Welcome to the Balanced FI Podcast, episode 32 - Frugal not Cheap: 6 Things You Shouldn’t Skimp On

The cheapest option isn’t always the best option - it might not be safe, efficient, or long-lasting. Instead, you shouldn’t skimp on these things:

• Safety things
• Baby safety things
• Shoes
• Anything sleep related
• Dog food
• Insurance 

Listen to find out why!

FIND US:

Balancedfi.com -- Podcast -- Facebook -- Instagram -- Pinterest -- [email protected]

RESOURCES:

Read: Frugal not Cheap - 6 Things You Shouldn’t Skimp On

Resource: Vehicle History

Resource: NHTSA Safety Issues & Recalls

Resource: VINCheck Lookup

Read: 3 Big Ways to Save on Baby Stuff

Resource: Zulily

Resource: 6pm

Buy: Tempur-Pedic Mattress Topper

Buy: Hushh Portable White Noise Machine

Buy: Cosy House Sheets

Buy: Bose Noise Cancelling Headphones

Buy: Bose Sleepbuds

Read: 6 Easy Self-Care Ideas for Busy People

Buy: Kirkland Signature Nature’s Domain Dog Food

Sign Up: Frugal Year Challenge

SOURCES:

Source: Business Insider: 15 Things You Should Never Skimp On

Source: WiseBread: 15 Things You Should Never Skimp On

Welcome to the Balanced FI Podcast, episode 31 - How to Find Grants to Pay Medical Bills

The American healthcare system isn’t just un-user-friendly, it’s very expensive. Grants and financial assistance can help you avoid financial hardship or even bankruptcy. 

This episode covers where to find grants and other assistance, how to negotiate with medical providers, and how to organize everything to stay sane. 

FIND US:

Balancedfi.com -- Podcast -- Facebook -- Instagram -- Pinterest -- [email protected]

RESOURCES:

Read: How to Find Grants to Pay Medical Bills

Sign up: Money Makeover Challenge

Resource: I Can’t Afford Mental Health Care: How to Find Good Care That Fits in Your Budget

Resource: The Ultimate Guide to Appealing Health Insurance Denials

Resource: Charity Navigator

Resource: USA Grants

Resource: Social Security Disability Benefits

Resource: Medicaid

Resource: Medicare

Resource: VA health care

Resource: FaxZero

Resource: United Healthcare Children’s Foundation

Resource: 11 Organizations That Will Help You Pay Your Medical Bills

Resource: Help With Bills

Resource: OneMain Financial: How to Pay for Medical Supplies You Need

SOURCES:

Source: 'I live on the street now': how Americans fall into medical bankruptcy

Welcome to the Balanced FI Podcast, episode 30 - 3 Simple Gratitude Prompts for Your Holiday Season

The holidays can be hard for so many, making the focus on gratitude even more important. Askin yourself 3 simple questions can help you find the good in your day. 

FIND US:

Balancedfi.com -- Podcast -- Facebook -- Instagram -- Pinterest -- [email protected]

RESOURCES:

Read: 3 Simple Gratitude Prompts for Your Holiday Season

SOURCES:

Source: How to Practice Gratitude

Welcome to the Balanced FI Podcast, episode 29 - All You Need to Know About Keeping Fun in Your Budget

Setting aside a bit of money each month for fun, frivolous purchases helps you stay on track financially. You’re less likely to completely blow your budget when you know you have already planned for your hobbies and random habits. 

This episode goes over 

• why you need to budget for fun
• how much to set aside
• how to actually make a fun money budget part of your life 

FIND US:

Balancedfi.com -- Podcast -- Facebook -- Instagram -- Pinterest -- [email protected]

RESOURCES:

Read: Fun Money Budget: What You Need to Know

Read: Financial Security Step 6: Create a Budget

Read: Financial Security Step 7: Pay off Debt

Read: Financial Security Step 9: Increase Retirement Contributions

Read: Financial Security Step 8: Save an Emergency Fund

Sign up: Bill-Balancing Bootcamp

SOURCES:

Source: 50/20/30 Method Is Perfect if You’re on a Budget… but Still Have a Life

Welcome to the Balanced FI Podcast, episode 28 - Do You Need a Credit Score While Debt-Free?

You CAN live without a credit score, once you’re debt-free… but life is a lot easier with a good credit score. A credit score is helpful for renting a home, establishing new utility services, applying for certain jobs, getting a mortgage, property insurance in some states, life insurance rates.

Using credit wisely and carefully can help you get and maintain a good credit score. There’s one important caveat here - don’t even attempt limited credit card use unless you are well accustomed to living without a credit card. You need to treat your credit card like a debit card. 

FIND US:

Balancedfi.com -- Podcast -- Facebook -- Instagram -- Pinterest -- [email protected]

RESOURCES:

Read: Do You Need a Credit Score While Debt-Free?

FREE Annual Credit Report

Read: Financial Security Step 4: Calculate your Net Worth

Resource: sign up for the Frugal Year Challenge

SOURCES:

Source: Living Without a Credit Score

Source: Can You Buy a House With No Credit?3

Source: Dave Ramsey Says You Don’t Need a Credit Score. 5 Reasons That’s Nonsense

Source: What is a credit score?

Source: Getting Utility Services: Why Your Credit Matters

Source: What to Know About a Credit-Based Insurance Score

Source: When does debt fall off your credit report?

Source: Does your credit score affect your life insurance premiums?

