Every month, I like to highlight some noteworthy posts that I’ve found. I pass them along to you so that you can enjoy them, too. The posts will involve topics that are often covered on this blog including personal finance, investing, physician burnout, and paying down debt.
We then end with an update on the happenings in my life and the blog. If you haven’t subscribed to the blog, you can subscribe here.
This month’s checkout will look a little different as I embedded many of the links to produce the post picture and description within the post. Let me know if you like it this way, or if you prefer the older version (you can click here to see May’s Monthly Checkout).
Welcome to The Monthly Checkout for June 2019!
Paradocs Podcast
My most recent podcast appearance occurred last week when I was featured on the Paradocs Podcast, Episode 51. Check it out as Dr. Eric Larson and I discuss my book, student loans, work-life balance, and much more.
Turning the Mind Off
I often have a hard time turning my mind off things that need to get done. It prevents me from enjoying here and now, because there is always a “to do” list waiting. However, this can be really harmful.
Join along as Accidental FIRE discusses how he practices mindfulness, and the benefits that he has found from this endeavor:
Outsourcing For the Win
My life has improved a lot lately. And not just because of my mindfulness practices. The reason why is because I now have a virtual assistant. She helps edit my posts, schedule some social media outreach, and looks for guest posts on this blog (read more here, if interested in a guest post on the site!).
I’m not the only one who utilizes a virtual assistant. Check it out as Passive Income MD looks at some of the many ways that a virtual assistant has improved his life. And how they might be able to improve your life, too!
Learning from Mistakes
A lot of the personal finance blogging world spends time teaching others how to get things right. In fact, we do this so much that sometimes it seems we have it all figured out, and that we have always been this way.
During my financial “coming of age” I found posts that highlighted the mistakes of others often provided encouragement to me that I could do it, too. And that is exactly what ESI does in this post on 10 money mistakes he made on the way to FIRE.
Epochs of Early Retirement
Speaking of things we do on the way to FIRE. There are also items we must consider after we FIRE. This includes the various time frames that occur after FIRE, or epochs as Physician on FIRE likes to call them.
Tag along as POF discusses various draw down plans in early retirement based on the different ages he will go through that produce the epochs of early retirement.
Are Night Shifts Worth It?
I am picking up a few extra weeks of nights next year for two reasons. First, it is one of the few ways I can keep a broad skill set in academics where I have to handle whatever kind of case comes in, instead of being placed in scheduled rooms with known cases that fit my skill set.
The second reason is that the week of nights is promptly followed by a week off. Given that I am yearning for more time off, this is one way I can try and achieve that goal. But is it worth it? Tag along as Dr. Networth discusses the ways in which night shift may be slowly killing you:
Which Debt Payoff Strategy Should You Use?
Some people prefer the debt snowball payoff method. Others (like me) prefer the Avalanche debt payoff method. It seems, however, that there is no end to the various debt payoff possibilities that exist.
In this guest post by David Graham, written on the Frugal Physician, he discusses the cash flow index method of paying off debt:
Regretting Your Whole Life
It amazes me that this conversation still comes up as frequently as it does, but I guess it shouldn’t. The financial industry does a great job of selling products (at a commission). If I am being nice, the money going towards these products would be better placed towards other investment opportunities.
What am I talking about? Whole life insurance. And White Coat Investor walks us through 10 reasons people regret buying it:
TPP Update
As you read this, my wife and I should be sitting in the Dominican Republic celebrating our 10th wedding anniversary with two of our best friends.
But then a bunch of Americans started to die, and even more reported getting violently ill. I suspect it is possibly organophosphate poisoning from pesticides (though this is 100% conjecture based on very limited information – since only limited information is what seems to be coming out).
Because of this, we switched our trip and decided to go to St. Lucia instead. Still a beautiful place, though the change did cost us a pretty penny.
I hope that everyone else is taking time to celebrate the momentous occasions that occur in your life as many medical students, residents, and fellows graduate around this time of year!
If you are looking for a gift for your medical graduate, consider buying them the book that teaches the 20% of personal finance doctors need to know to get 80% of the results!
What did you think about today’s posts? Which were your favorite? Leave a comment below!
Thanks very much for the highlight!
Anytime!
Thanks for the mention!
I do exactly what you are planning to do next year – 1 week of nights followed by a week off to recuperate. I have been doing this for the past several years, which makes my call nights tolerable and has helped me avoid burnout so far.
DN
Yeah, I’m firmly on the more time, less money side of the equation at this point. However, if I can get my time and money, that’s even better (which is what nights does for us where I work).