IM-PCP – Page 68 – Physician In Numbers

Other People and Your Money, or Managing Expectations

During my recent travels, I had the unusual experience of finding myself with an extra, unplanned day in Las Vegas. The weather had turned bad at our next destination, and my spouse and I chose to reroute, rather than driving on icy roads in a rented car.

Once we had new plans, the question became: what to do with ourselves? We had already done what we had planned (see the Strip on New Year’s Eve, which was a blast!), but now we had another 24 hours.

A peculiar thing happened: I started thinking about what I would tell friends and co-workers about this extra day. I could hear them saying: you didn’t go to a show? Eat at a buffet? Gamble?

Stepping onto the hedonic treadmill

My husband and I have been traveling to visit family recently, and with one thing and another, have had the opportunity to go through the TSA Precheck line, and also to use Priority Pass membership (free with our credit card) to get into airport lounges. Benefiting from these programs was very pleasant, but also thought-provoking.

Fitness Log #15

One of the favorite things I have heard from a patient is: you’re a doctor, you don’t have to worry about blood pressure. Implying, of course, that doctor’s don’t struggle with their health.

This week I certainly struggled with my health, all thanks to that viral illness that started last week. I had hoped to increase my exercise regimen for the new year, and instead had to work on rest and recuperation.

In retrospect, I wonder what exactly I picked up while traveling.

Shop Your Closet or Clear the Clutter?

It seems minimalism is all the rage these days on the Internet. Or Netflix, with Marie Kondo’s series. I see the appeal: it’s easier to find what you have, it’s easier to clean a house with less stuff, owning less saves you money and is good for the environment. I myself find that a cluttered–or just full–room makes me cranky and/or anxious. My friends keep posting links to this NY Times article, which makes me think I’m not the only one with this issue.

However, I also grew up in a house that contained many things–some useful, some clutter, some beautiful decorations and mementos. My parents have been able to provide a number of very helpful hand me downs to their children, such as lamps, tables, dishes, and towels only by saving their old items until we needed them.

Living as I do now–in an older home without a ton of storage–I find myself torn between two schools of thought. Keep things I might need, or clear out unused items. Shop my closet, or clear the clutter.

What I Do Every New Year’s For My Finances

Every year for over a decade, I have taken time around the turn of the year to do the following:

Calculate my net worth
Review and categorize my spending
Write down goals for my money, and decide how I will fund them.

I recommend this as a yearly exercise for those who want to keep an eye on their money.

This year, thanks to my travel plans, I got to this a little later than usual. I thought I would go through the process here for you.

Fitness Log #14

One of the favorite things I have heard from a patient is: you’re a doctor, you don’t have to worry about blood pressure. Implying, of course, that doctor’s don’t struggle with their health.

I most certainly do struggle with fitness and health, like many other Americans with sedentary jobs and a proclivity to eat treats. One of my goals is to make sure that I get my 150 minutes a week of moderate exercise (or 75 minutes of high intensity exercise, which probably won’t happen). I will see for how long I am willing to document my progress Saturday to Friday.

This week I was traveling for family visits, and struggling with viral illness (mine, and my husband’s). Despite that, I still exercised much more than during my usual work week.

Can I Still Afford to Max Out My Retirement Savings?

I recently received an e-mail from work, reminding me that for 2019, the maximum pre-tax contribution to the 403(b) has gone up. For those under 50, it has increased from $18,500 to $19,000; for those 50 or older (including those who turn 50 in 2019), the maximum has gone from $24,500 to $25,000.

I was reminded–yet again–that turning 50 is a special time. As a PCP, I usually have other issues on the brain when thinking about this landmark year.

A Tale of Two New Cars, Part 2

A few years ago, my extended household saw the purchase of two new cars. The two purchases were very different in many ways, and I thought it might be worthwhile reviewing the experiences, with the hopes the comparison might be entertaining, and maybe educational.

Two weeks ago I wrote I about my step-son’s experience buying his first car on his own. He had a few difficulties, mostly related to his youth, lack of savings, and lack of credit history. My car purchasing experience offers a definite contrast.

Fitness Log #13

One of the favorite things I have heard from a patient is: you’re a doctor, you don’t have to worry about blood pressure. Implying, of course, that doctor’s don’t struggle with their health.

This week I was still working in the hospital, but getting ready for/recovering from the holidays.

Happy 2019!

If all goes well, I will out partying it up. Or, at least I will be away from my personal computer. I hope you have a wonderful celebration and a happy and healthy New Year.