I Want To Know How Much It Costs!
As I sat in the hospital the other day, I was again reminded of how frustrating it can be to deal with financial matters relating to health care.
"How much does that procedure cost?"
Have you ever asked that question at a doctor's or hospital office?
I have rarely received a straight answer. In fact, most times the individual responds with a shocked look and then responds with an answer like, "I don't know" or "I have no idea". Even worse, I get this response: "It all depends." To which I respond, "Just tell me an average amount I should plan for." I then receive the worst response ever, "It all depends on your insurance and care provided."
I just want to know how much it costs!
Believe it or not, my doctor actually had a set number for cash-paying customers. He even gave a discount for pre-payment of the fee!
Can you imagine going into Wal-Mart, picking up a gallon of milk without seeing or being able to obtain a price? Then at the checkout, it would be a magic formula of one part random fees, one part insurance company garbled language and rates, and another part how nice you spoke to the person?
Tell me about your experiences with hospitals and doctors and their clarity of fees. Am I the only one?
Read recent posts
Keaton Joseph Sangl has arrived!
I am PUMPED to announce that Keaton Joseph Sangl has arrived! Here are the stats:
Read recent posts
- February 6, 2010
- 9:00PM
- 7 lb 15 oz
- 20 inches
- Very little hair (what he has is reddish-blonde and slightly curly)
- Mom is doing great
- Big sister Melea is FIRED UP!
Read recent posts Experts
I am sitting in the hospital patiently (or not so patiently) awaiting the arrival of our miracle baby (read that story HERE), and I am amazed at the capability of the professionals here. There is NOTHING like seeing an EXPERT at work doing something that they love to do! They are passionate about continuous learning (great leaders know that they don't know everything and are thirsty for more knowledge). They do what they love (they refuse to settle for a J.O.B.). It shows in their work.
If you are looking to take your finances to the next level, let me ask you a question.
When was the last time you sought out an EXPERT who is great at what you want to be great at?
If it is budgeting, seek an expert on budgeting (and use the FREE TOOLS on this website!). If it is investing, find an investment professional. If you want to learn how to save money on groceries, find an expert who can teach you how (like Clark Howard or The Saving Freak).
Where ever you want to go next, find someone who is already there - and ask them to help you! Most of them will be PUMPED to teach you!
By the way, the news about our new baby should appear here SOON - PRAY!
Read recent posts
Saving Freak Workshop – Hickory, NC
The Saving Freak will be leading the Saving Freak/Grocery Freak Workshop in Hickory next Tuesday (2/9) from 6:30PM - 8:30PM.
This workshop is focused on helping people free up money in their budget RIGHT NOW so that they can gain margin. Learn how to use coupons at the grocery store, how to cut travel costs by 50% or more, and how to obtain razors for free, and how to make that razor last more than 10 months :).
I personally have benefited from savings of over $1,500/year because of the tools/tips that he teaches - especially the tips on grocery shopping (couponing) and travel.
The cost is $10 for those who register in advance (HERE) or $15 at the door.
Since this IS a Saving Freak workshop, you should not be surprised that there is a coupon for those who register in advance. There is a spot on the REGISTRATION PAGE that says "Enter Discount Code". Use the coupon code "HALFOFF" to cut the advance ticket fee by 50%!
Read recent posts
Sangl Home Pay-Off Spectacular – February 2010
Every month there will be an update of Joe & Jenn's Home Pay-Off Spectacular!
Here's this month's update!
Total Squares: 2,426
Paid-For Squares: 826 831
Squares Remaining: 1600 1595
% of House Owned By The Sangl's: 34.0% 34.3%
% of House Owned By Wells Fargo: 66.0% 65.7%
Here is the updated Sangl Home Pay-Off Spectacular
[caption id="attachment_1581" align="aligncenter" width="300" caption="Home Pay-Off Spectacular"]
[/caption]
Baby Sangl is going to arrive in the next few days so that means we should be able to officially pay the hospital and stop saving for his medical bills. We will be replenishing the various savings funds and then attacking the mortgage again.
How are you doing on YOUR house payoff spectacular? If you do not have one, you can get one here => Pay Off Spectacular - House.
Read previous Sangl Home Pay-Off Spectacular Updates
[/caption]
Baby Sangl is going to arrive in the next few days so that means we should be able to officially pay the hospital and stop saving for his medical bills. We will be replenishing the various savings funds and then attacking the mortgage again.
How are you doing on YOUR house payoff spectacular? If you do not have one, you can get one here => Pay Off Spectacular - House.
Read previous Sangl Home Pay-Off Spectacular Updates So Grateful!
I am so PUMPED about what is happening through this crusade to help others accomplish far more than they ever thought possible with their personal finances! In just January alone, our team was able to:
- Teach 7 Financial Learning Experiences
- Teach 4 Financial Counseling Experiences
- Deliver 10 Money Messages
- Tape 8 Messages for the IWBNIN Group Study
Update on Baby Sangl Boy
We are in FINAL COUNTDOWN STAGES.
Official due date is February 6 which means that we are expecting his arrival in just 10 days or so.
Please keep Jenn in your prayers as she embarks on delivering our new son to the world!
What a miracle we have experienced! If you don't know the story, you should read our testimony HERE.
Read recent posts
Financial Learning Experience – Hickory, NC – Wednesday + Thursday
Tonight started off the first of THREE NIGHTS of teaching the Financial Learning Experience at Christ Church in Hickory and Statesville, NC!
I taught at the Statesville Campus tonight.
I will be teaching at the Mt. View Campus on Wednesday and Thursday from 6:30PM - 8:30PM. It is FREE and childcare is provided!
Check it out HERE. Would love to meet you there!
Read recent posts
Are You Listening To Yourself?
Have you made any of the following statements?
