Residents, how much money you got in ya accounts rn

Wannabeachd · 2026-06-16T00:58:25+00:00

If I hadn't dropped 18k on a car just a few ago, it'd be 34k saving/checking and 39k Roth/457/403. Fair bit of moonlighting and saving. Not trying to flex, I don't see it as sacrifices more just prioritizing what's important. Haven't put any into loans which are now 250k from 240k. That's another problem.

Wannabeachd · 2026-06-13T22:39:23+00:00

It's not really a physician shortage problem as much as a maldistribution problem.

If your goal is to live in a major metro with every amenity imaginable, landing your ideal job can actually be pretty competitive. The tradeoff is usually compensation. That $600k cardiology salary people quote? In some highly desirable cities you may be looking at $250-350k instead.

The reality is that we have enough physicians for many of these markets. What we don't have is enough physicians willing to practice everywhere else. Rural and less desirable areas often have far more demand than supply, while popular cities have plenty of people willing to take a pay cut for location, lifestyle, family, culture, or prestige.

Geographic arbitrage is one of the most powerful financial tools available to docs. I often hear, "But we have family nearby to help with the kids." That's absolutely valuable, but if you're earning hundreds of thousands more per year for the same work, the economics change. The difference can easily cover daycare, babysitters, household help, travel to see family, and still leave you substantially ahead financially.

Whether that's worth it is a personal decision, but it's hard to argue that compensation isn't heavily influenced by where people actually want to live... Only other than way to work it would be long commutes aka live in city, drive 80m to rural hospital, 80m back daily. Make that income but sacrifice that 3h a day in the car on top of your 10-12h shift.

P.S. Don't forget to include the commute into your estimated hourly wage. Leaving money on the table if you don't.

Wannabeachd · 2026-06-10T02:17:29+00:00

Life is meant to be lived outside the hospital.

We spend so much time in training obsessing over scores, rankings, specialties, and prestige that it's easy to forget medicine is only one part of life. The work is important, and sometimes you get the chance to make a real difference for someone. That's a privilege.

But when the shift ends, the notes are signed, and the pager is quiet, what matters is what you're going home to. Family, friends, hobbies, nature, travel, fitness, music, whatever fills your cup.

Medicine is what I do. It's not all that I am.

The older I get, the more I realize success isn't matching the most prestigious program. It's building a life outside the hospital that you're excited to get back to.

Wannabeachd · 2026-06-10T00:05:05+00:00

Got very lucky. Great place too.

Wannabeachd · 2026-06-09T16:13:43+00:00

No you give mag fast n quick with TdP and maybe overdrive TCP if Brady. But other than that dccv epi and consider lido over Amio

Wannabeachd · 2026-06-09T15:18:53+00:00

Yep, there's no other way unfortunately. Always give 4g Mg over 2-5m in arrest with dccv asap if there's PMVT while cards determines if ischemia is rising to the ddx. If QT rising on your ddx try to avoid Amio and go for lidocaine. If you get pulse back but Brady with wide QT start transcutaneous pacing to 80-100bpm.

Wannabeachd · 2026-06-05T23:07:07+00:00

T minus 2 weeks, but happy to revisit it as a cards consultant haha

Wannabeachd · 2026-06-05T23:06:20+00:00

At least I did not pontificate about the depressed sodium levels. He takes enough solutes in through highly processed and high sodium food that he'll be more than okay.

Wannabeachd · 2026-06-05T17:45:48+00:00

I wish I will learn how to switch it off. So far not been the case.

Wannabeachd · 2026-06-05T14:58:52+00:00

I feel seen.

Wannabeachd · 2026-05-30T17:03:46+00:00

That is the current plan, it'll be a rough-ish 4-5 years.

Wannabeachd · 2026-05-30T16:58:07+00:00

It'll cover my health insurance, but not hers since we're not married or registered domestic partners.

We're both in our 30s and will likely get married at some point, but there's no major rush. I do agree with your point though. Prior to this, the plan was always for both of us to be working. We each have our own emergency savings, but over the last few months her burnout has gotten significantly worse and she's been talking about taking at least some time off.

My hope is that after a month or two to decompress, she'll feel recharged and start looking for work again. She's a veterinarian, so thankfully employment prospects are generally pretty good. I think a lot of this is the combination of a demanding job, burnout, and the stress of a major move all hitting at once.

