We went monthly too, and honestly, it wasn't as rigid as I expected. When my husband switched jobs and we had a tighter month, the orthodontist's office was pretty understanding—they let us shift a payment without any hassle. I'd definitely ask upfront about their policy on flexibility, though. Like you said:
"Sometimes peace of mind and flexibility outweigh the extra interes..."
Exactly my thinking. Saving money is great, but not stressing every month is worth something too. Did they mention anything about late fees or adjustments if needed?
When we did monthly payments, I asked upfront about late fees and they said they usually don't charge unless you're consistently late. But every office is different, so definitely worth checking. Honestly, flexibility was a lifesaver for us—especially when our water heater decided to die mid-treatment... priorities, right? I'd rather pay a bit extra overall than have that monthly stress hanging over my head. Did your ortho mention if there's a discount for paying upfront? Ours offered one, but it wasn't enough to sway me.
We had a similar situation—our ortho offered a discount upfront, but honestly, it wasn't enough to ease my anxiety about paying that much in one go. I totally get the stress of monthly payments though... especially when life throws curveballs (like your water heater—ouch!). For me, knowing I could juggle things around if an emergency popped up was worth paying a little extra overall. Definitely double-check with your office about late fees and flexibility; every practice seems to handle it differently. Good luck!
We went through something similar recently, and honestly, I spent way too many nights crunching numbers and second-guessing myself. The upfront discount was tempting, but like you said, it wasn't enough to offset the anxiety of dropping that much cash at once. Plus, life has a funny way of surprising us—our fridge decided to die literally two weeks after we started braces payments (talk about timing...).
In the end, we opted for monthly payments because it gave us breathing room. Sure, we pay a bit more overall, but knowing there's flexibility if something unexpected pops up is priceless for my peace of mind. Definitely agree with checking on late fees or hidden charges though—our office was pretty transparent, but I've heard some horror stories from friends.
Also, don't hesitate to shop around or get a second opinion if you're still unsure. We found another ortho who offered slightly better terms and felt more comfortable overall. Sometimes just having options can ease the stress a bit. Good luck—I totally feel your pain on this one!
"Sure, we pay a bit more overall, but knowing there's flexibility if something unexpected pops up is priceless for my peace of mind."
Totally relate to this. We went monthly too, and honestly, the peace of mind outweighed any upfront savings. One thing I'd add—check if your ortho offers payment flexibility down the line. Ours was really understanding when my husband switched jobs and our payday shifted unexpectedly. Life happens, and having someone willing to work with you makes all the difference...
