Comments on: The Dumbest Way to Save Money

By: Shawanda Greene

Shawanda Greene — Thu, 03 Sep 2009 22:43:03 +0000

That’s frightening! I’m going to keep putting the pressure on Larissa.

By: Shawanda Greene

Shawanda Greene — Wed, 02 Sep 2009 04:30:26 +0000

I’ve gone without health insurance before as well. I qualified for COBRA, but it would’ve still cost me over $300 per month. At the time, I didn’t think it was that big of a priority. I’m fortunate I wasn’t stricken with a major injury or illness while I was uncovered.

The important thing is to get the best coverage you can afford. I probably heard about catastrophic insurance a year and a half ago. I know next to nothing about it, but it sounds like an extremely smart way to go if you’re not eligible for medicaid, and you don’t qualify for a more extensive and affordable health care plan.

By: Ashley

Ashley — Mon, 31 Aug 2009 22:40:50 +0000

Please note that I meant great-grandparents.

By: Ashley

Ashley — Mon, 31 Aug 2009 22:39:29 +0000

I agree with you wholeheartedly! My grandparents neglected to keep their home insurance current after living in their house since 1944. Last year their house caught fire and the entire house had sever smoke damage and had to be gutted. Their children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren (myself included) suddenly found ourselves responsible for their living arrangements while the house was still damaged and getting the house rebuilt and refurnished. Home insurance would have been sooooo much cheaper!

By: Torrey

Torrey — Sat, 29 Aug 2009 04:43:27 +0000

I think the dumbest thing I’ve done to save money is not take care of maintenance on a car I had. Instead of paying for routine stuff to keep the car running well, I didn’t and of course the little things I neglected added up to larger repairs.

By: Carla

Carla — Fri, 28 Aug 2009 04:41:31 +0000

I have gone without health insurance – twice . The first time, I was 19 and just starting a new job. I was no longer in school so I wasnt on my mother’s plan. My new job had a 90-day probation so I didnt have employer paid insurance. I coudlnt get private insurance because I had a pre-exhisting condition. That cost me five figures, but options were slim.

The second time eight years later : $600/mo for COBRA was impossible while unemployed (laid-off without UI) and (even before the MS diagnosis) didn’t qualify for private insurance. I did get catastrophic coverage eventually though.

Looking back, I didn’t go without insurance on a whim, options were slim, but at least I did get catastrophic insurance the second time (I haven’t heard of it the first time).

By: Tia

Tia — Fri, 28 Aug 2009 02:06:26 +0000

I know someone that cancelled their life insurance bc they said they could not afford the 17 a month. They were in their 30s, has 3 kids and a smoker. I’m sure they could have cut expenses elsewhere like phone, cable or cigarettes.