Orthodontist?

[wallawallakids]

I know this is another orthodontist thread but I am seriously at a loss about what to do. We have 4 kids, all 4 need some treatment but one can wait a few years. I am now starting the process with the other three. She is offering a payment plan without interest, but if I pay up front I save 5%. To me 5% isn't a lot of a savings, but with this much money going out, it comes to a little over $400, which is real money. Also the hassle of not paying every month is nice too. She was going to get back to me on if she will give me a cash discount on top of that or if she will give me another discount for paying all 3 up front. Here is my question: 1) is there any con with paying it all in advance. And 2) is it worth taking the money from savings to save $400? It would be around a third of our savings. I am having a hard time wresting the fact of saving money, vs. having more cash on hand? Any thoughts? What have you done? Thanks!

 

[PrincessShmoo]

I know this is another orthodontist thread but I am seriously at a loss about what to do. We have 4 kids, all 4 need some treatment but one can wait a few years. I am now starting the process with the other three. She is offering a payment plan without interest, but if I pay up front I save 5%. To me 5% isn't a lot of a savings, but with this much money going out, it comes to a little over $400, which is real money. Also the hassle of not paying every month is nice too. She was going to get back to me on if she will give me a cash discount on top of that or if she will give me another discount for paying all 3 up front. Here is my question: 1) is there any con with paying it all in advance. And 2) is it worth taking the money from savings to save $400? It would be around a third of our savings. I am having a hard time wresting the fact of saving money, vs. having more cash on hand? Any thoughts? What have you done? Thanks!

Having had 2 kids in braces at the same time, my first question to you is - have you gotten more than just one opinion as to the necessity of orthodontic work on all your kids? In reality, no one in the world has a perfect bite, and everyone needs braces (in the orthodontic world). Sometimes it's not really necessary. Many times it's not necessary to do it "right now".

 

[Kellydelly]

I have two kids in braces right now, with a third about to start expander treatment. I love the no finance fee payment plans. I would not dig into your savings to save $400. JMHO. I had my husband set up a flex account with his employer so that we at least get pre-taxed money to use for the payments. He could only put $2400 into his account, but we don't miss the money from his checks and I have the prepaid card to use for the orthodontist payments or any medical visits we have.

 

[wallawallakids]

I did see three different orthodontists before deciding. They all said the same thing. Sadly, they have over bites/ cross bites that need to be fixed so it is more then just "crooked teeth". I actually chose this one because she was the least aggressive of the 3 we visited and the only one who said I could wait on my youngest DD.

 

[wallawallakids]

Thanks Kellydelly! It is good to hear another perspective. I didn't think the savings seemed all that much, but I am a penny pincher, so the idea of throwing away a savings made me nervous! Yet spending my savings makes me nervous too! So it is nice to hear what I am thinking from another person. I appreciate it.

 

[goofystitchfan]

I only had one DS that ended up with braces. Our ortho also had a no fee payment plan which is what we did. I made a payment every month (they were split up into 36 months) and made the payment with my Disney Visa... might as well get the Disney points!

 

[mjkacmom]

We always did/do the interest free payment plan. Two are paid, paying on the third, starting the fourth in about six months. He said we could wait on the fifth - cosmetic only (teeth look perfect, just a little off in the back that might self correct with more teeth). DH puts the max in flex spending, limited to $2500 (used to be $5000).

 

[Happy Snowman]

Just a quick run of that about $16,000 over 3 years tells me you want to make monthly payments and put those funds into a stable, but interest bearing savings of some kind--money market, etc. because that $16,000 will earn more than $400.

 

[wallawallakids]

Thanks Happy Snowman. That is a perfect point and one I should have thought of myself.