I don’t actually talk about personal finance in my book, Save Lives, Enjoy Your Own. I allude to the fact that as a physician, you will be able to make a living that allows you to make choices that suit you and your family (if you choose to have one). You’ll have the resources to get help as your career makes demands on your time. I left personal finance out of the book because it’s a huge topic, and will likely be the subject of its own book. So as we prepare for book launch, and the important task of finding your place in medicine, here are some financial considerations for you, the budding physician. And read through to the end to find out how you can learn more about setting up your finances with my friend, Dr. Bonnie Koo, a.k.a. WealthyMomMD.

1. Your career choice should not be made based on financial factors.

Most of us incur educational debt on the path to medicine. But it should be kept low/ manageable enough so as to NOT affect your career choice. I know, six figure debt a huge amount, but you can do it. Even if you choose a lower paying specialty with a high debt burden, you can always go for a student loan forgiveness program. If you want to read about the different kinds of student loan forgiveness programs available, The Physician Philosopher’s Guide is a great resource. TPP delves into these programs in detail, in an understandable way.

So what should career choice be based upon? Well, I did a deep dive into that topic in my new book. My approach is tailored to those who think they might want to work with their hands, in a procedural or surgically-oriented field of medicine. Check it out!

2. You’re learning to tolerate debt right now, but you can regain control of your finances, once you have the tools. 

As you accumulate student debt, it can be really anxiety provoking. I know this first hand. As you work and study so hard, and push yourself to exhaustion at times, you just can’t afford to lose sleep thinking about your loan balances. It’s not good for your well-being. As a defense mechanism, professionals in education debt become numb to it. As you do the best with what you have, know that you’ll have more resources to deal with your debt when the time comes.

Basically, you have a mortgage on your mind. It is a valuable investment, even if there isn’t a lot of tangible evidence of its value just yet. Hang in there. One day you will have a paycheck large enough to make real decisions about where the money should go. Whether you decide to tackle your debt head-on, or refinance and let it simmer for decades, that’ll be up to you!

3. Lifestyle creep is a practical financial consideration!

As you make your first moonlighting paycheck, or that first sign-on bonus, you might be wondering when you’re ready for a lifestyle upgrade. This can be an incremental process. It’s enjoyable to increase your lifestyle, after all. It’s part of why we work so hard!

One mistake I see is people making a lifestyle leap. They get their first job and lease a luxury car. They make decisions based on a lack of financial goals. 

Speaking of financial goals: Do you know how to setup your finances? You might even feel the pressure of being the breadwinner of the family. That’s what prompted me to start learning all about personal finance. 

Let me know what personal finance questions are on your mind.

To your health, wealth, and happiness!

TiredSuperheroine