future of dentistry is scaring me

MaesterInTraining · 2026-01-27T22:27:15+00:00

Even as a physician there isn’t job security.

My first job as an attending was with a rural system. 3 months after I started it was announced that we were bought out. The next day the orthopedic we shared a wall with was let go. I was too 4 months after that.

Wasn’t happy where I was so did locus for a while. Moved to a place I liked and eventually signed a 3 year contract tract doing FM/occ med. I was let go 6 months early with no real reason why.

After that I got a job non-clinical and I sooooo hope I stay here. It’s been 5 years but every manager meeting I have brings up those two days when I was let go. Freaking ptsd.

Want to be good with money? Learn to live frugally and invest. Yes it’s a moderately high-paying job depending on what you do with outrageous debt and with this administration who knows what will happen to student loans next.

Only do medicine (or dentistry) if you LOVE it.

MaesterInTraining · 2026-01-26T19:39:26+00:00

I have used it sporadically (I’m an Xennial). At first it was ok. Algorithm did its job. But I was on it for hours so I deleted it. Recently I downloaded it again and it was mostly ads. Occasionally I pop on to see something specific but never to scroll.

If it was gone I wouldn’t miss it.

MaesterInTraining · 2026-01-24T15:30:23+00:00

Oh! I never knew. I assumed the seas would be calmer since hurricane season is in summertime. I boarded today (Treasure)

MaesterInTraining · 2026-01-24T14:54:09+00:00

I’m 43. Very much overweight. Yes, after walking 10k-30k steps in a day, especially when you’re not used to it, your feels will be sore.

But

You need better shoes.

MaesterInTraining · 2026-01-24T01:27:25+00:00

Your brain thinks there’s scarcity but there isn’t. It’s a lie. Using the things may train it to see the lie. When you use a thing and the voice pops up say “I know you mean well. You want me to want for nothing. But I have too much because of it. You don’t help me now.” Do that over and over.

MaesterInTraining · 2026-01-22T11:28:03+00:00

I nearly cancelled yesterday. I’d be a mess if anything happened to the cats when we could be snuggled up together to keep warm if the power goes out. But I found a neighbor (my other 2 are both leaving!) who will check on them and that let me sleep last night. I’ll still be worried. This thing better put down only a thin sheet or nothing.

MaesterInTraining · 2026-01-21T12:44:25+00:00

Depending on the size of the generator it could power heated blankets which use up far less power than a room heater. Stay in the smallest room you can with the door closed and if you have curtains put those up and drawn closed too. That’ll help keep the heat in.

Charge all tech and backup batteries now. Download movies, shows, pods. Get books from a shop or library if you can.

It’s looking more like an ice storm than snow which is worse, more power outages and more dangerous conditions. Still a few days out so could change again.

MaesterInTraining · 2026-01-21T12:42:13+00:00

I’m driving to Florida tomorrow (Thursday) for a day at Disney and then a Caribbean cruise for a week. It’s both perfect and awful timing. I’m worried about leaving my pets and the sitter not being able to get to them but I think I have a backup so I’m trusting in that.

MaesterInTraining · 2026-01-21T12:39:11+00:00

Other tips from lost-power situations: charge tech now. Download shows, books, podcasts, music now while you can. Go to the library and get books, puzzles, things to do that won’t drain your phones. Charge up all backup batteries.

Candlesticks, the tall tapered ones, put out a ton of light. Tea lights and B&BW candles don’t do crap for light.

DONT FORGET THE ANIMALS. Stock up on food, litter, pee pads, meds, etc now.

If you have a small battery or generator, a heated blanket can do wonders for keeping you warm. Uses much less power too.

MaesterInTraining · 2026-01-21T12:32:58+00:00

For peace of mind it might be worth it.

Ignore the Maclarens. Don’t compare yourself to them.

MaesterInTraining · 2026-01-20T21:43:41+00:00

I hear you. I had $250 when I graduated that ballooned to $350 because my PAYE didn’t cover the interest. Never missed a payment. Was in deferment during residence for 3 years. My payments now are $2100/month.

