Tuesday, June 17, 2008

$416 Could Buy Me:

--A Kindle, and 5 e-books (I have recently decided that I can barely live without one of these. I lust after them; hanging out on the Amazon site, reading the reviews, staring longingly at the customer photos. I've talked myself down from hitting that "add to cart" button and just putting it on my Amazon Visa so many times. But I know that would be wrong, because you're supposed to actually be able to come up with that money at some point and I can't. This is ALL I WANT FOR CHRISTMAS. Do you hear me Mom? Mr. Ashley? Loving readers? Just this. Well, maybe a bottle of Philosophy's Lemonade body wash, but that would be more of a stocking stuffer.)

--A year's worth of pedicures (I haven't had a pedicure since the one Catfish bought me before her wedding in December. I wear flip flops! I need pedicures! When I was pregnant I got one every two weeks no matter what just because it felt good.)

--3 nights of dinner and drinks at my favorite restaurant downtown.

--5 tanks of gas for the SUV.

--3 nights in a value hotel at Disney with 1 day of park tickets and free dining in September (Alright, I'd need $80 more but still. I'd be damn close.)

--416 items from Target's dollar spot.

--2 full color photography ads in the local family magazine.

--A whole new wardrobe for me. (Seriously, I can buy a lot of clothes for $416.)

--One weekend at the cottage in N. Florida we vacation at (when we are not poor).

And so much more! That was just way too much for a kid's physical. I was expecting $185, tops. Not FOUR HUNDRED AND SIXTEEN DOLLARS. Damn.

edited to add: I think Amazon would be smart to just give me a Kindle. I'd happily review it, and I'd happily beat you all over the heads with it's greatness until you just had to have your own. They'd make back that money in no time. They'd also be doing a good thing by keeping me from committing book related and/or library crime.

15 comments:

Maddness of Me said...

I do that to myself too. It's hard not to.

Just did it recently with a $300 vet bill - happened to want a $300 bike at the same time.

And I know what you mean about the Kindle, seems like the entry point should be alot less based on the book sales they will get.

clemsongirlandthecoach said...

ARE YOU KIDDING ME??????!!!!!

The good news is that it's OVER. I hear you, friend, I really, really, really do.

If I had it, I'd share. Promise.

Anonymous said...

That is bullcrap (love that word) -usually if you tell a doctors office that you don't have insurance they give you a break. There is NO WAY that the insurance companies pay that much for a physical... wish I had an extra $416 to send you... you need to get on Amazon to let you do book reviews! GL.

Anonymous said...

that is absolutely insane. I agree our Drs. need to get paid, but WTF? I too would have meekly put my debit card away and yanked out a credit card...had to do this withs my sons glasses. We only get frames every two years...don't they realize kids grow? I was shocked at the price, but he loved them and how can I complain when he wears them without an ounce of hesitation. I should shop with someone like you who can get a lot of clothes for $416. :)

Anonymous said...

Sooooo I guess I know what I'm getting you for your birthday...and it's not a trip to the doctor's office!

Anonymous said...

I just wanted to say that your blog makes me laugh! I know you are going thru a rough time, I truly hope it gets better. Reading your blog brightens my day. :)

Maddness of Me said...

Something to make you smile (or to share with BK and LK

Friends - cat and bear

http://www.greenexpander.com/

Outnumbered2to1 said...

Mrs. Ashley, don't settle just for the Kindle (although very cool) get ALL the above. Spa's need reviews, Disney needs reviews (of course, if I help get you a Disney vacation, you so need to send me a tinkerbelle cell phone charm). I say, pimp yourself out to all the above.

Anonymous said...

you had better start hoping there really is a Santa Claus!

Joy said...

Oh Mom come on...Gotta help a girl out.

She really has been a good girl- she has cleaned poop too many times to mention, made all us ladies (I think I saw a new man though) laugh many many times, she didn't kick lk out when he broke her Ticker Bell (even though this was my suggestion), and I am sure she is a wonderful daughter that any momma would love to have:)

sjb said...

Ah yes, the Kindle. It truly is as awesome as they say. The only problem is that buying the books is super-extra-completely-and-totally easy. And while some of them are a bargain (I'm reading Anna Karenina for $2.63), most of the new/good ones are $9.99. Those add up FAST! I have been known the skim the Closet at a Little League game, though, which is definitely a bargain.

Maddness of Me said...

is catfish giving you a Kindle?

when *is* your birthday anyway?

Anonymous said...

Seriously, next time get the cottage in north Florida and go see my pediatrician husband in Destin for $50.

The office has a crap staff, they charged you retail for the office visit and billed a new patient visit. Empathetic offices and doctors don't do that. I don't know where you live, but most insurance companies only pay about 105-120% of Medicare, sometimes it goes as high as 150%. If a doctor gives a 50% discount off their fee ticket prices for cash, they still make more than they do seeing a BCBS insured patient.

My suggestion is that you call before you go back in and ask for either a self-pay discount, or offer to pay 175% of the RBRVS for the visit. If they say no, they probably have an office policy to bill out the ass for self-pay in order to not have to deal with the problems of having a patient who becomes very ill and they are obligated to treat beyond the ability to pay -- but you don't often see that in peds.

Anonymous said...

Fuck! You deserve a vacation and instead you got a big bill up your a**. That's horrible!!!!

carolinesc7 said...

Did you see the Kindle just dropped to $359!!??