**Dentist Update:

We moved here 10 years ago, and I tried out a couple of very highly recommended dentists. Ugh! They told me I needed thousands of dollars of work that I didn't need. I am just too smart to fall for that.

We stuck with our dentist 100 miles away - was definitely WORTH IT!

But dentist retired, and it's time for a new dentist. It's been time for 6 months. I have just been *dreading* it.

What we decided was what we needed most of all was a conservative dentist, after talking to a dentist friend of ours (who practices even further away than our last dentist). OF course, everyone I know is happy to recommend us to scammy dentists (what do they care - just run it all up on the credit card) and primarily cosmetic dentists (which I have no interest in paying for). I just want *clean* teeth, and someone who doesn't recommend unnecessary work. & it's not *just* about the money. I don't want unnecessary drilling done to my teeth!! Is it just me??

I finally lucked out with a dentist I found online. Raving reviews about how "conservative" and honest he was. Plus, he didn't look old enough to be retiring in a couple of years. Phew!!! So I sent dh out to try him out. Took him forever to get in, but he went in yesterday. When he got back home from the appointment, I grabbed the receipt. It said $60. I said, "um, no x-rays?" Dh tells me had x-rays and the works. What the heck??? So I apparently found, "honest, conservative, and dirt cheap." I have an appointment set up in about 6 weeks...

That's what I get for dragging my feet - been paying way too much for a dentist for many many years.

The kids' dentist is on the more expensive side, but I think very worthwhile. I suppose this will help even it out. {By some miracle we found a really good pediatric dentist practice, which is needed because they do a lot of orthodontia prevention and work with orthodontists. Might not be necessary for most, but definitely necessary for us - trying to save money down the road. The kids inherited my mess of a mouth, which my folks spent a fortune on. Of course, I don't think they need a pediatric dentist forever. Is helpful for now}.

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I think this is the theme around here lately - better deals locally. We moved here because the cost of living is cheaper. WE were primarily concerned about the cost of housing, but really everything is cheaper. It's hard to get across to people how expensive *everything* is in a high-cost area. People have high rents and mortgages, so services cost more. People can't afford to work for pennies, so the high price of wages and services just drives up the cost of *everything.*

BUT, when we moved here there was a HUGE housing boom, and money was apparently no object. So the prices of everything went sky high. Then housing got insane expensive, and more of the same. But since then, everything has kind of contracted back to where we started. I mentioned I was dumbfounded by the low price of furniture, over the weekend. I think there was an element of "economy" and also a large element of "shopping local." At normal "local prices." Something we haven't seen most of the time we have lived here.

This dentist is obviously dirt cheap. BUT, I can also assure your our last dentist was paying a bajillion dollars in rent, simply due to location. This guy easily doesn't have near that kind of overhead. So I will enjoy the savings.

The other interesting thing I have been noticing is that the *best* out there just don't charge what they are worth. If you read my blog, you might think I am mostly concerned with price, because we keep getting rock bottom deals on services. BUT, I was actually more focused on the quality of service we were getting, and honesty and integrity. Sad to say, these people just do not charge enough. Though I admit most people around here probably couldn't afford fair prices anyway. Maybe they are just charging what they can generally get out of people. Not much, these days.

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Oh, I got paid and nothing was really due, so I decided to just pay the new mortgage early, after all. Will see how long it takes to post. There was nowhere to indicate "extra principal" online, so I just sent a message with my intent.

I put a little extra to the mortgage in anticipation of overtime check on the 15th. BUT, it was a small enough amount and a worthy enough goal that I think I would do it anyway. Maybe not this month, otherwise. But, I was antsy. I just want extra payments to be easy and smooth. Will see!