Trying to Save Money? When It Doesn't Work Out Like You Planned
Posted: Thursday, December 18, 2008
by Lorrie Davids
I could say that I am pretty good with our budget and my husband would agree. But recently, something happened that made me rethink my ambition to cut expenses. We have a waterbed - and I have just dated myself. That is not really a problem as I don't mind my being my age, but it would be nice if time slowed a bit. We love our waterbed and can't imagine a good night's sleep without it. That's not a problem either. I wrote an article a while back about the pros and cons of owning a waterbed and received a comment I had to check into.
It seems there are straps made to run parallel to the sides of the bed, just under the mattress about 6 inches from the edge. What the straps do is attach to flat sheets and hold them in place. They work well even for waterbeds so I filed that bit of information away in my brain for the next time we needed sheets. After all, $85 for waterbed sheets (that was one of the cons) or $10 for each flat sheet at my local Wal-Mart. No contest there.
With the current sheets wearing thin I put my master plan into action, found and purchased the straps and decided to place the straps right away so in a couple days, when I bought the flat sheets, I'd be ready to wash and place them on the bed. It sounded like such a good plan, except I was home alone and waterbed mattresses weigh a LOT. I got on my knees on the bed, placed one strap at the top and pulled the mattress up just a bit. With my free hand, I worked the strap along the side of the mattress and just a few inches under it til I had worked my way to the bottom. Then, I did the same on the other side. Piece of cake!
Until I tried to stand up. It felt like someone was beating my lower back with a 2x4. I couldn't stand up all the way, couldn't sit all the way down. I took some Naproxen figuring I usually can work out any muscle injury...it would just be sore for awhile. I can handle this. Within a couple hours I was seriously considering going to the doctor, but my friend called, was sick and needed me to go with her to the ER. I thought as we entered the ER, maybe I should ask if they have a "2 fer" rate.
The next day came and it was no better. Time to call the doctor. I was thankful they could see me that afternoon. I got there a little early and signed in just as it was starting to snow. Here in South Texas, it doesn't snow often so I waited about 1/2 hour while each doctor and their employees went outside with their camera phones and took pictures of each other in the snow. Eventually, I was seen, told it was muscular and sent home with prescriptions and orders.
After I got home is when the humor and irony of the situation occured to me. To avoid spending $85+ on waterbed sheets, I would spend $15 for the straps, $20 for the flat sheets, $20 for my doc copay and $65 for my meds. Not to mention the time spent away from normal activities and right before Christmas! Then a few weeks after first writing this I started Physical Therapy. Add to the cost 6 PT visits of $20 each (I am thankful for good insurance) and I am up to $240. YIKES! I am doing the exercises and there is no reason my back won't be "better than before" according to the Physical Therapist.
Life is funny. Things don't always go as we plan and since I always have lessons to learn, I realize my "I can do it myself" attitude probably is what got me into this fix. I could have waited til Danny got home to help, but nope, I had to have it done right then. OK, patience...guess I need that lesson too. In the meantime, while my back heals (that is happening too slowly!) I am counting my blessings. I didn't need time off from work. (I work at home) My husband was willing to pitch in and do all I couldn't. I am thankful for fast food because I didn't cook much that first week. I didn't need to be admitted into the hospital (my friend was admitted for complications of an autoimmune disease). In just a few weeks I will have a grandson! I am relatively healthy.
Most of all, going through this Christmas season and into 2009, I am thankful for the Christ child and all his birth, life, death, burial and resurrection means if we stop to take the time to consider Him. Heb. 12:3. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!
With the current sheets wearing thin I put my master plan into action, found and purchased the straps and decided to place the straps right away so in a couple days, when I bought the flat sheets, I'd be ready to wash and place them on the bed. It sounded like such a good plan, except I was home alone and waterbed mattresses weigh a LOT. I got on my knees on the bed, placed one strap at the top and pulled the mattress up just a bit. With my free hand, I worked the strap along the side of the mattress and just a few inches under it til I had worked my way to the bottom. Then, I did the same on the other side. Piece of cake!
Until I tried to stand up. It felt like someone was beating my lower back with a 2x4. I couldn't stand up all the way, couldn't sit all the way down. I took some Naproxen figuring I usually can work out any muscle injury...it would just be sore for awhile. I can handle this. Within a couple hours I was seriously considering going to the doctor, but my friend called, was sick and needed me to go with her to the ER. I thought as we entered the ER, maybe I should ask if they have a "2 fer" rate.
The next day came and it was no better. Time to call the doctor. I was thankful they could see me that afternoon. I got there a little early and signed in just as it was starting to snow. Here in South Texas, it doesn't snow often so I waited about 1/2 hour while each doctor and their employees went outside with their camera phones and took pictures of each other in the snow. Eventually, I was seen, told it was muscular and sent home with prescriptions and orders.
