Spend Now, Save Later

Most frugal-minded people believe that you need to save money now so that you can spend it at a later time. For some, that "later time" is retirement, when the kids go to college, or a time that hopefully never comes—an emergency. This type of mindset is a great one to have, but it's important not to get carried away and be cheap—especially when it comes to things like your health or your teeth. Think of your family's health as an investment. It's much better to spend a little more on quality healthcare and hygiene items now to prevent problems than it is to use the money you have worked so hard to save on fixing problems later. Here are some things to keep in mind.

Regular Visits
Let's face it, no one actually enjoys visiting the doctor or dentist so it's easy to go months or even years without seeing one. Don't wait to make an appointment when there is a problem. Be proactive and make sure the whole family visits the doctor, dentist and optometrist at least once a year. Don't think of these visits as an unnecessary expense, think of them as an investment that can save you from dipping into your emergency fund later on.

Don't Skimp
When it comes to healthcare and hygiene items, it can be extremely tempting to buy the cheapest brand or to not bother buying some things at all when you are trying to save money. Do yourself a favor and don't skimp on items such as toothpaste and floss, vitamins and nutritious food. Once again, think of these items as an investment that can save you money over time. Don't be afraid to call your healthcare professional's office between visits to get free advice so you can make informed decisions if you are not sure what brand of a particular item you should buy. They may even have free samples they can give you.

Kick Bad Habits
Bad habits such as smoking can not only be expensive, but can also lead to numerous health problems. The American Heart Association has some interesting facts about all the health problems that smoking causes and even has a Cost of Smoking Calculator that can help you figure out how much money you can save by quitting smoking. There are some other bad habits that you may not realize can cost you big later on. Drinking soda, for example, can wear away the enamel on your teeth over time and lead to serious dental bills in the future. Chewing ice, excessive coffee consumption and eating fast food too often are some other common bad habits that can wear away at your teeth and health over time—and lead to serious bills in the future.

Are you doing anything to help save money on future healthcare costs? Do you see your health as an investment?

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