My Financial Recovery

Turn Off Your Car While Driving?

Posted on: September 29, 2008 by Matt 3 Comments

Car Accident 06

Originally uploaded by jonjon_01

MSN has an article up this morning titled: 8 extreme ways to save some scratch and the number one tip is to “Turn your car off — while it’s moving”!!! Maybe it is just me but this idea is completely insane!!!!  I understand the principle and how in theory it could save you a few drops of gas but is it anywhere near being worth the risk?  This tip really belongs over with Lazy Man and Money’s list of Three Ridiculous and Stupid Ideas That Save You Money, not on MSN encouraging people to give it a shot.  To the benefit of MSN readers (this article was linked on the main MSN homepage this morning) they do recommend that you “make sure you practice driving without power steering and power brakes in an open space before experimenting near other cars — or people” and tell you that AAA does not approve of the idea.

Since people seem to think that turning your car off while driving will somehow save you a few bucks in gas I think maybe we should look at the areas that it will potentially cost you a lot more.  If you think that risking your well being along with that of everyone else on or near a road is worth a few bucks in gas please also consider the costs of:

• Medical Bills: The first time you make a mistake you will probably have a few extra medical bills.  Car accidents are not cheap and not having the safety features built into your car available increases your chances of accident and injury.
• Car Repair: Body shops will be glad to take your money to fix up your car.
• Insurance Premiums: Imagine what your insurance company will think when the police report from an accident says that you had turned off your vehicle while it was in motion.  I am pretty sure that the premium will go up from an accident. If they catch word that it may have been caused by turning your car off I would not be surprised if they deem you uninsurable.
• Increased wear on car parts: Starting your car engages a lot of parts in your engine.  Turning your car off and on in traffic will probably strain (at the very least) your starter, transmission, alternator and various other parts.

Seriously – features like power brakes and power steering are there for a reason and cars are meant to be running while in operation.  I am in favor of saving a few bucks anywhere I can but at the very least think of your safety and the lives of other motorists, their families and pedestrians.

A Trip To The Hospital

Posted on: September 29, 2008 by Matt No Comments

Doctor’s Tools

Originally uploaded by Dave Ward Photography

For the past nine months or so my right ear has had some dry, flaky, itchy skin and has really been irritating.  Now nine months (may have been longer even) is a pretty long amount of time to let a health problem continue on even if it is just a little annoying.  The reason I let it all drag out so long is that my health insurance basically sucks.  My yearly deductible is $2,000 that must be covered out of pocket before the insurance company steps in at all!

Considering the cost of health care today that may not seem like all that much but when you have to budget a few hundred dollars for every doctor’s visit (in an already tight budget) you may tend to just not go.  I find that I will ignore a problem, try any and all homeopathic cures and / or just wait for it to get better before going to a doctor with my insurance as it is.  I have had health insurance before where I paid a copay towards my deductible or a copay only and was much more willing to bite the bullet and see a professional.

While at the walk in clinic (due to not going to the doctor I do not have a normal doctor to visit) yesterday I was informed that the irritation is eczema and that it can easily be treated with a topical cream.  I also had wax buildup flushed out of my ears (yuck!) and was told to not use q-tips ever again (ears are apparently self cleaning).

Of course I have not received my bill yet and I do not have any idea how much the hospital will be charging for my visit (scary).  I will post an update once I receive the bill and let everyone know what is going on with it.  The one upside was that when I stopped to get my prescription filled the insurance prescription coverage brought the cost of the cream down to $2.13.  Not too bad and I managed to pick up a big can of Folgers coffee for $6 (compared to the $12 it normally costs).