cheap Archives - Blogging Away Debt Blogging Away Debt

heart-shaped soap and brush — Hand soap: Photo from Pixabay/Petra

Recently, I was walking with a friend who described how recent inflation has hit her family hard. She said that during the last week of the month, she and her husband are essentially out of spending money and have to be very intentional not to spend a penny. They contribute to savings and retirement accounts, and she mentioned she could reduce the amount they’re saving, but she doesn’t want to. So instead, she’s become extra frugal, especially toward the end of the month!

This is something I’m super familiar with. There have been lots of times when I’ve had spending freezes (both by choice AND by necessity), so I get it! Dave Ramsey used to have a term for this: having more month than money. It’s so relatable!

I guess I’ve been traveling down memory lane lately, because my last post was about unexpected medical expenses and the relief of being able to pay them (that hasn’t always been the case for me!). This conversation with my friend about needing to scrimp and save and how to get by during the last week of the month brought back all the feels.

Memory triggered

For some reason, this conversation triggered a memory from nearly 20 years ago, when I was about 25 years old. I was in grad school, broke as a joke, and doing my best to scrape by. I distinctly remember a trip to visit my paternal grandmother, who lived out of state and whom I didn’t see very often – maybe once every couple of years. At her house, I noticed that she had Bath & Body Works soaps in every bathroom, from her kitchen to her utility room! Yes, even the utility room had fancy B&BW soap!

I remember the feeling as I washed my hands in the bathroom one day. It wasn’t envy, per se. It was more of a deep sense of sadness and self-pity. I remember thinking I could never afford such a “luxury.” At the time, my budget limited me to strictly to the cheapest hand soap, about 69 cents at the time if I recall correctly. And even then, I would buy the big refill bottle because it was cheaper per ounce and refill the dispensers instead of buying new ones when they ran out.

As dramatic as this probably sounds, I remember tearing up and feeling financially hopeless. I was living on rice and beans (and spoiler alert… I’d be living on rice and beans for a looooong time to come) and felt sorry for myself that I couldn’t afford even the simple luxury of nice hand soap. Not to mention anything bigger!

Comparison is the thief of joy

Most of my peers were buying their first homes by that time, while I’d have to wait nearly a decade to buy mine. Friends had graduated college, been in their jobs for a couple of years, and were starting to get their first raises and promotions. I wouldn’t even enter the full-time job market for another half decade.

In many ways, my decision to remain broke while pursuing higher education delayed a lot of the financial milestones my peers were reaching. What was commonplace in our mid-20s (homes, careers, promotions) wouldn’t happen for me for many years to come.

I know what it feels like to struggle. And I know that comparison is the thief of joy. But it can also feel so incredibly difficult not to compare. At least it did when I was in my mid-20s. I can’t imagine how much harder it is today in the age of social media.

But I think it built character, and I’m grateful for where I am now. I think I appreciate things more now than I would have if I had skipped the pain and struggle.

And that 20-something version of myself probably wouldn’t even be able to fathom where I’m at today.

2026

Here I am, having taken a big family vacation to Hawaii last summer. The summer before that, hubs and I went to Italy! This summer we don’t have big plans, just a road trip back to visit family in Texas. But we’re already thinking that maybe next summer we’ll take a cruise! And two years out (when the girls turn 16), we’re talking about maybe a beach resort in Mexico!

It’s so crazy to be discussing and planning that level of travel. I feel so blessed!

For anyone who’s in the middle of paying off debt, I know it’s hard. And it can feel long (sooooo long). But it’s worth it. On the other side is a level of freedom and peace that can be difficult to imagine when you’re still in the middle of the struggle.

The funny thing about the soap is that now that I can comfortably afford Bath and Body Works soap, I don’t want it. I’ve been trying to switch household products to “cleaner” alternatives and the fragrances and dyes are a big turn-off for me now. Funny how life works out, ya know?

Ashley

Hi, I’m Ashley! Arizonan on paper, Texan at heart. Lover of running, blogging, and all things cheeeeese. Early 40s, married mother of twins, and working in academia. Currently working toward financial independence with the goal of (hopefully!) retiring early at 50.

The Quiet Relief of Being Able to Afford Medical Care

by Ashley

Thank you for all the nice comments and messages on my recent post. A couple of recent unexpected medical bills have reminded me how much life has changed. Not because the bills were catastrophic. But because there was a time in my life when they absolutely would have been.

Bill #1: Dental Care

My daughter recently had cosmetic dental work done for peg lateral incisors (small side teeth that can look pointed and undersized). She’s been self-conscious about them for awhile and finally asked if there was anything that could be done.

The dentist added composite to reshape them and they look fantastic! She’s happier, more confident, and willing to smile now with her teeth!

Before and after of my daughter’s lateral incisors. Image source: bloggingawaydebt.com.

The problem is that our dentist indicated that the majority of the cost could be covered by insurance. That turned out to be incorrect. After our claim was denied, I ended up footing the bill. To the tune of $215.

Bill #2: Mammogram

Unexpected bill #2 had to do with routine health screening I undergo. Because I have dense breast tissue and a family history of breast cancer, I have bi-annual mammograms and annual breast ultrasounds. For my most recent mammogram, I was already driving en route to the appointment when I received a call from the office.

The woman on the phone sounded genuinely uncomfortable and apologetic, calling to let me know that due to my high deductible health insurance plan, I would need to pay $250 out of pocket to receive my services. She kept apologizing for the late notice and even asked if I still wanted to keep the appointment or if I needed to cancel and reschedule given the unanticipated cost. She said something like, “I know if it were me, I wouldn’t be able to just pay an unexpected $250 bill out of nowhere.”

All I could think was, “Wow!”

Not because $250 is nothing. It’s still a lot of money. But because there was a time in my life where that phone call would have caused actual panic. When I likely WOULD have had to reschedule the appointment, or skip it entirely.

Medical bills from the past

When I was in graduate school, I distinctly remember one such example. I got really sick and even though I don’t remember now what I was diagnosed with (sinus infection? some sort of viral infection?), I remember feeling miserable and finally dragging myself to the doctor.

My student insurance at the time covered the cost of the office visit, but the student health plan had no coverage for prescription medications. I still remember standing at the pharmacy counter and hearing the price of the medication. I don’t remember the exact amount now, but I’ll never forget the feeling in my stomach when they told me.

I couldn’t afford it.

Not “I’d rather not spend that much.” Actually I couldn’t afford it. So I declined the prescription and went home sick because getting better literally cost more money than I had available.

That memory has stuck with me forever (and why did I not think I could call my mom to ask for help? I don’t know. But I know for a fact I walked away WITHOUT the prescription in hand).

Gratitude

So now, when these unexpected medical expenses popped up, I feel grateful in a way that’s hard to explain unless you’ve lived both versions of life.

There was the grad school version – where I had to remain sick longer than necessary (or maybe just feel worse than necessary) because I couldn’t afford the medication prescribed.

And now the current version – where I have to move a little money from budget category “A” to budget category “B” to cover the unexpected expenses, but the bills are just a minor annoyance. Totally manageable.

Savings don’t just buy “stuff.” Savings can help buy peace of mind. It’s the difference in the ability to say “yes” to a mammogram without hesitation. Or “yes” to helping my daughter feel more confident in her smile.

I’m grateful for that former life I’ve lived, because it built character and helped shape who I am. But I’m beyond grateful to be in my current life where a couple of unanticipated medical bills don’t derail our entire month financially.

That kind of security is something I will never take for granted.

Have you ever declined recommended medical care due to the cost?