December 3, 2025 By Erin H Leave a Comment

A healthy smile is about much more than looks. Strong teeth and gums support clear speech, comfortable chewing, and your overall confidence in daily life. When you treat dental care like an investment rather than a chore, it becomes easier to prioritize the habits and appointments that protect your long-term health and budget. Thinking in terms of prevention, planning, and smart treatment choices can help your oral health pay off for years.

Understanding Why Your Mouth Deserves a Plan

Many adults think of dental care only when something hurts, but trouble often starts long before pain shows up. Cavities, gum disease, and worn enamel can progress quietly, gradually undermining your teeth and increasing the cost of future care. According to Forbes, nearly nine out of ten adults in the United States age 20 and older have had at least one cavity, which shows how common preventable damage really is. When you recognize how widespread these issues are, it becomes easier to see regular dental care as a practical, necessary part of your overall health strategy.

Daily Habits That Protect Your Future Smile

The foundation of investing in your oral health starts at home. Brushing at least twice a day with fluoride toothpaste and flossing once a day removes plaque that would otherwise turn into tartar and create pockets for bacteria. Adding a fluoride mouth rinse, limiting sugary snacks, and drinking plenty of water can give your teeth even more protection. These daily habits cost very little compared to the expense of fillings, crowns, or gum treatments, and they help you make the most of any professional care you receive.

Making the Most of Professional Dental Visits

Seeing a dentist regularly is a key part of protecting your smile, even when you feel fine. Checkups allow your provider to spot early changes, from enamel wear to small cavities or gum inflammation, before they turn into painful or extensive problems. Professional cleanings remove hardened buildup that you cannot brush away at home and help your teeth look and feel better. According to IBISWorld, there were more than 181,000 dentist businesses operating in the United States in 2023, which means most people have access to multiple providers and can choose a practice that fits their budget, schedule, and comfort level.

Preventive Care as a Smart Money Decision

Preventive treatments may seem small, but they can save significant time and money over the years. Fluoride applications, sealants on back teeth, and periodontal maintenance for gum health are designed to reduce the risk of more serious issues in the future. When problems are caught early in routine exams, they can often be managed with simpler, less invasive procedures. This approach helps you avoid emergency visits, extensive restorations, or even tooth loss, which can be far more costly both financially and emotionally.

How Restorative Treatments Support Long-Term Health

Even with good habits and regular checkups, many people eventually need restorative work such as fillings, crowns, or bridges. These treatments are more than cosmetic; they restore function, protect weakened teeth, and keep your bite balanced. According to MedlinePlus, dental crowns typically remain effective for at least five years and often last 15 to 20 years or longer, which shows how restorative care can be a long-term investment rather than a short-lived fix. Choosing durable materials and following your dentist’s care instructions can help your restorations last as long as possible.

Planning for Costs and Staying Consistent

Because dental needs change over time, it helps to think ahead about costs and coverage. Reviewing your dental insurance benefits, setting aside funds in a health savings account or flexible spending account, or budgeting each month for routine care can make appointments easier to manage. Staying consistent with twice-yearly checkups, rather than skipping visits, allows you to spread costs out and avoid bigger surprises later. When you see dental care as a predictable, planned part of your health budget, it feels less like an emergency expense and more like a wise, ongoing investment.

Ultimately, investing in your oral health means looking beyond the next appointment and focusing on how your choices today shape your comfort and confidence in the future. Small steps, like maintaining strong home care habits, keeping up with preventive visits, and addressing problems early, can add up to fewer emergencies and more peace of mind. When you treat your teeth and gums with the same long-term attention you give to your finances or career, you set yourself up for a healthier, more comfortable life at every age.