         # Big decimal for attributes that need precision math
         bigdec:
             set: (newVal) ->
-                val: new _.bigDecimal(newVal)
-                type: 'bigdec'
+                val = _.bigDecimal(newVal) unless _.isUndefined(newVal) or _.isNull(newVal)
+                { val, type: 'bigdec' }
             default: -> new _.bigDecimal(0)
 
         integer:

            options['include'] = needed
            this.fetch(options)


    # Calls Ampersand State's set method, then sets any associations that are present as well
    set: (key, value, options) ->

            attrs = {}
            attrs[key] = value
        super
        this.associations.set(this, attrs, options) if this.associations
        this

    # Loads records from the server that match query, returns a collection
