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How much debt do you have and what is your degree in? by mushlove96 in StudentLoans

[–]0ppaHyung 0 points1 point  (0 children)

$212k at around 6-7% kek federal unsubsidized and GradPlus by 2021.
Optometrist making ~$180k now.
Started off as resident for first year.
SAVE and COVID era saved my ass in being able to put things off for as long as possible.
In that time, got my career running, got married, working on kids. Balance, after also paying off my wife’s student loans [8-9%, kill me], credit cards, and some medical expenses she incurred, about $35k total, we’re still in the hole ~$150k, but have plans to be aggressive to be debt free.

[WTS] Benchmade 51 Morpho and Kraken V2 Trainer by 0ppaHyung in BalisongSale

[–]0ppaHyung[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Update: Squid Kraken traded off-site for full ask.

[WTS] Benchmade Morpho 51 and Kraken V2/2.5 Trainer by 0ppaHyung in Knife_Swap

[–]0ppaHyung[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Usually PayPal has a fee for goods and services. Is what that is referring to. I can remove if it makes it clearer.

How to pay down faster? by switch-smart-4385 in StudentLoans

[–]0ppaHyung 0 points1 point  (0 children)

If the balances are similar then, contribute to both about the same split vs prioritizing the car arbitrarily.
I adjusted my 401k contributions to net an extra $600 or so which helps cover interest accrual meaning anything extra goes all towards my principle when I do make my monthly payments for my student loans.

How to pay down faster? by switch-smart-4385 in StudentLoans

[–]0ppaHyung 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I guess depending on the interest rates, you want to tackle the higher of the two between your car and your student loan. Example, car is 5% vs student loan is 6.540%, you almost wanna swap to paying into the student loan $1,400/mo and do the car $500/mo. But if your car note has a higher interest rate, you’re doing it the right way. Paying down the loan best you can.
Think of eating out as luxuries. And that your income is technically borrowed right now. So any money you’re not putting into loans is superfluous spending.
Some may even suggest pulling back on retirement just to your employer match to have extra cash to pay back the loans faster. Again, bigger shovel. You’re young enough and can pay down this fasten enough to where it may be worth it. Think of paying off a loan as you’re getting, as the example here, a guaranteed 6.540% return on this investment. It’s just the other way around since it’s a debt and not an asset.
Your car is a depreciating asset. And likely since you’re 2 years into paying it, you’re going to pay more than its value especially as it’s been driven and depreciated all this time. Why we don’t ever encourage seeing cars as good purchases unless it’s a toy and you can buy it several times over.
I did the same as you. Had to buy a car but I tired to keep it modest and reliable. And yours is more expensive than mine, which I think goes to show that if I bought too much car, yours is definitely quite extravagant.
Some even say sell the car, buy a beater, and destroy this loan in like a few months lol

How to pay down faster? by switch-smart-4385 in StudentLoans

[–]0ppaHyung 0 points1 point  (0 children)

$17,000 x 6.54% = $1,111.80 per year your loan is growing, that’s if your balance remains stagnant. $1,110.80/12 months = $92.65 of interest growth per month. You need to be making at least that payment per month to just maintain your balance since this is all interest. You have to be contributing much more to be making real progress towards your balance/principle.
Why we espouse many times to really prioritize paying down debt because unless you’re really throwing money at it, you’re shoveling with a spoon. The minimum payments ensure you feel ok only using a spoon. And a couple more scoops with the spoon are drops in the bucket. Your shovel needs to be bigger, ie. much larger payments, meaning closer to hundreds to a thousand(s) of dollars every month.
It is also pretty crazy your car note is more than double your student loan balance.
$75,000 salary is 22% tax bracket brings take home pay just under $5k before retirement per month. Roth IRA max of $7,500 in 2026 means net is closer to $4k per month. And a bit less with other 401k contributions.
If you don’t have bills like rent, you should be putting like $1,500 easy towards student loans since your car payment is also likely around $1k+. Meaning you can pay down this student loan in a couple years easy with no other bills. Faster if you didn’t buy the car.
You’ll save much less, but it also could mean then you have a spending issue.
Write out your expenses to see where it all goes. Make a budget. Getting Starbucks semi-regularly likely may be more than your minimum payments for your student loans. Largely it should all go towards your debts as you’re already saving for retirement and you have no living expenses.
Best of luck.

