I Paid Off My 'Bad Debt' (and I’m all smiles)
I have a confession.
I recently paid off what I consider a “bad debt.” Yep, even as a money coach and financial adviser, I’ve had one too.
And it wasn’t for a car or a fancy handbag. It was for… my teeth.
Now, people often say, “But your old teeth looked fine. I didn’t notice anything wrong.” And they’re right — they weren’t terrible. But for me, they were an insecurity I’d carried for years. One of those things I couldn’t stop noticing about myself.
So after more than a decade of thinking about it, I finally did it.
Funny thing is, right after the procedure, I actually became more self-conscious. They felt fake. Not quite me. That phase passed, but it’s wild how even when you fix something you’ve always wanted to change, it doesn’t always feel amazing straight away.
This decision was a long time coming
I’d been considering it for over 10 years. I could’ve fixed them with traditional braces multiple times over in that period — and honestly, I know I should have.
I still remember my best friend getting braces at 17. It felt like social suicide back then. I should’ve joined her and just got it over with together.
But here I am now, years later, and I finally followed through.
Being a finance person, I love the details — so here are mine
I did the research. Got quotes from three different dentists, and explored every option: veneers, crowns, traditional braces, Invisalign-style treatments.
I ended up going with a dentist in Brisbane (about 1.5 hours from where I live). She was one of the more affordable options, but I also really liked her. She was genuine, had used the same product & procedure herself so I could the results, and gave honest recommendations — including suggesting I do less to get the same result, and keep options open for the future. That mattered to me.
Yes, I looked into overseas options too. I’m a travel lover and a bargain hunter, so of course I was tempted. But ultimately, I felt more confident going local.
The big shocker: I financed it
No, I didn’t access my superannuation, even though If those predatory ads on social media are anything to go by, apparently, it’s easy! But my superannuation is too important to me.
But… This might surprise a few people-I took out a loan— even though I had the cash to pay for it.
Why?
At the time, I was in the middle of a divorce settlement and building a house (an investment interstate). I didn’t know what was going to come up, and I wanted to keep as much of my money on hand as possible.
Financing it cost more, of course. There were application fees, monthly charges, an exit fee. But I was happy to pay that premium for the flexibility it gave me. Having that buffer in my bank account felt worth it. It passed my sleep at night test!
Would I do it again?
If you’d asked me in the first three months after the procedure, the answer would’ve been no. It was painful, and the recovery dragged on far longer than expected. I had serious regrets!!
But now, two years on? I’m glad I did it. I feel more confident, I like the way I look in photos, and I’ve stopped obsessing over something that used to really bother me.
That said, if I hadn’t done it yet and was thinking about it now, I’m not sure it would be a financial priority. But it’s easy to say that from the other side, with a smile I finally feel good about.
The real lesson?
We all make decisions that don’t necessarily make the best financial decisions.
Sometimes, it’s about timing. Sometimes, it’s about what gives you peace of mind or confidence. Sometimes, it’s just a human choice, not a perfect financial one.
And that’s okay.
If you’re in a season where you're resetting your finances, questioning old spending patterns, or just trying to rebuild your confidence around money — my book The Money Reset was written exactly for that.
It will help you get back to basics, let go of guilt from past money decisions, and reshape your mindset and behaviours so you can move forward with clarity.
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Gemma x