Recent content by Rachel

Just to give a different perspective--I gave my partners about a year's notice and my patients 3 months notice. I got a LOT of pushback from partners and administrators because I had a very full practice and they worried my patients would leave the practice (and some did). It was a strange and...

For me, the "sweet spot" is around 750 sf per person. That seems to allow for a great balance between communal space and quiet space. Having a study or den that can be closed off allows for one person's enjoyment of music or TV to not invade the peace for someone who is reading. I also am a big...

When I was about to leave for first year of college at McGill University, my father lost his job. At a very inopportune time, money was very tight. I worked throughout college (and between work and some scholarships, paid for college--thank goodness for low tuition at Canadian universities!)...

I am at the end of a year long sabbatical, but from a different field (medicine). I have opted to re-enter the fray, but in a different field of practice that did not require going back for more training, but did require plenty of continuing education and reading to make the switch. When I...

Sometimes all the best intentions and planning cannot totally prepare someone for what (early) retirement will feel like. I left work in December 2011, thinking I was "done". Interestingly, away from all the stress and lack of life-work balance, I was able to think clearly about what I wanted to...

I spend more on good quality shoes, and on certain clothing items that I know I will wear to death. Poor craftsmanship on seams, fabric, or shoe soles aren't worth the money saved. I know a lot of people who like their "cheap duds" will disagree with me on this one. Spending a little more on the...

Current age 55. Retirement age 55 (9 months ago!) Worked 29 years (I counted internship, residency and fellowship as working, as I earned a pittance, but it was still money coming in!) No pension.

Yes, they consider you incompetent/addled. I asked about a taxi and they said a driver was a necessity. This is for any procedure where you have "conscious sedation". So I will have to start a "colonoscopy club" amongst my friends...

This has also come up for me. Tried to set up my colonoscopy but then experienced wierd embarrassment about asking neighbor/friend to drive me to and from. I have other single friends and I am thinking about just diving in and putting the issue out there to form a loose but defined agreement to...

Well, to Texas Proud--she did ask for help, and I thought in a fairly mature way. The impetus for me toinitially post was that I just visited her for the first time since she moved to the small city where she got her job. I knew about her terrible car loan because she told me about it when she...

I did some investigating on the percentage of monthly income that "should" be devoted to transportation expenses (looking at several budgeting models on the internet). Including gas, car insurance, tolls and (optional) car payments as a whole, 10-15% of take home pay seems to be the consensus...

It is 18% of budget, including taxes, utilities, maintenance, condo fee and insurance.

Thank you Thank you to all who responded, and for the excellent advice. By a landslide, "tough love" was the verdict, followed by some assistance to refinance at a lower rate/longer term. I liked the idea of making it easier to fund her Roth account (she contributed during the last 2 years of...

I am looking for some advice. My daughter is 23, a college grad who is employed and living in a low-cost city. Her take home pay is $2000 monthly and she is just barely making it paycheck to paycheck. Of my two children, she is the less financially savvy and knows how to spend but not always...

I did this type of move twice (I did not get it right the first time). I went from a 3000 SF 4 bedroom family home to a 1800 SF 3 bedroom condo in the sky with huge windows, views, great soundproofing and very good walkability when my kids were college age. But the monthly fees were ridiculous...