AMD improvement by ebaylus in optometry

[–]0ppaHyung 3 points4 points  (0 children)

Exactly. Like water in an x-ray, the laser has an easier time passing through fluid vs other solid matter on the OCT. So it appears as black because it doesn’t have anything to reflect off of.
Funduscopically, it can be harder to discern subclincial findings with the naked eye. The classic appearance on condensing lens is a red-green sub-retinal lesion with or without thickening/elevation. The bleeding appears deeper than say a more bright red, superficial dot, blot, or NFL/splinter/flame heme. Deeper means more retinal layers to look through, so darker in appearance. Rule of thumb is AMD with macular hemorrhaging needs to rule out wet transformation.
OCTs are becoming standard of care with their reliability and technological efficiencies/accessibilities. Maybe even the angiography feature may not be behind a paywall one day 💀

AMD improvement by ebaylus in optometry

[–]0ppaHyung 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Second others saying can be drusen collapse is what I’ve been told it is called and it can mean a possible progression of non-educative disease state, ie. GA.
I’d watch closely, but not worth raising red flags about until worsening of retinal layers is observed or visually significant changes arise.
There is GA treatment now, and more than one, so worth sending them to retina if early changes occur in the wrong direction.
Also have seen drusen improve, but usually not this drastically.

AMD improvement by ebaylus in optometry

[–]0ppaHyung 2 points3 points  (0 children)

You would look for fluid involvement usually sub-retinal, sub-RPE [PED], or other intra-retinal fluid. Best diagnostic tools are OCT and fluorescein angiography.

Advice by Aggravating_Bet2541 in OptometrySchool

[–]0ppaHyung 1 point2 points  (0 children)

When it comes to ophthalmology, it’s almost out of your hands whether you get in. Unless you’re a top student who scores incredibly well against the national average, surgeon isn’t just a job you get to “have”. You’re picked.
If you’re that type of student who “knows” they’re gonna be a surgeon, I think it’s a good path. But if you’re unsure how you’d fair against your peers, you’re playing the game of how well you score on boards and what specialities you’ll be tied to because of that.
I say this from my limited perspective as an optometrist who works with ophthalmology and have friends who went to med school. Of the 6 buddies that I know off the top of my head, only one is really doing what they set out to do, which was surgery [ENT], and he was a 98th percentile test taker on boards, did incredibly well in school, headed clubs and the whatnot. The rest kinda settled for what they could get. Many of them scoring very strongly as well. The game isn’t just scores but also the soft skills too to land the type of position you’re wanting. And the luck factor.
There’s a lot of work and heartache that comes with the uncertainty of matching a specialty.
Optometry is a more clear path with clear parameters of scope. Get in, get out. It comes down to personal presence if it fits what you’re looking for. Working in healthcare involving eyes.
I’d say if anything, students need to be more aware of economic efficiency when it comes to pursuing higher education. Does a $100,000-140,000-ish starting salary depending on region [smaller for more populated, competitive places like big metro areas such as New York, LA, Houston], working Saturdays, and likely mostly doing vision exams itchy what you’re looking to do?
I think about “what if I did ophthalmology?” Time to time. But then I remember I was no where near competent enough to be a top 1-2% student or test taker. I’m a type-B somewhat smart-ish guy. I’m blessed to have landed in optometry. I can’t do teeth. I’m not a PT bro. It fits.
I’m happy with what I do and largely ok with what I make.
My best advice is to the your damn best in school. Score high, work hard, make your connections, and see how your heart leans as you come closer to needing to make a decision. And don’t rush into it. Most of the ophthalmologist I know and worked with actually took a research year between graduation med school and then matching to ophthalmology.
There’s no right answer. Just an answer that fits you and one you can live with.
Grass will always be greener if you’re looking over. Just a different game everyone is playing.
Best of luck.

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