After I got home is when the humor and irony of the situation occured to me. To avoid spending $85+ on waterbed sheets, I would spend $15 for the straps, $20 for the flat sheets, $20 for my doc copay and $65 for my meds. Not to mention the time spent away from normal activities and right before Christmas! Then a few weeks after first writing this I started Physical Therapy. Add to the cost 6 PT visits of $20 each (I am thankful for good insurance) and I am up to $240. YIKES! I am doing the exercises and there is no reason my back won't be "better than before" according to the Physical Therapist.
Life is funny. Things don't always go as we plan and since I always have lessons to learn, I realize my "I can do it myself" attitude probably is what got me into this fix. I could have waited til Danny got home to help, but nope, I had to have it done right then. OK, patience...guess I need that lesson too. In the meantime, while my back heals (that is happening too slowly!) I am counting my blessings. I didn't need time off from work. (I work at home) My husband was willing to pitch in and do all I couldn't. I am thankful for fast food because I didn't cook much that first week. I didn't need to be admitted into the hospital (my friend was admitted for complications of an autoimmune disease). In just a few weeks I will have a grandson! I am relatively healthy.
Most of all, going through this Christmas season and into 2009, I am thankful for the Christ child and all his birth, life, death, burial and resurrection means if we stop to take the time to consider Him. Heb. 12:3. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!
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Top-level comments on this article: (5 total)Lorrie, thanks for sharing your demise. Not that I am glad you hurt your back, but I gotta admit, it helps ease the pain of my hectic week :-)Merry Christmas--Love, TeresaTeresa - I think you have had a lousy week! I am counting my blessings once again! <grin> Now, with that bit of encouragement...thanks for reading my story.
Thanks for sharing! I am in hopes that your recovery is speedy and that your holidays are joyous despite this set back. Happy Holidays to you and yoursThanks for reading my article and the well wishes. I appreciate it!
I'm surprised you say that you like being how old you are, especially after hurting your back which most likely would no have happened in your twenties. lolI absolutely hate getting older and although it is in most part due to vanity, it is also in large part due to all the aches and pains I never had when I was younger. No, not the kids, but actual physical aches and pains in my muscles and joints.I remember when I had a water bed, oops, dated myself as well, but boy was that a cool experience, except for the sheets of course. Thanks for sharing your painful day with us, hope you feel better soon. bet you didn't think i would admit to being vain, huh?Hi Myla - Welcome back! I have missed you. I should have added a disclaimer: Most of the time I don't mind my age and with my grandson due to enter this world anytime, I mind it even less! Yeah, well, the back thing - this is only the third time in 53 years I have hurt it this badly so, I guess that isn't a bad record. I have to put my new sport, disc golf, on hold for a while. I'm most upset about the 5 or so pounds I have gained from lack of activity while my back is healing! OK - I am vain also. Don't even get me started on Physical Therapy! Thanks for reading and commenting.
Thanks for this. It is a great reminder that sometimes, while we are trying to save money, we often spend more than we planned. Or maybe the lesson is: Don't try to do everything ourselves; ask for help. Whatever, this was a great read and quite humourous.Oh, David! You SO sound like Danny! I hope I have learned that lesson. Hmmm ... maybe I shouldn't be too quick to say that. Thanks for reading and for commenting. I appreciate it!
Lorrie, I am here to tell you that I feel you pain...I was cutting corners once thinking I could save a ton of money, by going down, and picking up a load of pee gravel for an area of my lawn to decorate, and I did. Typically I would have bought the pee gravel, and have them deliver, then hire a couple of kids to help me load a wheel barrel and take it to the back, well, I thought I would save money by not having it delivered, took my truck over to the gravel yard, and had them load my truck with the gravel, then I drove it to my house, parked by the back gate, and of course no one was available to hire, so I did it myself, and ended up with pinching that little nerve at the base of your back, (I forgot what they call it, and not sure I could spell it anyway)lol, syatic? Not sure...but after the doc bill, plus the wear and tear on my back, I FEEL YOUR PAIN!!! I noticed this happed to you awhile back, and mine too, and of course I am great now...But I should have planned it better to make sure I had the guys over there to help me, but I waited until the last minute...shame on me!!! Loved the article, and I think I will join you fan club, and read more......Your fan, and friend in pen.....Gary.Thanks, Gary, for your comment and becoming a fan. I don't write very often, but I hope you will enjoy what I have out there. Oh, the pain! It was pretty bad. I hope you are recovered or recovering nicely from your injury. I have been thinking about getting some mulch and dirt delivered for a Spring project in the back yard. You have made me reconsider. I think that maybe I will buys bags of mulch and dirt, a few at a time and take my time with it. In the long run, that may be the most healthy and cost effective solution!
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