November 2020 – Physician In Numbers

On Giving, 2020

I hope you all have had a good Thanksgiving, while, of course, staying safe and not-mixing germs (aka, not spreading COVID).

These days, the Thanksgiving season has been spreading, just like America’s waistline after the big meal. We have Turkey Day, then Black Friday, Cyber Monday…. and since 2012, Giving Tuesday.

This has been a difficult year for many (most? all?), but I was raised in a tradition of giving, where all except, perhaps, the very destitute are expected to give a hand to others. However, I understand that not everyone has that background.

I thought that today, the day before Giving Tuesday, might be a good time to review some thoughts on giving: why, when, and how to fund giving. As a bonus, I also decided to list the eight levels of charity, also called the Golden Ladder, which is a nice framework for thinking about how to give.

Fitness Log #110 And Friday Firsts

I have been keeping track of my exercise every Friday for over a year, and plan to continue doing so.

I started the Friday Firsts sections as a way of keeping track of some of my “firsts” as I dealt with the COVID-19 pandemic. Things seem to be settling down, but I will keep it for now–more as a way to be aware and thankful of what is happening in my life.

12 Things I Am Thankful For In 2020

Let’s be real, 2020 has not been an easy year. If you have lost your job, your health, or your loved one, what I write about today may ring hollow. For that, I apologize.

On the other hand, if you have been able to keep your health, and your job (or your finances were secure in other ways), I hope you will join me in my reflections on the many things to be thankful for in 2020. Good things that happened despite the pandemic, or maybe, even, because of it.

Finding Joy In What We Have

I will be writing in a few weeks about the outcome of the challenge Mr. PiN set himself to reduce spending.

However, I thought this Thanksgiving week was an excellent time to write about a lesson we learned (or were reminded of) during this time: how fun it is to find out that we already have what we need. And then to use it.

Fitness Log #109 And Friday Firsts

I have been keeping track of my exercise every Friday for over a year, and plan to continue doing so.

Monday Melange, Money Mentality

Some of personal finance is about numbers and strategies. Much of it, however, has to do with mindset. I read lots of articles about personal finance, and only remember to save some of them. I thought it was time (or past time) to share: here are a few that struck my fancy.

Fitness Log #108 And Friday Firsts

I have been keeping track of my exercise every Friday for over a year, and plan to continue doing so.

Mr. PiN Proposes A Spending Challenge

Work these days has been… difficult.

In addition to the usual increased workload when I am seeing hospital patients, we have the lovely development of dealing with more COVID, in patients and in staff. Meanwhile, administration is asking for more from us and offering less in return. What joy.

Mr. PiN, who would like me to join him in retirement, is supportive when I say things like: maybe it’s time to bug out. Except then I have to add that we aren’t ready financially.

Fitness Log #107 And Friday Firsts

I have been keeping track of my exercise every Friday for over a year, and plan to continue doing so.

Keeping The Personal In Personal Finance

Last week my mom was texting with me and with Mr. PiN. This was a bit of a first, as she much prefers talking on the phone.

Anyway, some of the discussion was about streaming services. We had just signed up for Acorn (7-day free trial, we will see if we keep it), because we were watching a series and impatiently waiting for the next DVD to be ready at the library. When we saw we could get the next episodes streamed to the home, we gave in. My mom texted: it’s a bargain. Just think about all the money you are saving not going to the movies or eating out.