tellhimfred.com

At work we have a program where you can set pre-tax money aside each year to go into a flex savings account for medical expenses. They give you a “Benny” card, which is a debit card that is tied to the account. Last year I decided to put $800 aside for the account.

There’s a reason for this.

When I first started going to my dentist, they told me that I needed new fillings, a root canal, etc. This was right before I was to decide what to put aside for the year. I asked the dentist, and they gave me a figure of $500. Now remember, this is after what’s covered by medical insurance. So, between that, contacts, and prescriptions, I came up with $800.

Well, that was last February.

Last week I realized that I had $400 left in my account. And here’s the kicker: if you don’t spend it, it disappears. So I realized I had to spend this money on something or I’d lose it. I can’t really think of anything I’d want from a pharmacy, so I was just going to forget about it.

Toby decided to change my mind:

He decided to play with my glasses while I slept. I had to spend about 30 minutes trying to bend them back into shape.

On Monday, I found out that although I had $400 left in my account, my card was suspended. Why? My dentist sent them a $42.00 charge without any information on what it was for. It took until tuesday to get that straightened out. That was the last possible day I could spend the money before it vanished.

Luckily I was able to get new frames and had them charge me early. I went to the eye doctor’s office and said “I have $400 on my Benny card and I want to spend every last cent, but I have to do it today.” I think they like customers like me.

I went from wasting $400 to having unchewed frames and a new pair of prescription sunglasses.