Life is Expensive, But LASIK Saves You Money

Life is Expensive, But LASIK Saves You Money

Published by Lance Kugler, MD on April 11, 2016

LASIK is affordable for almost everyone. In fact, considering all the money you will save by not throwing it away on glasses and contact lenses, you can’t afford NOT to have LASIK. With our 24 months interest free financing option and Health Savings Account (HSA) or Flexible Spending Account (FSA) programs, the savings become even better. LASIK is one of the best ways possible for someone to stop wasting money. It is also a perfect way to invest in yourself and your future. Compared to other daily expenses, LASIK is a great value. Consider these common expenses:

• Coffee
• Internet and Cable Bill
• Fast Food
• Cell Phone Bill
• Car Payments

Let’s look at each of these in detail. You will clearly see that that LASIK is affordable and a great way to save money.

For the Love of Lattes

Love is an intense feeling of deep affection. Some people claim to love coffee. Others claim to be coffee addicts who enjoy least one cup of java daily. Drinking coffee may be pleasurable; however, if you are guilty of paying $4.20 or more for a cup of coffee daily, then you may have a slight addiction! We know the word addiction may seem strong– but that’s what it’s called when a behavior is automatic, and seen as a necessity to function!

We don’t mean to be dramatic, but here are some popular, fun phrases about coffee.

• “Working without coffee is called sleeping”
• “Life Begins After Coffee”
• “I don’t have a problem with caffeine, I have a problem without it!”
• “You can’t buy happiness, but you can buy coffee!”

Coffee’s fantastic! But it comes at a high cost. According to a recent survey of American workers by Accounting Principals, Americans who regularly buy a small or medium coffee throughout the week spend on average $21 a week and $1,092 annually. Buy 1 large latte each work day in the Omaha area, and you’ll spend on average $93.20 per month, for a grand total of $1,118.40 per year!

Average Bundle – Internet and Cable

Chances are if you are considering LASIK, you live in an apartment or home with a trusty high speed internet and cable package! High speed internet is an absolute must in today’s society. Today’s fast-paced, information driven lifestyle requires the speediest, most reliable in-home wifi for all rooms and all devices, all the time! We expect consistently fast speeds, even during peak hours. With our society becoming more technologically advanced, we rely on the internet for news, communication, entertainment, work, school, and more! However, as our wifi interest has increased, our cable interest has decreased thanks to new providers streaming movies and TV series on demand and according to our own schedules!

Let’s be modest and say that you have invested in the lowest possible cable channel selection. In Omaha, NE as of April 2016, the average cost for the smallest available basic cable package is approximately $69.99 a month– $839.99 annually. This covers local channels and some basic cable channel up to 72, and internet access. That’s the bare minimal you can get, and in most cases only offered as an introductory rate! Bundle packages with 220+ channels are significantly more. In fact, the average bundle for cable and internet costs around $110 per month, for $1320 per year– and that’s not including all those sports packages you love! Most people do not realize how much this is costing them, and this $839.99 yearly goes on forever– that is unless the bill raises after the initial contract offer expires!

The Lunch Rush– American Fast Food Habits

In 1970, Americans spent about $6 billion on fast food. Today, we spend more than $110 billion! In fact, the American population now spends more money on fast food than on higher education, personal computers, books, magazines, newspapers, and recorded music combined, according to New York Times. On average, Americans who eat fast food twice a week spend on about $12.50 per meal. 70% of Americans consume fast food up to three times a week. At $12.50 per meal, that’s roughly $150 a month and $1,800 annually. 7% of Americans consume it daily, spending a grand total of $4,562.50 per year.   The average American would save $36.75 per person per week by moving all of their meals from restaurants to home-prepared meals. That’s roughly $147 a month and $1,911 annually.

Calling Life Support

We can’t function without technology! We live in an ever-advancing world and an increa singly-technological society. Nearly half of U.S. consumers reported that they couldn’t last a day without their mobile devices, according to a study by Bank of America. Our phones have become so important to us, we treat them as an essential like a wallet or our keys. The average American pays a monthly cellphone bill of $138.25, and the annual expense is $1,659! Most of us do not think about the expense of our cellphones in terms of the yearly cost, but the number is staggering. Cell phone bills are continuously climbing and show no signs of  slowing down anytime soon.

