More than a penny saved...

There was an article I found yesterday while reading the news on the internet, sharing the story of a couple who paid cash for their home after zealously saving for two and a half years.  That is remarkable to say the least.  Here's a link to that story. 

The article tells of the ways they were able to save as much as $1700 a month to put towards purchasing that home and ways they earned extra income to help reach their goal-including blogging.

I'm not writing here about their budget. I'm writing about a startling discovery I made when I read the story.  And yes, it's a way to save money---BIG MONEY.

This brief blog is about eyeglasses.   I have myopia (I'm near-sighted).  I've worn glasses since the third or fourth grade.  When I reached my late forties, the optician convinced me that I had a problem reading and seeing things close up.   So he prescribed and I bought bi-focals   None of this is startling news...many of us as we age need reading glasses and many as well are near-sighted. (although to this day, I'm still trying to figure out how we become near-sighted AND far-sighted at the same time).  Over the ensuing years, I've had my eyes checked again and again...of course the prescription changed, too meaning I'd need another new pair of eyeglasses (curiously, the hyperopia - far-sightedness - is the only thing that has changed). 

The last time I had an eye exam, the new glasses with sturdy, bendable titanium frames, cost something like $305.  Since the last eye exam, the economy took a dump and our income did as well.  For the past couple of years, I've made due with eyeglasses and a prescription that is four or five years old.  Well, the frames on that pair of eyeglasses broke for the umteenth time (Remember, I raise horses and sometimes, through no fault of their own, they are knocked off by a flying hoof and a quickly moving head when I'm doing something with the animals- an occupational hazard, to be sure.).  I'm not sure my eyeglass repair person can fix them again so I'm settling for an older, scratched pair for this time.

It's time to get the eyes examined (and perhaps my head, too) for sure right now.  We've been cringing at the cost a new pair will be.  That's where the article I read yesterday comes in.  The author mentioned that they bought their eyeglasses from Zenni Optical.  I'd never heard of them so of course, internet surfer that I am, I checked them out.  All I can say is "wow".

The link to Zenni Optical is above.   To make Zenni Optical work, all you need is a complete prescription in front of you that you can read and accurately type in the the numbers on the prescription.  They have quite a few frame choices from conservative to very crazy (probably more than most optician shops).  they take you through the process step-by-step from choosing a set of frames (and including a way to see exactly how they are going to look on YOUR face) through getting the correct lenses, tints, and multi focal  lenses as well if you need them as I do.

The big deal here is that the cost is amazingly inexpensive.  I mentioned above that the last pair of glasses I bought were $305.  I inputted fairly close information to check prices and a similar frame to "my most recent favorite" frame with light bi-focal lenses that are "progressive" (no-line) and photo-chromic (darken in the sunlight).  I was flabbergasted to see the price-----$50.05!!!!  Without actually completing the order, I don't know if there was shipping included on top of that price but even so...that's saving more than $250!!!

The reviews I read about Zenni Optical were positive.  They have a live chat, an email AND an 800 number if you need help.   Needless to say, I'm going to try them out.   If it works as well as it sounds like it's going to, I may end up with two or three pair of eyeglasses. 



Zenni Optical.com

Crystal Paine, the Money Saving Mom Blog   This blog is loaded with ways to save money from coupon clipping to ways to earn money on the internet.