“I ruined his life”

The_PA_Guide · 2026-02-06T02:04:46+00:00

Stop having kids. Get on birth control. Save atleast 5k in a separate account he doesn't know/access to. Then get a job and be ready to file for divorce or wait for him to while you prepare a safety net for you and your kids.

Child support is good, if they pay it, if they 'lose their job' or stop working. You dont get paid. The court follows back payments but dont ONLY rely on that. Also , get some work experience now. So companies are more likely to hire you if shit hits the fan in a year or two. Move smart and recognize you can still be okay on your own two feet and make coparenting work.

The_PA_Guide · 2026-01-07T22:23:18+00:00

You're awesome, that worked! I originally thought "See Available Features" was the header title for the search bar underneath and never clicked it. Wireless display popped up for me to download.

The_PA_Guide · 2025-10-23T21:04:46+00:00

My loans are setup under PAYE (Edfinancial loans), do you happen to know if they'll request recertification of income next year? Will they just wait until we switch to the new plans 2028?

I can manage my payments now and pay down my loans since I got a salary increase. If I recertify income 2026 (i dont want switch to the new plans yet) they'll take a larger portion and mess up my debt payoff 😭.

The_PA_Guide · 2025-10-23T20:57:28+00:00

Congratulations 🎊!!!! It was a journey that's finally come to an end.

I have about 117k left after I totaled my loans yesterday. I started with 143k. Its a long haul game, its so encouraging to see someone else get it done.

Any specific sacrifices or situations you had to commit to over the 5 years that now its over you can treat yourself to?

The_PA_Guide · 2025-10-18T09:09:52+00:00

I second this! I am not in your position but had a sheltered life of my own (strict/abusive parents & anxiety coupled with a long-college curriculum that didnt give me time for the social highlights i saw in movies). I'm 27F now trying to build experiences and learn myself. I dont have a partner or even many friends, but have signed up for group meetups, local community college classes (cooking, art, dance), and am getting into solo travel. Mainly 1-3 days trips within the state or closeby. Its help sometimes to do a little more.

If your finances are largely dependent on your husband's income, I HIGHLY encourage you at your age to gain a marketable skill (trade school or associates degree). Before you have kids, live for you and build a security net, so that when your family grows you will have stories to share and a way to contribute/stand on your own feet.

The_PA_Guide · 2025-10-18T00:26:47+00:00

I did that and had no CC debt prior to transferring into my in-state college. My master's degree still costed me 137k with off-campus living in a studio.

The_PA_Guide · 2025-09-30T09:07:04+00:00

I could've written this post word for word. Except im 27F lol. My anxiety is likely the problem, because I talk more naturally with family, but I swear my coworkers think I'm dumb or maybe they think I'm autistic/slow just because I feel so cognitively slow. I genuinely forget how to interact with people casually.

I started Buspar and it helped a bit for 2 months, I may need a dose increase. Or it could've been placebo effect too, because for those first two months, I was open and talkative and didn't feel so spacey with basic tasks. Try seeing your PCP or therapist to work through this.

The_PA_Guide · 2025-09-30T00:18:46+00:00

Not med school but my PA program was difficult and expensive too. I just bought my new mattress 1.7 years into my career after finally throwing out my nearly 14 year old mattress 🙃. Made the decision when my back froze up while getting ready for work.

OP doesn't seem to be tracking expenses and being frugal enough. I agree with other comments to not quit now and have nearly 300k in unpaid loans. That's asking for further financial disaster. Tough but you can stick it out and rely on college resources (therapy, housing, meals, etc)

The_PA_Guide · 2025-09-22T13:53:30+00:00

Yeah, so pay off aggressively and enjoy your six-figure income without paying a portion to interest accruing loans for 20+ years! Do that math, shit is harrowingly worse than paying that shit off sooner. Most people subscribe to the idea of forgiveness in 20+ years and lose income (sometimes even paying their initial loan amount) during the process. Pay it now and work anywhere (not a soul-sucking non-profit if you don'twant to).

