Totally get your reasoning here. We went back and forth on this too—did the math, checked our budget twice, and still felt unsure. Unexpected stuff always pops up, doesn't it? Glad you found some peace of mind going monthly... flexibility can really ease the stress.
We went through something similar when my daughter needed braces. I initially leaned toward paying upfront for the discount, but after crunching numbers and factoring in some recent car trouble (talk about unexpected...), monthly payments just made more sense. Sure, we lost out on a small savings, but the peace of mind knowing we had wiggle room each month was worth it. Sometimes flexibility really is the smarter financial move, even if it doesn't seem that way at first glance.
I see your point, but when I got braces as an adult, I did the upfront payment. Sure, flexibility's nice, but seeing that chunk of savings knocked off the total made me feel way better—especially after calculating how much interest adds up over time. Guess it depends on your comfort zone...
"Guess it depends on your comfort zone..."
Yeah, I totally get that. But as a parent, I'm always worried about unexpected expenses popping up—like what if something else comes along mid-treatment? Monthly payments feel safer to me, even if they cost a bit more overall. Did you factor in emergencies too?
I totally hear you on the whole "unexpected expenses" thing. When I got braces a few years back, I was initially tempted by the upfront discount—because who doesn't love saving money, right? But then life happened, as it always does. About halfway through my treatment, my car decided to break down in spectacular fashion (typical...). Suddenly, I had this huge mechanic bill on top of regular dental visits and adjustments. Honestly, having chosen monthly payments turned out to be a lifesaver. Sure, it cost me a bit more overall, but knowing exactly what was coming out of my account each month made budgeting way less stressful.
I think it's easy to underestimate how unpredictable life can get, especially when kids are involved. My sister went the upfront payment route for her son's braces, and she did save some cash initially. But then he broke his arm skateboarding (kids, right?), and suddenly she was scrambling to cover medical bills on top of everything else. She ended up having to dip into savings she'd earmarked for other things, which wasn't ideal.
So yeah, I definitely factored emergencies into my decision. For me, peace of mind was worth paying a little extra. But everyone's situation is different—some folks have a bigger cushion or fewer responsibilities, so upfront payments make sense for them. It's all about weighing your personal comfort with risk against potential savings, I guess.