Top 4 Carriers Average Bills

• Verizon $148 monthly, $1776 annually
• Sprint $144 monthly, $1728 annually
• AT&T $141 monthly, $1692 annually
• T-Mobile $120 monthly, $1440 annually

CBS reported the numbers, which reflect postpaid subscribers, included all taxes and fees, and included both individual users and customers with family plans. American’s spend nearly 50% more on their mobile phone service today than they did in 2007.

Got your car finally paid off and already need a new one?

Seems like car payments are a never ending cycle. In 2015, According to Experian, Americans’ average new-car loan payment hit a record of $482 per month, and the average used car loan amount increased to $437 per month. The length of a new car loan is an average of 66 months and a used car loan is an average of 62 months! We have great news for you! Kugler Vision lets you end another never ending cycle of purchasing new glasses and contacts annually, with LASIK! The one time cost of LASIK will save you thousands, some even save tens of thousands of dollars throughout their lifetime. Find out how much you’d save with our interactive calculator.

Stop Wasting Money on Glasses and Contacts!

It’s difficult to cut out everyday ongoing expenses, but glasses and contact lenses are one expense that you can cut out immediately by having LASIK! Life is expensive enough, LASIK is a way to save! The sooner you see LASIK is right for your eyes and lifestyle, the sooner you can start saving and live in a world without barriers. Imagine a life without contacts or glasses! It’s not nearly as expensive as you may have thought. Here is an average breakdown of eye care costs over the span of 10 years.  Glasses

• • Eye exam: $150 (every two years)
  • Frames: $450 (every two years)

• 10 year total: $3,000

Soft Disposable Lenses and Back-Up Glasses

• • Initial exam with lenses: $225
  • Contact lenses: $200 (each year)
  • Eye exam: $150 (each year)
  • Solution: $200 (each year)
  • Frames: $450 (every two years)

• 10 year total: $7,975

Rigid Gas Permeable Lenses and Back-Up Glasses

• • Initial exam with rigid gas lenses: $300
  • Eye exam: $150 (each year)
  • Rigid gas contact lenses: $400
  • Solution: $200 (each year)
  • Frames: $450 (every two years)

• 10 year total: $6,450

LASIK may seem expensive in the short-term, but when you calculate how much you are paying for your current eye care over the long run, LASIK is clearly a better value. The cost of LASIK varies for each person and largely depends on the surgeon and technology they use. As with most things in life, you typically get what you pay for! If you compromise on price then you will be compromising on quality. When it comes to eye surgery quality is not something on which you should compromise. Kugler Vision offers a variety of financing options to make eye surgery affordable for anyone. If you think you are ready to take the next step into finding a better solution for your eyes, do not let finances be an obstacle.

It’s Time for LASIK

As these examples demonstrate, LASIK is a small expense compared to what the average person spends on in other areas of their lifestyle for the rest of their lives! And after the one time cost of LASIK, the savings kick in indefinitely. No more contacts. No more glasses. No more wasting money. Brilliant! Get your best vision today!

Lance Kugler, MD

Lance Kugler, MD, is a specialist in LASIK and vision correction surgery and CEO of Kugler Vision. A proud Omaha native, he is passionate about improving lives through clear vision. Dr. Kugler serves on several national boards, and his practice is recognized internationally as a center of excellence. Dr. Kugler is one of the original founders of the Refractive Surgery Alliance, an international organization comprised of over 350 of the world’s leading vision correction surgeons; he also served as its first president. In 2019, Dr. Kugler was selected as a TEDx speaker, and delivered a talk in Omaha about the worldwide epidemic of nearsightedness and refractive solutions. Dr. Kugler is an Associate Professor of Refractive Surgery at the University of Nebraska Medical Center’s Truhlsen Eye Institute, has been published in many medical journals, and participates in numerous clinical studies to advance the field of vision correction surgery. Additionally, Dr. Kugler is proud to be a Board Certified Fellow of the World College of Refractive Surgery & Visual Sciences. Dr. Kugler and his wife are proud parents to five active kids. When he has a spare moment, he enjoys skiing, tennis, travel, and fine coffee.