Debt Dumpers - 2015

[crazycatstacy]

Does your employer off a Flexible Spending Account? It's when they take $ out of your pay pretax (up to $2500) and hold it in an account and you use that $ to pay for qualified medical & dental costs. If the dental work is not urgent and can wait til after Jan 1, it's a good tax savings. You can't apply 2016 FSA dollars to procedures with a 2015 date of service though.
Dh & I both had the max of $2500 done for when both kids went into braces at the same time. They give us a visa card to make it easy and all of the $ is available to be used on Jan 1 which made it very convenient for us. We didn't have to scramble for the $3000 down payment.

I know that I had the option of the FSA or HSA at my place of work. I chose the HSA because of the carry-over. It really depends on what/how you expect to have medical bills. If you know that you will need a large lump-sum early in the year (like the dental work) the FSA might be better as you get access to all of your contributions on Jan 1. But, if you think/feel/believe that you won't need early-in-the-year access, the HSA might work better since any contributions you make to it can carry forward to future years, where the FSA has to be completely used (I think by March 31 of the following year, but I could be wrong).

The essential difference between the two as I understand them is that FSA gives immediate access but is "use it or lose it", while the HSA slowly builds a reserve that you can keep until it is used up - even into retirement.

On a completely unrelated note - for those with family members with fins, fangs, feathers, or fur PetCo is celebrating their 50th year and has some really good sales through Oct 10. $5 of purchases of $50 or $15 of $75, plus lots of things are 10% off (or better) and most dog and cat foods are offering a free bag of treats with a purchase of a bag of food. I just bought about 3 more months of food and treats and saved a touch over 20% total (and I didn't even get the treats for free - one of my girls can't handle glutens and the food I buy was not one of the qualifying bags for free treats. If it had qualified, I would have saved about 30%). Since it was stuff I knew I needed to buy anyway, I figured now was the time to buy it.

Just wanted to share for others.

I do have a flexible spending account. This will just be bonus money. My daughter is 20 and at about 16 I made her responsible for scheduling and getting to her own dental appts. She missed her one at 18 and then was completely irresponsible and didn't go back, despite my nagging, until this year. Of course because she hasn't gone in so long she needs tons done. My insurance year restarted in July so she got some done before then and some after. She is also employed and has her own dental insurance so that covers some as well. Of course I don't have to pay for it but I know how expensive it can be the longer it goes so we have agreed to pay this and nothing else. She will need to be responsible and go to her twice yearly cleanings

 

[mrsabbott]

Haven't posted in a bit.. been busy! DH's last few checks have been low so we are behind on paying some bills. We will pay them when we can pay them. It is what it is, you know? Mortgage and utilities come first. Then loans and insurance. Then groceries. Then credit cards. Some of our credit cards are late.. but what can you do? Looking forward to tax time so we can pay some things off and, hopefully, catch up. Christmas is going to be dismal this year, but that's okay.. We will manage. Besides, that isn't what the season is all about anyways.

On the bright side.. I am now working full time! I now have a retirement account and, since we already have health insurance, I get some sort of card with $1800 a year to spend towards health/dental costs. This is free for me! And it rolls over. AND.. our family will have dental insurance starting in November! Since I have four kids who will all need braces in the future, this is awesome! What insurance doesn't cover, the $1800 a year I get will pay for the rest! The down side is, more hours at work means increased childcare costs.. so I won't be bringing home much extra after insurance, retirement, and childcare costs come out of my check. But hey! It's still a good thing!!

 

[NinaBella]

Someone told me the other day that medical bills can not go into collections? Is this true? My 23 year old had a medical bill go into collections that is showing on his credit report. I just helped him open a Secured Credit Card in his name to help build credit. He is currently looking for a job. So for now, I have the credit card and plan to use it for gas only (in my car) and pay off the balance each month to help improve his credit.

 

[dayvewc]

Someone told me the other day that medical bills can not go into collections? Is this true? My 23 year old had a medical bill go into collections that is showing on his credit report. I just helped him open a Secured Credit Card in his name to help build credit. He is currently looking for a job. So for now, I have the credit card and plan to use it for gas only (in my car) and pay off the balance each month to help improve his credit.

Yes, medical bills can go into collections, though most doctors and other medical businesses that I have dealt with are really good about not sending things to collections as long as you are making payments. My sister had something similar happen, her husband had surgery and after the fact found out that the hospital/doctor were not in her insurance service network, so the insurance refused to pay anything and the hospital sent the bill to collections. That was the first I had ever heard of medical going to collections, but it CAN happen.

