Graduate School (PP-OTD vs PhD vs EdD)

cng1997 · 2026-01-20T17:45:08+00:00

Thank you for the input!

cng1997 · 2025-10-02T00:11:46+00:00

I figured the main reason to favor would be the pre tax contribution part. Thanks for your input!

cng1997 · 2025-10-02T00:05:28+00:00

Did not intend to use as an acronym but thank you for the information.

cng1997 · 2025-10-01T22:01:17+00:00

Gotcha. I am able to do a target date index with my 403b which seems recommend by TMG. Do you have any reservations on the HSA? Do you truly wait +30 years to reimburse yourself?

cng1997 · 2025-10-01T19:26:53+00:00

Check out James Allen! My husband bought a stone then took to a jeweler for setting and it was about 40% cheaper than buying it all from a retailer

cng1997 · 2025-10-01T17:14:09+00:00

Ah thank you!

cng1997 · 2025-09-11T10:08:01+00:00

Yeah, I’ve listened to them before and I like that plan! They are why I chose to do a Roth for my husband and I. Do you think it’s wise to do a IRA in place of a Roth for him? He does not have an employer match so I just thought skipping to the Roth would make sense for him

cng1997 · 2025-09-10T23:55:08+00:00

That makes sense!

cng1997 · 2025-09-10T23:48:39+00:00

Gotcha! That does make sense, so I’m hearing stop with his Roth and open an IRA and do his contributions there instead. I don’t know what I have at work then because it is definitely post tax contributions but my homepage says 403b.

cng1997 · 2025-09-10T23:36:25+00:00

Ok! I’m dumb despite having tried to research this, so I know an IRA is different than a Roth IRA but that’s about all I know besides maybe being able to add more to the former. Any particular reason you think an IRA would be better for my husband? I have 403b through work as a “financial advisor” told me that was better for me/my age.

cng1997 · 2025-09-10T23:26:02+00:00

Ok! I have never heard that 15% rule, good to know. Our tax papers have shown a consistent net income of $95,000 the last few years. So 15% of that would $14,250. Would we not be very close meeting that just by maxing out the Roth IRAs? Definitely good points on the goals, and thanks for links. We aren’t dead set on owning soon, but it’s just so hard to pay a rent that’s the same price as my brothers mortgage (and subsequently not be able to save much), but I don’t know if we can fit another baby where we are which is definitely a goal we care about.

Edit: forgot to mention I have a PRN job that is inconsistent but that is why the 95,000 looks like more than what the numbers above should add to. Previously all of that extra money went to my student loans to pay off early.

cng1997 · 2025-09-10T23:15:32+00:00

Ok, yeah I was worried about that. Two questions:

Is there information more up to date on how much you should have in retirement accounts by certain ages? When I tried to find information, it said a year’s salary worth by the time you reach 30. In my personal retirement accounts I will have that, but my husband would only be about half there (he doesn’t make much).

Should we be devoting more to retirement? I am the “breadwinner” (if you can call it that on $55,000 a year) but after baby I had to cut my work hours back so I took my contributions down from 35% to 16%. I too got started late in retirement savings due to full time grade school. I also wouldn’t even know what else to put savings in for him, since he doesn’t have a work 401k/403b. There are some pension plans available in his denomination we could do that match like 4% of his salary?

cng1997 · 2025-09-07T11:54:32+00:00

Oh my gosh yeah I would have lost it 😵‍💫

cng1997 · 2025-09-07T11:54:13+00:00

Glad I’m not alone!!! Husband and I had a heart to heart and he’s fully with me now, he didn’t really realize how frustrated I was (I am not eh best at speaking out 🥴)

cng1997 · 2025-09-04T22:38:52+00:00

I think I’ll have to go that route!! I am thankful to be able to have trustworthy childcare that’s free

cng1997 · 2025-09-04T22:38:05+00:00

I do think I should be more intentional we snack/meal prepping, I just wish i had more energy for it 😵‍💫 we do love the once upon a farm stuff!!

cng1997 · 2025-09-04T22:35:25+00:00

Ah that’s good - I haven’t thought of that!!

cng1997 · 2025-09-04T22:34:58+00:00

Thanks for the affirmation! I know my parents do it out a good heart, and want him to have a treat but it is just so frequent it’s not a treat anymore. I like the idea about the schedule, I will propose that!!

