Remember the medical issues I spoke of? Well we had one of them, hopefully, resolved this week.
DH was diagnosed 15 years ago with spinal stenosis. That's where ones spinal column narrows over time due to thickening of the bone within the column. It can narrow and narrow until it presses on the nerves. This causes numbness, tingling, and/or pain to the legs. If untreated, it can put the patient in a wheelchair. 15 years ago, physical therapy worked and hubby went on his way. He would have an occasional flare up, but he'd do his exercises, yoga, or simple stretches and he'd be good. Then about 4 months ago he had a flare up that wouldn't go away despite his best efforts. He went back to the Dr. Physical therapy was tried again, but this time to no avail. Surgery was really the only option. Cortisone shots would've just been delaying the inevitable, and only for a few weeks. So this past Monday, on my Birthday no less, Dh had his surgery. Since then, he's been in the hospital recovering enough to come home. He was finally able to come home today. In fact we've been home about an hour.
DR VISIT- $
PHYSICAL THERAPY- $$
2ND DR VISIT- $
SURGEON VISIT-$
SURGERY- $$$
HOSPITAL STAY- $$$$$$$$$$$
HUBBY BEING PAIN FREE- PRICELESS!
It's going to take him about 4-6 weeks to recover full function. 3-6 months for full recovery. Not sure, during that time, when he will be able to return to work. So watching my P's and Q's when it comes to money. We have enough, I believe, in savings for living expenses and medical bills. We have a HSA, but it has been depleted from other medical expenses. We have enough, in the HSA, to cover some of the medical bills. So while we have it to cover these things, it's still going to make things snug here.
We know approximately how much our part of this will be and have set that amount aside to pay bills as they come. With that amount set aside in savings, I can transfer as needed to cover other expenses as they come. I will only take out of savings what is absolutely necessary. So its going to be a snug year. Even once the medical bills are paid off, we have a Health Savings account to catch up.
This was an unforeseen expense. I am beyond grateful that we had an emergency fund to cover living expenses and medical bills. It took a lot of the stress out of an already stressful situation.
With a little planning, emergency funds can be started with the smallest amount of money. Just add to it over time. It's better to start it now when there isn't an emergency. If you're someone who makes say $30,000 a year or more, shoot for $1000 as a goal (to start). If you make less than $30,000, shoot for $500. DON'T TOUCH IT! A family vacation isn't an emergency; neither is Christmas, school clothes, date night, a new TV, etc. These should all be budgeted categories. You could say a car repair is an emergency. I can see that, but really, if possible, car maintenance should be a budgeted category aside from savings. A true emergency is more like a job lay off, medical emergency, major home repair ( like to pay your deductible when a tree falls on your house). I say all of this because we can( and I have) justified taking money from our emergency fund for things that just weren't emergencies to begin with.
If you have the ability to put money into an actual Health Savings Account, do so. We've loved ours. If you don't have insurance, or a Health Savings account, pay yourself an insurance premium and make that your "policy". Many doctors offices, and even hospitals, will give a discount if you don't have insurance. Just ask ahead of time. If you pay yourself that "premium" by putting it into a savings account, you have a fall back in case of a medical emergency. Any little bit helps.
Yes, funds will be tight here, but we'll be okay. I may need to get a little more frugal or creative than previously, but we'll make it. I'm grateful to have that cushion to see us thru.
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