 

[dayvewc]

Ok, so I had some free time today. Actually, no I didn't, I just didn't want to do what I was supposed to at the time. So, since I had read that the Annual Pass program had changed a little bit, I went to the website to see what the changes were. Turns out, that the annual pass is a better deal now than before. With the new change, it includes all the pictures taken by PhotoPass Photographers, and they will stay in your account for 365 from the date they were taken. This is much much better (if you use it) than the 30 day limit currently with the Memory Maker program. And the MM costs $199 (for comparison purposes).

So, I made a quick spreadsheet that compared ticket cost per day with all the different possible options to the possible Annual Passes that are now available. If you are eligible for discounted AP's (like through DVC), then the number of days (in a single trip) before the AP is cheaper than buying a ticket - paying parking, adding on upgrades such as Park Hopping or Water Parks (or both), and the Memory Maker - is high-lighted in green.

If you aren't eligible for a discount, then the yellow highlights are for you. And there is even a length of ticket that becomes cheaper to have an AP even if you don't purchase the park hopper upcharge.

 

[bcwife76]

So we're back from our cruise/Disneyland trip! Good news: trip spending was pretty much exactly on par for what we budgeted! Good/bad news: we booked another cruise while onboard =0 but not sure we will keep the ressie. We booked Alaska for the last sailing in August 2016 but it's NOT cheap, even with the onboard booking discounts. Plus, we're not sure we're really 'cruise' people. But we both turn 40 next year and want to take a great trip to celebrate (that is also kid friendly because there is no one to leave our kids with for a week, boo). A bit better news: I went on the travel site I used to book our first cruise and found (not sure why, a fluke??) they are charging in CDN funds. All other sites (including Canadian travel sites) charge in US funds. So I don't know if this is a glitch or not. But the same cruise (same room category, etc) is $1300 LESS Canadian than what we would spend with the exchange rate. Yikes! Even without the $200OBC that's still $1100 cheaper! So I think I'll cancel with DCL and then it's time to poop or get off the pot - rebook with itravel2000 or choose another trip to do next year. You know, while still payin down our debt and paying the bills =0 but you only turn 40 once, right??? Yeah....I know.....

And no I haven't started writing my TR from our trip.

 

[DnA2010]

So we're back from our cruise/Disneyland trip! Good news: trip spending was pretty much exactly on par for what we budgeted! Good/bad news: we booked another cruise while onboard =0 but not sure we will keep the ressie. We booked Alaska for the last sailing in August 2016 but it's NOT cheap, even with the onboard booking discounts. Plus, we're not sure we're really 'cruise' people. But we both turn 40 next year and want to take a great trip to celebrate (that is also kid friendly because there is no one to leave our kids with for a week, boo). A bit better news: I went on the travel site I used to book our first cruise and found (not sure why, a fluke??) they are charging in CDN funds. All other sites (including Canadian travel sites) charge in US funds. So I don't know if this is a glitch or not. But the same cruise (same room category, etc) is $1300 LESS Canadian than what we would spend with the exchange rate. Yikes! Even without the $200OBC that's still $1100 cheaper! So I think I'll cancel with DCL and then it's time to poop or get off the pot - rebook with itravel2000 or choose another trip to do next year. You know, while still payin down our debt and paying the bills =0 but you only turn 40 once, right??? Yeah....I know.....

And no I haven't started writing my TR from our trip.

I've been following your plans a bit, can't wait to read your TR (from another BCer, and just had our first DCL cruise!) I am def going to check out itravel2000- thanks for the tip on the CAD!

 

[ruadisneyfan2]

So we're back from our cruise/Disneyland trip! Good news: trip spending was pretty much exactly on par for what we budgeted! Good/bad news: we booked another cruise while onboard =0 but not sure we will keep the ressie. We booked Alaska for the last sailing in August 2016 but it's NOT cheap, even with the onboard booking discounts. Plus, we're not sure we're really 'cruise' people. But we both turn 40 next year and want to take a great trip to celebrate (that is also kid friendly because there is no one to leave our kids with for a week, boo). A bit better news: I went on the travel site I used to book our first cruise and found (not sure why, a fluke??) they are charging in CDN funds. All other sites (including Canadian travel sites) charge in US funds. So I don't know if this is a glitch or not. But the same cruise (same room category, etc) is $1300 LESS Canadian than what we would spend with the exchange rate. Yikes! Even without the $200OBC that's still $1100 cheaper! So I think I'll cancel with DCL and then it's time to poop or get off the pot - rebook with itravel2000 or choose another trip to do next year. You know, while still payin down our debt and paying the bills =0 but you only turn 40 once, right??? Yeah....I know.....