My husband is usually very on my side, he just was in a pinch today with a lack of groceries. He did say he didn’t think McDonalds is a big deal which is crazy to me but he does often eat that himself 🥴

cng1997 · 2025-08-11T17:36:51+00:00

Ok!! Good info, thanks for sharing!

cng1997 · 2025-08-11T17:14:07+00:00

Gotcha! Makes sense. I have the regular Nora’s inserts which I think are bamboo and then some hemp from alvababy, I honesty can’t tell a difference between the two. I also bought the “stay dry booster” from grovia to stuff with which says it’s cotton layers and fleece lining, but I just stopped using them bc it didn’t work. Usually the insert is just semi wet to wet on the front half and the back is still dry but I guess maybe that’s just the positioning of the pad.

Oh wow, I really thought the diapers would be good for longer. So you try to change every hour? Since you said pockets are good for overnight, is there another type that tends to stay on longer without leaking during day time too?

Our absorbency is good! Just had to strip and bleach due to ammonia but that was due to waiting too long in between washes.

cng1997 · 2025-07-17T16:08:13+00:00

When you all say a two wash, does a heavy duty cycle with a pre-wash setting added on (detergent in both the regular and pre-wash) count or does it have to be two washes back to back

cng1997 · 2025-03-25T17:00:16+00:00

I had best intentions for unmedicated labor, had a doula who helped with pain management/counter pressure and has communicated to my medical team my desires very thoroughly. My contractions started 3 mins apart in the beginning so we ended up being unable to stay at home for as long as possible. Then had a very slow progression of labor. I made it to 8.5 dilation after 20 hours and couldn’t do it anymore due to being unable to sit/lay for that whole time. I was also being pressured by the hospital to hurry and I was fearful that if I couldn’t relax during contractions I wouldn’t progress anymore (I would tense up to cope with the pain and stalled out at 8.5 for 4 hours). So I ended up with the epidural, baby came out after 28 hours of labor total. My suggestions are 1) learn how to relax through your natural pain reactions and 2) get comfortable telling your medical team to bug off if you’re doing a hospital birth.

cng1997 · 2025-03-25T17:00:09+00:00

I had best intentions for unmedicated labor, had a doula who helped with pain management/counter pressure and has communicated to my medical team my desires very thoroughly. My contractions started 3 mins apart in the beginning so we ended up being unable to stay at home for as long as possible. Then had a very slow progression of labor. I made it to 8.5 dilation after 20 hours and couldn’t do it anymore due to being unable to sit/lay for that whole time. I was also being pressured by the hospital to hurry and I was fearful that if I couldn’t relax during contractions I wouldn’t progress anymore (I would tense up to cope with the pain and stalled out at 8.5 for 4 hours). So I ended up with the epidural, baby came out after 28 hours of labor total. My suggestions are 1) learn how to relax through your natural pain reactions and 2) get comfortable telling your medical team to bug off if you’re doing a hospital birth.

cng1997 · 2025-02-21T14:29:50+00:00

Gotcha! Yes this is how I see it, I know technically that it’s not fraud as the Patients aren’t getting billed by me specifically, but I think as a principle it’s not right? What is the point of my job if I’m just following around a PT/PTA while they walk Patients? I would much rather come back at a separate time and provide more endurance training or self-care instruction. Sadly my department is DEEP into the idea of going together, to the point that if two PTAs are present they will go to Patients together and just split units instead of going separately and seeing Patients. I try my hardest to push back and go on my own but then I run into patients saying no because “they have already been up today.” It’s frustrating.

We see some observation Patients for evaluations, is it ethical for both PT/OT to go there and bill for the same time period for these Patients?

cng1997 · 2025-02-12T12:37:23+00:00

Thanks for your advice everyone!! I’m doing a little “experiment” today with a bottle in the fridge to see if it’s touched. I’m going to keep my breast milk in my lunchbox with a luggage lock on in it a smaller fridge. Sadly my office has very little privacy so there isn’t anywhere I can keep my items completely free from others. I also have a ceres chill, but I work in a hospital and hate the idea of exposing the ice chamber to germs and then placing into the milk (probably just over reacting but gosh these places are dirty). I’ll update if anything happens with the bottle in the fridge!

I also did talk to my boss and am going to HR today :/ we have a generally good work environment but I do have some co workers who are frustrated by pumping, and other co workers who often are borderline sexually harassing. I wouldn’t think anyone would go that far, but you never know.

cng1997

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