I know we all have different ideas about what "frugal" means, but I consider time to be money as well, and I also think money well spent should be something that belongs here too.

I've always had "catastrophic", high deductible health insurance, and there have even been times (even years) I've gone without health insurance. I chose to do this because I'm "young" (or I was young) and have no serious health conditions that require ongoing care, and I can bear 5K in case shit hits the fan. This has worked out well for me, and I've had no serious problems or medical bills over the past 10 years (I'm 36).

This year, I decided to splurge on really good insurance. And I'm using it - I enrolled in speech therapy, which I've wanted to do for years, and was diagnosed with something I've struggled with for a long time and for which I am finally getting help. I started physical therapy for ongoing shoulder pain, and they're also helping me with back issues and knee pain which I just associated with getting older and being overweight. My body feels SO much better, and I feel so much more free going about and doing things.

I even went to a cosmetic dermatologist, thinking about getting "work"done (which my insurance doesn't cover) but she pointed out that I had closed comedones and some congestion and that we should take care of that first - she had me shelf all my fancy expensive skincare and I am now using a prescription retinoid covered by insurance and drugstore moisturizer and nothing else.

Anyway, I squirmed at the monthly cost of this healthcare which I bought through the health marketplace, because I'm actually between jobs right now and am really broke. I'm living on $1600 per month. I'm paying $207 per month after the tax credit of $319, and I have a $50 deductible and a $750 out of pocket limit before insurance kicks in and pays 100% of everything. And I'll probably be paying much more when I get a job and call the marketplace to update them on my income.

But in the meantime, doing all this has made a huge difference in my life - I feel so much better and am so much more productive and active. I am considering going to a therapist too, but might wait a few months because that's just too much right now. I really do wish everyone had the privilege of getting all the care that they need instead of foregoing it for costs.

I am living hand to hand without anything left over at the end of the month. I have savings in case of an emergency, and haven't had to dig in yet, which is nice. I have a job interview on Tuesday for a job I'd be joyful to have if I got it.

Anyway, other people might not make these same choices, but I just wanted to share that. I felt that low cost catastrophic insurance was also the best, frugal choice for me, and it probably was at the time. But this is great too.