And no I haven't started writing my TR from our trip.

Before you cancel your OBB, have the travel agency give you the full cost including all taxes and port fees. (Not including optional costs such as ground transfers, trip insurance, etc).
Generally TAs are not permitted to discount Disney cruises. Similar to how Kohl's can no longer accept coupons for Nike & Levi's products.
So just be sure you're comparing apples to apples. Usually an OBB is the best discount available. Some TAs share a portion of their commission with you in the form of an onboard credit. This would be in addition to the OBC that DCL gives for booking onboard.
When we sailed Alaska we had $1100 in OBCs for 2 cabins. Ahh the good ol days.
You can transfer your OBB to a TA within 30 days of original booking. Keep in mind that a TA's commission is cut by DCL for transfers so then their OBC is smaller as well.
Be prepared that Alaskan excursions aren't cheap. It's not like in the Caribbean where you can keep costs down with a quick cab to a beach. We easily spent almost the equivalent of a 7-nt cruise just on excursions. And that was with booking privately in advance and paying in full by the end of Feb for 20% off. To go through DCL we would have seen/done half of what we did.
It is amazing though and ds18 still ranks it as our best trip ever. Even after doing a Med cruise.

 

[Ava]

@dayvewc - Awesome chart! We stay on-site and don't drive while there, so the included parking isn't any benefit to us, but I just did some quick math and an AP would still be a good deal for us if we used it for at least 14 park days. The Memory Maker being included (and your photos being available for a full year instead of the usual 45 days) is a big perk to me since we always buy MM anyway. Not that we can go back for at least a couple years, but just thinking ahead. Two trips, 11 months apart, sounds like a good plan.

Yes, it really depends on your needs. From what I read about the HSA, at least at the hospital where I work, it was one of our options of health insurance plans. It provided minimal coverage but then puts $ into the HSA account to pay the OOP costs. With a family of 4 and a lot of sick visits/specialist visits, it felt like the $ amount wouldn't be nearly enough. It seemed to me that it was to encourage people to act as if they're spending their own dollars on health care instead of the guilt-free spending of the insurance company's dollars. I have a coworker who is single and loves her HSA and how it keeps building more money. Definitely a smart choice for singles who are relatively young & healthy.

We're a family of 4 and have an HSA, and I like it. I did the math at enrollment time last year and the yearly premium + deductible for the standard plan added up to significantly more than the yearly premium + deductible for the high-deductible plan. Choosing the HSA is somewhat of a gamble, but for my relatively healthy family I think it's a good bet. Even if we meet the deductible, which we haven't yet in the 3 years we've had a high-deductible plan, we'll end up paying less than what we'd pay just in premiums for the standard plan option. And my employer gives me $1,000 (broken up into quarterly installments) into my HSA if I choose the higher tier of our two HSA-eligible plan options, which is a nice incentive. I also like that all funds in the HSA (including that $1,000/year bonus from my employer) are mine to keep forever, even if I change jobs or retire.

PS - Medical bills CAN go into collections. I've had it happen to me.

 

[dayvewc]

@dayvewc - Awesome chart! We stay on-site and don't drive while there, so the included parking isn't any benefit to us, but I just did some quick math and an AP would still be a good deal for us if we used it for at least 14 park days. The Memory Maker being included (and your photos being available for a full year instead of the usual 45 days) is a big perk to me since we always buy MM anyway. Not that we can go back for at least a couple years, but just thinking ahead. Two trips, 11 months apart, sounds like a good plan.

Yeah, after I posted this, I got to thinking about the driving/parking and that not everyone will benefit with that saving. Most of my trips I stay off-site and drive, so having to pay parking is definitely something I have to consider. But most definitely what convinced me was the inclusion of the MM with the AP, with the pictures available for 365 days, and it starting the day you activate the pass it makes it worth the $199 MM package. And that adds up. Shoot, right now and for the next few years I'm able to squeeze in a week long trip for spring break or summer, and then a 4-day trip in November. Just the savings on MM is half the price of the Platinum Plus ticket.