- A budget is just too hard to live by
- Debt freedom is not really that important to achieving my dreams
- I am too old to save for retirement
- My kids need to learn this stuff, but my financial situation is too far gone to recover
- I gave up dreaming long ago
- There is no way I can earn enough money to pay my bills
- There is no hope for me
- A budget is just too hard to live by (It is a GREAT way to live, and it is the most FREEING thing I have ever done - and remember - I'm a spender!)
- Debt freedom is not really that important to achieving my dreams (Debt freedom is THE REASON my family has been able to achieve many of its dreams!)
- I am too old to save for retirement (Wrong - Even if you are 183 years old, you can still save for retirement)
- My kids need to learn this stuff, but my financial situation is too far gone to recover (Children learn best from a parent who is living strong financial principles out loud in their own lives - and you CAN recover - 2 years from now your financial situation will be ancient history)
- I gave up dreaming long ago (Why?!!! Dreams are FREE!!! Dreaming re-awakens the desire and passion that is necessary to stick to a plan even when it is easy to give up)
- There is no way I can earn enough money to pay my bills (Yes you can. One key way is to reduce the number and amount of bills to be paid - a budget can really help bring that into focus)
- There is no hope for me (There IS hope for you! You CAN do this!)
Book Reviews: What Everyone Should Know About Money
I am blown away by the book reviews written about my new book What Everyone Should Know About Money Before They Enter THE REAL WORLD.
Check them out:
- Moneymonk wrote about it HERE.
- Keith Tackel wrote about it HERE.
- Cy wrote about it HERE.
- Coupon Girl Confessions wrote about it HERE.
- Tom at RusticTom wrote about it HERE.
- ProBikeWrench wrote about it HERE.
THIS WEEKEND: New River Community Church Lake Wylie SC
I am FIRED UP and extremely honored to speak at New River Community Church this weekend! I will be speaking during the Saturday evening 6PM service, the Sunday 9:15AM, 10:15AM, and 11:15AM services. Then I will be teaching the Financial Learning Experience at 3PM. You can register for the Financial Learning Experience HERE. The registration page is really basic, but create an account and register (or just show up - its free!). Free Samples
Like everyone else - I LOVE A DEAL! I wrote the "I Was Broke" part of my book by always paying full price for items. I was able to write the "Now I'm Not" part by demanding a deal.
I have been learning a lot about obtaining great deals from The Saving Freak.
One way to save money is try out free samples. A good site to check out is Shop4Freebies (link has expired).
Since Jenn and I are expecting a baby boy in early February, I signed up for a bunch of free diaper samples!
Hope you find some deals!
Read recent posts
5 Reasons To Lead A Personal Finance Study – Part 5
In this series, I am sharing five reasons to lead the I Was Broke. Now I'm Not. personal finance study at your church or business.
Part 5 Schools Are Not Teaching It Enough
Most people I meet had "one or none" classes that taught personal finances. I personally had one class and it was called "Home Economics". It was about the home economy, but we only learned how to make no-bake cookies (which we didn't even put in the oven!).
I am guessing that you would not be excited about leading a group study about calculus or geometry, but helping people with such a practical and potentially life-changing skill set is tremendously rewarding! We can complain all we want about the schools not teaching it, but that does not address the fact that most of us are not still in school and need to learn it now.
Thank you so much for reading this series! You can be a part of this effort by leading the I Was Broke. Now I'm not. Group Study. You can learn more about the study and purchase kits HERE.
Read entire series
Read recent posts
Leadership Lessons From THE BOOK – William G. Bliss
Let's face it. If you are a Christian leader, it can be difficult to connect biblical principles to practical application in the workforce. In an arena where "what is right" gets clouded with "what is best" and both of those can be driven by "what is most financially beneficial to us", it is important to have clear knowledge of how to PRACTICALLY APPLY biblical principles.
I met with Bill last summer to talk about growing the crusade, and during our conversation I learned that he had a book manuscript that he wanted to have published. As he told me more about it, I KNEW that I HAD to help him get the book to market. So our organization published it for him.
If you are a business leader or you know someone who is, this book is perfect for them. Bill teaches the biblical principle and then provides PRACTICAL APPLICATION tools to ensure that it is able to be placed into practice. With chapters titled "Setting A Vision", "Quiet Time & Prayer", "Servant Leadership", "Communication", "Leadership Development", "Setting Expectations", and "Stewardship" - you can see how this book can help!
A line from Leadership Lessons From THE BOOK stands out to me: "As one moves higher up on the leadership ladder, the skill at building trusting relationships becomes much more important than the continued development of a functional skill such as science, engineering, or finance."
I recommend this book not just because I published it, but because it has personally helped me in growing IWBNIN!
You can check it out, read the intro, and purchase copies for you and your team HERE.
I met with Bill last summer to talk about growing the crusade, and during our conversation I learned that he had a book manuscript that he wanted to have published. As he told me more about it, I KNEW that I HAD to help him get the book to market. So our organization published it for him.
If you are a business leader or you know someone who is, this book is perfect for them. Bill teaches the biblical principle and then provides PRACTICAL APPLICATION tools to ensure that it is able to be placed into practice. With chapters titled "Setting A Vision", "Quiet Time & Prayer", "Servant Leadership", "Communication", "Leadership Development", "Setting Expectations", and "Stewardship" - you can see how this book can help!
A line from Leadership Lessons From THE BOOK stands out to me: "As one moves higher up on the leadership ladder, the skill at building trusting relationships becomes much more important than the continued development of a functional skill such as science, engineering, or finance."
I recommend this book not just because I published it, but because it has personally helped me in growing IWBNIN!
You can check it out, read the intro, and purchase copies for you and your team HERE.






