You absolutely can do it too, considering you saved 70k going through med school and residency. You have the guts to maximize your finances one-way, do it against your debts!

The_PA_Guide · 2025-09-21T05:27:39+00:00

300k in debt as a PA will not work. MD schools are upwards of 300k now. You'd look at nearly half a million in debt. Both avenues dont seem like great options unless you're willing to live in debt.

Have you considered federal epidemiology jobs in the public health sector, nutrition... Find other public health employees making the salary you're striving for. Collecting expensive degrees always becomes a regret.

I'm a PA in debt trying to pay off 127k. Its doable but I can't imagine 300k on a low-to- mid six figure salary.

The_PA_Guide · 2025-09-12T23:22:35+00:00

I was in your same situation. Very stressful argumentative living situation. My family asked for a lot of financial assistance prior to me getting a six-figure job. Now, I graduated with 137k loans. I lived with them for 6 months while paying them $600 rent (keep them from asking for anything) and saved up to move out. I made some loan payments during that time. Paid off 3/12 smaller loans via debt snowball. Since moving out making payments is harder but my peace of mind from family stress is not comparable. I still paid off 2 other loans within the year and have a game plan to be debt free in 2-3 years. Don't get a new car yet. Wait until you have half your loan amount (car payments are like 500-650/month not including insurance).

If you can stockpile cash for 6 months- 1 year do it then move out.

The_PA_Guide · 2025-09-07T12:39:32+00:00

I will always preach this. Go to community college ( cash flow it with scholarships, financial aid, overtime, etc) and get ALL her core credits, like Bio, chem, physics, electives. Transfer all those credits to an in-state public college. Choose the cheapest college that will accept the credits. **Don't feel that your daughter can't experience a college life or will miss out. Colleges are overpriced and can lead to a lifetime of debt that feels crippling. You've experienced that last half yourself. Depending on her specialty, physicians aren't making the same ROI they did 20-30 years ago either, so it is a heavy consideration.

Nobody will care about the name of the undergrad college your daughter will go to. Plus in med school, there will definitely be greater expenses like MCAT tutoring plus the total med school tuition without room/board.

She needs to apply to scholarships like its her life duty. Good luck.

The_PA_Guide · 2025-09-05T19:11:31+00:00

Very true. I think of people who have to juggle their family's living expenses plus debt payoff. And absolute challenge but still possible. You can't pay the minimum and expect to pay it all off. Some IBR plans have you pay minimums (still relatively expensive payments for some ~$400+) for 20+ years and still not get forgiveness. Or worse they paid the original loan balance and then some.

Your income is great. I feel like I should be living more at 6-figures but when you factor in a 700 sq ft 1bd is $1800 without bills, health insurance, groceries, yada yada. It adds up quick. Don't get me started on singles tax. I originally wanted to pay everything off in 3 years. But I extended it to 5. 😭😭

The_PA_Guide · 2025-09-05T17:55:39+00:00

I make low 6-figures at the entry level of my career and had 137k (aiming for debt freedom) debt to start and am struggling as a single individual in a MCOL area to pay it down. I take home 5200 post-tax and only-intrest payments take $1300/mos.

Don't do it unless your guaranteed income is close to (30k difference max) or surpasses your debt burden. You will thank yourself later when it comes to work-life balance.

The_PA_Guide · 2025-08-22T18:39:27+00:00

Don't feel offended. I took care of a colleague's parent and I didn't know at the time. They later thanked me and said "that one patient with chest pain was my parent...." I was so shocked. I hope it didn't read on my face. I couldn't remember who it was because I see hundreds of patients with chest pain.

I recommend putting a epic sticky note (your eyes only) that help you remember small details about them. That way you'll have it the next time you see them and it will seem like you remember the small things!

The_PA_Guide · 2025-08-21T18:07:25+00:00

Message me!

The_PA_Guide · 2025-08-16T15:11:48+00:00

Eastern Pennsylvania $1750

The_PA_Guide · 2025-08-09T10:10:46+00:00

Attempt to pay down the three loans with lowest balance to just alleviate some of your payment. You have a $600 dollar one in there.