 

[bcwife76]

Before you cancel your OBB, have the travel agency give you the full cost including all taxes and port fees. (Not including optional costs such as ground transfers, trip insurance, etc).
Generally TAs are not permitted to discount Disney cruises. Similar to how Kohl's can no longer accept coupons for Nike & Levi's products.
So just be sure you're comparing apples to apples. Usually an OBB is the best discount available. Some TAs share a portion of their commission with you in the form of an onboard credit. This would be in addition to the OBC that DCL gives for booking onboard.
When we sailed Alaska we had $1100 in OBCs for 2 cabins. Ahh the good ol days.
You can transfer your OBB to a TA within 30 days of original booking. Keep in mind that a TA's commission is cut by DCL for transfers so then their OBC is smaller as well.
Be prepared that Alaskan excursions aren't cheap. It's not like in the Caribbean where you can keep costs down with a quick cab to a beach. We easily spent almost the equivalent of a 7-nt cruise just on excursions. And that was with booking privately in advance and paying in full by the end of Feb for 20% off. To go through DCL we would have seen/done half of what we did.
It is amazing though and ds18 still ranks it as our best trip ever. Even after doing a Med cruise.

I agree, I'm not cancelling anything yet. Actually DH's company is currently in contract negotiations - there is a contract on the table that they will be voting on in the next week or two but until that contract passes and is ratified (I don't see that happening until the first week of November at the earliest) DH doesn't want to do anything about any trip. Contract negotiations make him nervous because the year he was hired, they went on strike one MONTH after he started (granted it lasted less than 48 hours). So I'm leaving our DCL booking as it, not touching it and we'll see. He'll also get some retro pay back to August 1 (when the current contract expired) but it won't amount to much ;-)

I've heard excursions are quite pricey for Alaska so I'm doing a ton of research on that as well.

 

[Angeejoe]

Ok, so I had some free time today. Actually, no I didn't, I just didn't want to do what I was supposed to at the time. So, since I had read that the Annual Pass program had changed a little bit, I went to the website to see what the changes were. Turns out, that the annual pass is a better deal now than before. With the new change, it includes all the pictures taken by PhotoPass Photographers, and they will stay in your account for 365 from the date they were taken. This is much much better (if you use it) than the 30 day limit currently with the Memory Maker program. And the MM costs $199 (for comparison purposes).

So, I made a quick spreadsheet that compared ticket cost per day with all the different possible options to the possible Annual Passes that are now available. If you are eligible for discounted AP's (like through DVC), then the number of days (in a single trip) before the AP is cheaper than buying a ticket - paying parking, adding on upgrades such as Park Hopping or Water Parks (or both), and the Memory Maker - is high-lighted in green.

If you aren't eligible for a discount, then the yellow highlights are for you. And there is even a length of ticket that becomes cheaper to have an AP even if you don't purchase the park hopper upcharge.


View attachment 127497

Awesome spread sheet, it's like you're a teacher or something....

So we're back from our cruise/Disneyland trip! Good news: trip spending was pretty much exactly on par for what we budgeted! Good/bad news: we booked another cruise while onboard =0 but not sure we will keep the ressie. We booked Alaska for the last sailing in August 2016 but it's NOT cheap, even with the onboard booking discounts. Plus, we're not sure we're really 'cruise' people. But we both turn 40 next year and want to take a great trip to celebrate (that is also kid friendly because there is no one to leave our kids with for a week, boo). A bit better news: I went on the travel site I used to book our first cruise and found (not sure why, a fluke??) they are charging in CDN funds. All other sites (including Canadian travel sites) charge in US funds. So I don't know if this is a glitch or not. But the same cruise (same room category, etc) is $1300 LESS Canadian than what we would spend with the exchange rate. Yikes! Even without the $200OBC that's still $1100 cheaper! So I think I'll cancel with DCL and then it's time to poop or get off the pot - rebook with itravel2000 or choose another trip to do next year. You know, while still payin down our debt and paying the bills =0 but you only turn 40 once, right??? Yeah....I know.....

And no I haven't started writing my TR from our trip.

Can't you just keep this as a placeholder cruise?

I am impatiently waiting on this TR...

 

[bcwife76]

Awesome spread sheet, it's like you're a teacher or something....



Can't you just keep this as a placeholder cruise?

I am impatiently waiting on this TR...

So it turns out Itravel2000 is not a deal, it should not have been quoted in CDN, the site has since reverted back to USD (knew it was too good to be true!) so thank goodness I didn't cancel our booking through DCL. It's either going to stay as is or stay as a placeholder but I am NOT letting that puppy go ;-)

And I PROMISE I will start my TR this weekend, it's a 3 day weekend here (Canadian Thanksgiving) so hubby will be home and I can foist the kids on him and start writing it!!!)