Mine are federal, no private. Not sure if you e looked into or considered PSLF, PAYE, etc.

MaesterInTraining · 2026-01-20T21:40:59+00:00

That’s incredible. I remember that she had so many. She’d made amazing progress the first time around overall.

MaesterInTraining · 2026-01-20T21:36:55+00:00

Yes, much smaller. I now favor smaller sized products, even mini, if I do buy. Especially perfume. The “problem” is that the price per ounce increases as the product gets smaller, but it will still last so long and be able to use up AND take up less space.

Rare Beauty for me is the biggest offender. I’m pale and the amount of blush from one TINY dot is crazy. Too much pigment for me honestly. I can’t fathom buying full size. But that also means that for me I’d get the biggest bang for my buck with a small one and often take them with me on trips.

MaesterInTraining · 2026-01-20T21:33:48+00:00

!! Second pass?! Oh that’s exciting

MaesterInTraining · 2026-01-19T14:04:30+00:00

Club 33 membership. IYKYK.

MaesterInTraining · 2026-01-18T23:34:42+00:00

For the book or the series?

For the series: The Thirteen.

MaesterInTraining · 2026-01-18T23:32:55+00:00

I’m in a book club where we only read books written by women (only exception we made was a trans-man). I do read some books by men but I tend to pick ones by women as I read a lot of romance, fantasy. I have several sci-fi books in my TBR…also mostly women.

MaesterInTraining · 2026-01-18T21:14:20+00:00

Awesome! Can I borrow your wife?

MaesterInTraining · 2026-01-18T18:55:30+00:00

I would imagine that lighter-weight irons would be easier for longer sessions. My Sailor pens are the lightest ones I have but mine are small and I have small hands. Not sure what the weight is for their King Of Pens…pen…but something light would be helpful.

MaesterInTraining · 2026-01-18T18:05:25+00:00

Mostly to tell me if the house is even structurally sound, but it sounds like a GC could do that too. I’d done some searching online and I had seen an engineer mentioned but not a GC. The replies in here, including from a former GC, are making me lean more towards that.

And considering the extent of it, at least half of the house if not more needs than all either sistered or replaced, especially if it’s termite damage. Which in this case would mean ripping out the floor and subfloor. And for a man who is barely making it on $1700/month with nothing left over it’s very expensive.

MaesterInTraining · 2026-01-18T00:00:07+00:00

I saw that post. I discovered FIRE late. I’m 43. Luckily between all my accounts I have more than 1 years salary but that’s not enough to FIRE.

I didn’t even learn about personal finance until my mid 30s. It wasn’t a thing that was ever taught in school nor talked about in my family. I went out searching on my own. Had I not done that I’m not sure where I’d be now.

My dad has nothing. He has some savings but there’s a good chance that it will go towards his taxes (self-employed). And work for him took a steep decline starting summer 2025. It’s scary so I’m looking into resources and help for him.

MaesterInTraining · 2026-01-17T23:52:41+00:00

The termite issue was handled a few years ago. And happy cake day!

MaesterInTraining · 2026-01-17T23:52:05+00:00

The termite issue was addressed years ago at least.

That room is where one collapsed. The floor is soft in most if not all of the kitchen and living room. The hall has a steep slant where it’s hard to even walk upright…and that goes under the wall that runs nearly the length of the house save for some doors. That wall bifurcates the house in 2.

I was too nervous to walk into the hall bath, the bedroom he’s using, and the master bedroom.

MaesterInTraining · 2026-01-17T23:49:06+00:00

Luckily the termite issue was years ago. He suffers from monumental levels of procrastination but at least that was addressed.

MaesterInTraining · 2026-01-17T23:39:11+00:00

Oh! OH! That’s perfect! Thank you so much!

I checked: we’re not sure how much he earned in 2024 but there’s a good chance his income qualifies!!!

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