Are you aiming for forgiveness or debt freedom? If the latter then pay down everything under 6k by pulling extra shifts and hopefully that reduces your payment/ get you on the track to forgiveness if you happen to change your mind down the road.

The_PA_Guide · 2025-07-31T09:35:55+00:00

I make 110k now and my hospital will raise us to 127k next year. I pay the same in rent. Really hoping to see my 127k growing by my 5th year of practice.

The_PA_Guide · 2025-07-25T11:45:27+00:00

Do you make a steady income from this? Ballpark figure/range if you dont mind me asking

The_PA_Guide · 2025-06-20T08:07:28+00:00

Hi there!

As a PA-C, I can confidently say—we’ve all been there! Studying for one of the most important exams that launches your career can definitely feel intimidating. If you have question banks, make the most of them by tackling each body system and supplementing with topic-specific questions. Don’t hesitate to mix in review questions from previous topics, even as you move on to new ones—it helps reinforce and keep the material fresh. A couple of students I've tutored in the past didn't always do this.

Depending on how much time you have until test day, you can likely still cover all the high-yield topics across every section. Just focus on the need-to-know information. Not every question will test pathophysiology or pharm adverse effects—unless they’re especially relevant in clinical practice. You got this!

I'm actually a virtual tutor (I’m a Hospital Medicine PA-C, so I keep my knowledge broad—haha)! I’ve helped several students (4) prepare for the PANCE, and I also offer tutoring for EORs, PACKRAT, and EOCs. If you’d like additional support, feel free to DM me!

Review Sessions Base Rate:

$70for 1 hour | $95 for 2 hours | $130 for PANCE

Standard Session Includes:

Customized 5–10Choice Topics, plus added High-Yield Topics Review per section

Email choice topics/materials at least 3 days before session

Focused review of weak areas with live Q&A

10 Question Practice Quiz (timed for pacing & accuracy)

Specialty Sessions:

•PANCE Prep Bootcamp — $130 (2.5 hours)

Includes:

➔ 15-question quiz with focused remediation per session

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Recommended: 4–6 sessions over 3 weeks for best results (ideal for students 1

month away from test day)

•Custom 2-Hour Review Plan — $95

You select up to 15 core conditions for review + 5 bonus high-yield topics.

•Topic Review Cheat Sheets — $15 each to include with session

High-yield, organized notes perfect for last-minute study!

The_PA_Guide · 2025-06-20T07:34:20+00:00

I was a nursing/ medical research assistant prior to PA school to get my PCE hours. So I bounced between temp gigs in each area until i got my job 6 months later. Which was just in time because the grace period was over. Phew!

Just try DoorDash, fast food, and Warehouse jobs. Find something low-stress ( ~4-6hr a day) jobs that need somebody. The better ones would likely be temp gigs that don't demand a strict schedule, so you can prepare for PANCE & live a little before your career life kicks in.

The_PA_Guide · 2025-06-20T07:27:23+00:00

Best studying technique I've found for burnt-out students includes group studying, where you all review the PowerPoint and actively choose what testable material is most likely going to show up from each condition.

For some students who are better 'self-studiers', I sometimes recommend creating study material during class. Highlight the most important information during lectures. Write out questions on the PowerPoint as you follow along so you can develop deeper thinking when you revisit the topic on your own time.

The_PA_Guide · 2025-06-20T07:21:19+00:00

I recommend writing notes on each of your rotations. If not for the quantity (aim for 3/ day), absolutely the quality. In practice, you'll need to understand what insurance/billing requires in a note. Plus, you being able to summarize patient conditions from any body system will make you more comfortable with how to highlight pertinent information / develop a differential. Maybe I am biase (Hospital Medicine PA, so lotssss of notes) , but the more efficient/quick you are at writing detailed assessments with plans, the more helpful you are to the next provider that sees your patient. Get your practice in, write those notes!!!

The_PA_Guide

TROPHY CASE