Welcome to the Balanced FI Podcast, episode 27 - 5 Tips for a Frugal Christmas

Gift-giving doesn’t have to bankrupt you. To save money on Christmas, consider:

1. Simplifying your giving list
2. Planning ahead and making a budget
3. Shopping sales & looking for cashback
4. Making gifts
5. Giving second-hand gifts

To make next year less stressful, save for Christmas throughout the year

FIND US:

Balancedfi.com -- Podcast -- Facebook -- Instagram -- Pinterest -- [email protected]

RESOURCES:

Read: 5 Tips for a Frugal Christmas

Resource: Draw Names

Resource: Rakuten

Resource: KiwiCo

Resource: Poshmark

Resource: ThredUp

Sign up: Intentionally Debt Free waitlist

SOURCES:

Source: 4 Gifts for Christmas: How to Make Your Family Happy With Less

Welcome to the Balanced FI Podcast, episode 26 - How to Find Good Mental Health Care That Fits in Your Budget

Whether you do or do not have health insurance, you are entitled to mental health care (and medical care, but that's for another day). Cost can make proper mental health care prohibitive, but there ARE resources out there when you can't afford a more traditional route. 

Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 1-800-273-8255

Mental Health.gov 

National Domestic Violence Hotline: 1-800-799-SAFE (7233)

Dial *211

FIND US:

Balancedfi.com -- Podcast -- Facebook -- Instagram -- Pinterest -- [email protected]

RESOURCES:

Read: I Can’t Afford Mental Health Care: How to Find Good Care That Fits in Your Budget

Read: 6 Easy Self-Care Tips for Busy People

Resource: Mental Health America

Resource: Take a Mental Health Test

Resource: Free/Low-Cost/Sliding Scale Mental Health Clinics database

Resource: NeedyMeds

Resource: Better Help (individual, couples & teen counseling)

Resource: Faithful Counseling (Christian counseling)

Resource: Teen Counseling

Resource: ReGain (couples counseling)

Resource: Pride Counseling (LGBTQ counseling)

Read: The Ultimate Guide to Appealing Health Insurance Denials

MONTANA RESOURCES:

Resource: Bozeman Help Center

Resource: Western Montana Mental Health Center

Resource: Community Health Partners

SOURCES:

Source: Mental Health Month

Source: Best Online Counseling Services of 2021

Source: Emotional Disturbance

Welcome to the Balanced FI Podcast, episode 25: 7 Steps to Find Your Motivation For Debt Payoff.

We’ve got 7 easy steps to keep you going during a long debt payoff journey:

1. Identify what’s important
2. Get on the same page
3. Turn your priorities into goals
4. Remind yourself of your motivation for debt payoff
5. Watch the numbers change
6. Set rewards to keep your motivation for debt payoff
7. Celebrate your victories with like-minded people

FIND US:

Balancedfi.com -- Podcast -- Facebook -- Instagram -- Pinterest -- [email protected]

RESOURCES:

Read: 7 Steps to Find Your Motivation for Debt Payoff

Read: I Can’t Afford Mental Health Care: How to Find Good Care That Fits in Your Budget

Read: How to Set Financial Goals for 2021

Read: 5 Quick Questions to Ask Yourself Before Purchasing

Read: Financial Security Step 4: Calculate your Net Worth

Resource: Debt Free Charts

Free Download: Debt Payoff Planner

Welcome to the Balanced FI Podcast, episode 24! Thank you so much for listening in! 

Appealing health insurance denials is the best (maybe only?) way to increase the chances your health insurance provider will cover the requested medical treatment. So many times a claim is denied automatically, or without sufficient investigation, so it falls to the patient (or patient’s representative) to appeal the denial and seek coverage. 

To appeal a health insurance denial, you need to:

• Request coverage
• Receive the denial
• Call insurance
• Get more information
• Contact your provider
• Follow the appeal process
• Ask what the next step is

RESOURCES:

Read: The Ultimate Guide to Appealing Health Insurance Denials

Read: Meet RaLea

Fax Zero

Patient Advocate Foundation

SOURCES:

HeathCare.gov: Appealing a health plan decision - External Review

Center for Medicare Advocacy: Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) Regarding the Jimmo v. Sebelius “Improvement Standard” Settlement

Welcome to the Balanced FI Podcast, episode 23! Thank you so much for listening in! 

Make saving money fun to keep yourself engaged in long-term financial goals. Some ways to make saving fun include:

• Set goals & rewards
• Track your progress
• No spend month challenge
• No spend days challenge
• Loose change challenge
• First to save challenge
• Pantry challenge
• Dollars per week food challenge
• Kids savings challenge
• Annual savings challenge

RESOURCES:

Read: 10 Ways to Make Saving Money Fun

Free Download: Financial Goal Planner

Read: 30 Day Challenge + Free 30 Day Tracker

Read: 5 Quick Questions to Ask Yourself Before Purchasing

Read: 3 Ways to Use Meal Planning to Save Money

Read: Financial Security Step 2a: Save a Mini Emergency Fund

SOURCES:

Source: Debt Free Charts

Source: Benefits and Challenges of the 52-Week Savings Challenge

Source: How to Save $7,000 This Year With the $5 a Week Savings Challenge

Source: 52 Week Challenge Plan (Save $1,000) - Free Printable

Source: 52 Week Money Challenge Printable Chart

Source: Five Ways To Do A 52 Week Money Challenge + Free Printable

Source: 15 Ways to Make Saving Fun

Source: 10 Creative Ways to Make Saving Money Fun

Source: 15 Creative Ways to Save Money