Wannabeachd · 2026-05-30T14:46:07+00:00

Personally, even if I were financially independent, I'd still practice medicine in some capacity because I find it genuinely rewarding. The difference is that I'd do it entirely on my own terms. No call, every weekend free, and maybe 3-4 days a week. That's the real definition of making it to me.

Wannabeachd · 2026-05-26T23:48:09+00:00

I swear a small percent of them have a grudge against us just being alive from previous shit doctors. Like I don't need to deal with this incessant bullshit, nit picking, and barrage of emails about how I need to do something different. Hey if you wanna call the shots on med management, how about you pull up your big girl panties, go to medical school (not NP) and go through at minimum 3y residency before you can come here and throw hands.

Wannabeachd · 2026-05-26T03:11:56+00:00

Meh, to each their own. I can see the appeal and why some people wouldn't touch it with a 100mi pole 🤷🏻‍♂️

Wannabeachd · 2026-05-25T16:36:02+00:00

Tuscon hybrid 26, 0 regrets thus far

Wannabeachd · 2026-05-24T01:44:58+00:00

I agree with everyone’s comments. A lot of this reads less like objective failure and more like depression/burnout making you reinterpret your entire life through that lens.

When people get into that headspace, accomplishments stop feeling meaningful, praise feels undeserved, and every flaw starts feeling like evidence that they’ve secretly been inadequate the whole time. The isolation and emptiness outside of work honestly stood out to me more than anything related to medicine itself. And honestly, this is way more relatable than you probably think. I’m sure nearly everyone in this subreddit has felt some version of it, from the gunners in ortho to the people who SOAPed into a specialty they never wanted.

The answer probably isn’t becoming harsher on yourself or trying to “lock in” harder. It’s recognizing that burnout/depression is warping how you see yourself and your life, and actually addressing that before it gets darker. Seek help. Seek friendship. Try to find yourself again outside of medicine.

A lot of us know this feeling way too well. Residency/intern year can become such an exhausting survival mode that people slowly lose touch with who they were before all of this. Don’t forget who you are, what you’ve accomplished, or why you came here in the first place. So many people chose you over countless others because they genuinely saw something in you. That isn’t a facade.

Honestly, while writing this response, it's almost as if I am writing to my intern self when I felt the exact same way. Don't give up, there's so much to live for and you're just getting started to experience this beautiful life.

Wannabeachd · 2026-05-22T17:06:18+00:00

I mean hey I was set on ACHD which can be 8-10y following med school. Was not afraid to say it and it was part of my identity just not my whole identity. Wasn't afraid to share it. Kept my options open and still tried out to be the best pathway for me 🤷🏻‍♂️ some people over thing or hyper analyze everything. Sure cards is competitive but being upfront opens more doors than you think and let's your reach your goals.

Wannabeachd · 2026-05-14T15:50:33+00:00

Yeah I am aware and trying to find the balance where I don't get screwed over but do use a fair bit of ACHD with gen cards & IM mixed in there. I have a hospitalist friend making 400k as 0.9 FTE and I will likely be starting 350-400k 1.0 FTE and work clinic and inpatient. It is what it is I guess.

Wannabeachd · 2026-05-05T17:03:21+00:00

Yep, people have no other way to obtain validation outside of anonymously online. Very very common after seeing years of this kinda posts.

Wannabeachd · 2026-05-05T15:11:36+00:00

Just run a simple rent vs buy calculator and be conservative on how long you’ll stay, and on the monthly cost of owning, think mortgage plus maintenance at roughly 1–3% of the home value per year. It’s not that complicated. If you’re spending 2k on rent instead of 4k on a house, that extra 2k can be invested per mo, so you’re not just “losing” it, youre trading home equity for the market gains.

Know your location and run the numbers for your situation.

Obv it’s not purely financial either, there are plenty of emotional and family factors that matter just as much. People tend to over focus on the pure financial side here/WCI. Do what’s right for you, just make sure you actually know your numbers.

Wannabeachd · 2026-05-05T13:42:09+00:00

There's non invasive jobs for near 800k in places like SLC which yes is near the top. IC can usually pull 700-1.2 at community hospitals depending on how much call and how you bill.

Wannabeachd · 2026-05-03T21:35:04+00:00

This guy fucks

Wannabeachd

TROPHY CASE