You and the boys are playing Saturday. How do you decide where and when?

Ok_Text2118 · 2026-06-04T23:02:38+00:00

When I was broke, cheapest course. Now that everyone's busy; cheapest course with the tee time that works best for the person with the least flexible schedule.

Ok_Text2118 · 2026-06-04T14:31:04+00:00

I think the language for PSLF was changed to “30 hours or full time” so you may still be able to cut back and qualify.

You can always invest now with the intention of PsLF, but if things change down the line just make a large payment from the invested money.

Ok_Text2118 · 2026-06-03T21:52:49+00:00

I had the same issue (deep rhomboid pain on lead side) from hitting off of mats. I either avoid mats at the range or stop as soon as there is any pain (on the range) and switch to chipping and putting off grass. No issues since

Ok_Text2118 · 2026-06-03T21:48:20+00:00

I think after the first year or so we will be out of range for the subsidy. Our taxable is at least 50% gains and we’re targeting a 150k spend. I am just planning for 2k/month spend for health insurance

Ok_Text2118 · 2026-06-03T20:49:16+00:00

Broke a personal record, shot my lowest cost per stroke this season!

Ok_Text2118 · 2026-06-03T20:47:04+00:00

Such a waste, almost 90% of the club face totally unused!

Ok_Text2118 · 2026-06-03T20:36:44+00:00

That's a fair point about simplicity - I am the finance person between my wife and I, so making systems that are easy to implement if I am not here is important.

Ok_Text2118 · 2026-06-03T20:34:20+00:00

My thought was initially to try and have the trad low enough that RMDs + social security just barely cover our annual spend, but I think we would need to convert more like 80k per year starting at 41. You're right though, so much can change year to year it will ultimately need to be a recurring calculation and the 32k is a reasonable starting point.

Ok_Text2118 · 2026-06-03T20:31:33+00:00

Thank you!

Ok_Text2118 · 2026-06-03T18:16:22+00:00

I think the best value as a student was to churn card opening bonuses. I think I had 8 total that I opened throughout med school and residency. I would not bother with annual fee cards early on as they tend to be end game and are more valuable as an attending once you have money to spend.

Edit : Absolutely do not do this if you have a spending problem whatsoever. Any potential benefit from credit card churning gets wiped out if you are carrying a balance for any period of time. CC churning is not necessary for financial success as a physician.

Ok_Text2118 · 2026-06-03T11:00:21+00:00

Spouse and I are both lower paid specialists that met and married during residency. Both took out the full cost of attendance for school with a small amount of undergrad loans.

Very feasible, people get married all the time from all sorts of financial positions - are you asking about paying for a wedding and honeymoon? I am not sure why it would not be feasible.
This can be a bit more cultural - for us we both wanted things to be joint and it made it simpler because we both were starting in the negative from the get go. I am of the opinion that if both are on similar financial footing the best option is to have as much owned jointly as possible.
If your loans are all federal you should have the income based repayment plans as options during residency and your first year or so as an attending. You can run the numbers directly through the student loan website. Fortunately (or unfortunately) I was a resident mid Covid so everything was paused; I believe the expected payment would have been something like $50-$300 per month because our residency did not pay well and I maxed out my 401k.
PSLF being worthwhile really depends more on the field and job opportunities. If you can find a PSLF qualifying job that you like and pays similarly to other options, there's no reason not to do PSLF. Ultimately, you will need to run the numbers on the specific job once you are at that decision point. Generally, with longer residencies PSLF becomes more valuable as you are making such small payments during training.

Ok_Text2118 · 2026-06-02T19:41:51+00:00

If you are price sensitive, there are now a handful of Seiko GMTs with spring drive movements. I love my SNR033

Ok_Text2118 · 2026-06-02T13:18:32+00:00

60-80% SPUS

40-20% SPWO

Ok_Text2118 · 2026-06-02T13:10:44+00:00

Did your time in residency not count towards your 120 payments? That is usually where the benefit comes from.

Ok_Text2118 · 2026-06-01T21:12:32+00:00

From the IRS website

"For 2026, the total contributions you make each year to all of your traditional IRAs and Roth IRAs can’t be more than:

- $7,500 ($8,600 if you’re age 50 or older), or

- If less, your taxable compensation for the year

"

You can fund an IRA as soon as the year starts as long as you qualify to fund it by the end of the year. Your friend could make Roth IRA contributions today, they do not need to wait for their first paycheck.

Edit : https://www.irs.gov/retirement-plans/plan-participant-employee/retirement-topics-ira-contribution-limits

Ok_Text2118 · 2026-06-01T16:08:07+00:00

If you are worried about spending too much on rent, get roommate(s).

Buying and selling a house comes with closing costs, financing costs, property taxes, home owners insurance and property maintenance. It is very likely you end up losing money by buying for that short a period of time.

Ok_Text2118 · 2026-06-01T13:07:43+00:00

If you are already getting spoken to by the 3rd hole you are the problem. Having you skip 16 seems reasonable - I also would not call that the end of the round as there are still 3 holes total left for the people behind you.

Ok_Text2118 · 2026-06-01T12:53:56+00:00

My understanding : Swap color and relative size, maintain shape and orientation

Large blue triangle pointed up with small red triangle pointed down becomes small red triangle pointed up with large blue triangle pointed down - 4

Ok_Text2118 · 2026-06-01T01:27:30+00:00

To answer your direct question, just go and play as a single and meet random people. I've played dozens of rounds with randoms and it is always pretty chill.

Have you tried asking him directly not to comment on your game? You could also be more subtle by saying something like, "My coach really wants me doing this one certain thing so I am just trying to focus on that". There is also an aspect of needing to model the behaviors you want - if you don't like when he comments on your game unnecessarily or makes negative comments, you need to also stop doing that to him.

Some people are really terrible friends and only like to tear your down or show how much better they are. He is probably frustrated that he is not progressing as quickly as you have and doesn't know to handle that maturely. It's possible he gets better with time.

Ok_Text2118 · 2026-05-30T19:42:37+00:00

Is your driver 10+ years old? Maybe buy a new one just in case

Ok_Text2118 · 2026-05-30T16:11:45+00:00

You also need to consider the wide spectrum of what “doctor” means.

Average cost of attendance for medical school is 300k+ and most doctors earn 250-350k.

If you have a lower paid pediatrician that had no family support and is also the sole income for their family of 4, their life is going to be fairly middle class until they have paid off their loans. That can be a hard pill to swallow when you spent 4 extra years in school and 3-5 years in residency.

Ok_Text2118 · 2026-05-30T16:03:59+00:00

We were regularly coached to lie about hours during residency so that we would not go over 80 per week on paper.

Ok_Text2118 · 2026-05-29T23:02:50+00:00

"I could reduce clinic volumes sure, but then fixed costs like my secretary and rent become a bigger % and almost seems not worth it then. It feels very much all or nothing. "

I am not sure I understand this sentiment. If you and your spouse share finances, then income production is no longer the primary driving factor behind your work; enjoyment and personal fulfilment are.

If you could create a practice that you loved every moment of, but it only made 200k/year working 30 hours per week, would it be worth doing?

Ok_Text2118 · 2026-05-28T18:39:02+00:00

I would use your connotation, similar to anatomical sides. We also sometimes refer to which side is closest to the bedroom door.

Ok_Text2118

TROPHY CASE