 

[Angeejoe]

So it turns out Itravel2000 is not a deal, it should not have been quoted in CDN, the site has since reverted back to USD (knew it was too good to be true!) so thank goodness I didn't cancel our booking through DCL. It's either going to stay as is or stay as a placeholder but I am NOT letting that puppy go ;-)

And I PROMISE I will start my TR this weekend, it's a 3 day weekend here (Canadian Thanksgiving) so hubby will be home and I can foist the kids on him and start writing it!!!)

Yea!!! I'm ready to read!!

 

[dayvewc]

Awesome spread sheet, it's like you're a teacher or something....

lol. I'm contemplating making it a shareable file that can be updated and personalized to different family needs and preferences.

That's my CDO kicking in. Just like OCD, but worse, CDO has the letters in alphabetical order.

 

[ruadisneyfan2]

lol. I'm contemplating making it a shareable file that can be updated and personalized to different family needs and preferences.

That's my CDO kicking in. Just like OCD, but worse, CDO has the letters in alphabetical order.

I think my dad has CDO.

 

[ruadisneyfan2]

Awesome spread sheet, it's like you're a teacher or something....

Can't you just keep this as a placeholder cruise?

I am impatiently waiting on this TR...

I was going to suggest this if the other site really was a great deal. Then I thought it might make you . Alaska plus a dummy date... omg. I've been avoiding the cruise boards but we'd always say it's nice to keep a dummy date in your back pocket 'just in case'.

 

[SirDuff]

Ok, so I had some free time today. Actually, no I didn't, I just didn't want to do what I was supposed to at the time. So, since I had read that the Annual Pass program had changed a little bit, I went to the website to see what the changes were. Turns out, that the annual pass is a better deal now than before. With the new change, it includes all the pictures taken by PhotoPass Photographers, and they will stay in your account for 365 from the date they were taken. This is much much better (if you use it) than the 30 day limit currently with the Memory Maker program. And the MM costs $199 (for comparison purposes).

So, I made a quick spreadsheet that compared ticket cost per day with all the different possible options to the possible Annual Passes that are now available. If you are eligible for discounted AP's (like through DVC), then the number of days (in a single trip) before the AP is cheaper than buying a ticket - paying parking, adding on upgrades such as Park Hopping or Water Parks (or both), and the Memory Maker - is high-lighted in green.

If you aren't eligible for a discount, then the yellow highlights are for you. And there is even a length of ticket that becomes cheaper to have an AP even if you don't purchase the park hopper upcharge.


View attachment 127497

Great spreadsheet - if you are a single traveler. Otherwise, you are adding the cost of MM to every person, while in reality (without the AP), you'd only be buying on MM. So many combinations and permutations for different families/people. It does seem that a solo traveler will do better (in most cases) with the change (assuming that they'd get the MM anyway).

 

[dayvewc]

Great spreadsheet - if you are a single traveler. Otherwise, you are adding the cost of MM to every person, while in reality (without the AP), you'd only be buying on MM. So many combinations and permutations for different families/people. It does seem that a solo traveler will do better (in most cases) with the change (assuming that they'd get the MM anyway).

True. I made the spreadsheet for me to see if the new AP would be a better deal than buying tickets. Was pretty sure it would be, based on what I'm able to travel currently, I just wanted to see how much of a good deal it was. Under the old AP it only really became a better deal 2-3 years later getting the discounted renewal rates. This one actually pays for itself the first year (as a single traveler).

That's why I'm thinking of upgrading the spreadsheet to a shareable version that can look at those various costs options for multiple people. Things like parking and MM are really only a "discount" on the first person to have the pass. And parking is only a good deal if you stay off-site.

My biggest reason to share, though, is even if you have a family and need multiple tickets, it could be cheaper for one person to get the pass for all the extras it has and everyone else to just get regular tickets - provided you are there for at least 5 days.

 

[austinsmommie]

Someone told me the other day that medical bills can not go into collections? Is this true? My 23 year old had a medical bill go into collections that is showing on his credit report. I just helped him open a Secured Credit Card in his name to help build credit. He is currently looking for a job. So for now, I have the credit card and plan to use it for gas only (in my car) and pay off the balance each month to help improve his credit.

We have had medical bills go into collections. 3 to be exact. One just the other day in my 8 years old's name, which is being paid with the agreed upon terms. 2 others showed up on my husbands credit report, he just put in an appeal with 1 and had it removed (it was from 2010 and we don't know what it was for) he just checked his credit report the other day and it was there.