The Sunday Best is a collection of a handful of posts I share with you each week. With so many informative and inspirational writers out there, I have no trouble coming up with a number of worthwhile reads each week.
Every featured post should be of interest to any physician seeking financial independence. Some will be written by your physician colleagues; others will be written by our friends and patients who share common goals and interests.
Presenting, in no particular order, this week’s Sunday Best:
Whoa! Dr. Mo! The young man has stepped away from his Urgent Care Career and is contemplating what comes next. Find out what’s gone well and what hasn’t so far in the first 3 Weeks into My Pseudo-Retirement.
Apparently, I’m overspending on vehicles. We spent about $20,000 on a luxurious used minivan five years ago. A $5,000 vehicle seems to be the path to riches. Mr. Crazy Kicks introduced us to his in Meet Lightning – Our $5,000 Prius. A few days later, in a happy coincidence, the White Coat Investor showed us How to Get Rich by Driving a $5,000 Car.
Did your parents teach you good or bad money lessons? Michael @ Financially Alert shares 7 Priceless Lessons My Dad Taught Me About Money.
In an oldie but goodie, our radiologist friend The Happy Philosopher waxes philosophically on happiness in Why You Should Find Your Freedom First.
Do used items weird you out? Or are you like me, and hit up the thrift stores when you’re on vacation? The Frugalwoods are more like me, as you will learn in The Myth of the Gross Used Things.
The Frugal Vagabond realeased a new tool that takes the previously featured Retire Abroad series to another level. The site launch was announced in this post, The Earth Awaits: Retire on Any Budget. Or go straight to the new site: The Earth Awaits.
I’m a big fan of sleep, and it’s impossible to have a healthy sleep schedule as an anesthesiologist at a community hospital. The ramifications? Alan Winters @ The Doctor Weighs In writes about Sleep Deprivation is Dangerous: What You Need to Know.
What a week! In addition to discovering all the great reads above, I was a busy, busy young man. I dropped my boys off at school on Tuesday, the first day ever that both boys were in elementary school. No more pre-school drop-offs and pickups; no more pre-school checks to write!
Also, football is back. I love me some football. Also, I love me some football.
Saturdays and Sundays don’t feel right in the offseason. There are fewer than twenty normal weekends on the calendar. The rest are missing something.
My brother and I enjoyed a firsthand whipping of the Syacamore Trees. For the first time in a long time, the home team did what they were supposed to do by beating up on a lesser foe. How ’bout them Rodents!
This blog has been around for about eight months, and I’m grateful for each and every reader. I owe my success to all of you, and to the advice of bloggers who blazed the path long before I know what a blog was.
One of the first things I learned (and did) as a blogger was to leave meaningful comments on other people’s blogs. It’s great! Comments add to the conversation and allow for some personal interaction between the writer and reader. Sometimes, the writer will personally respond. How cool is that?
Answer: Pretty darned cool. But sometimes the writer doesn’t respond. Just leaves you hanging. I’m as guilty as any other self-absorbed blogger. For example, I wrote a lengthy book report the other day. Some dude calling himself the Financial Panther left a comment, whining about how his library doesn’t carry the book. Boo bleeping Hoo. I left no reply, obviously.
Why is this clown leaving a comment anyway? Trying to attract readers to his site? Like I often do when I leave comments on blogs way better than this one? As if I want to read about his lucrative dogsitting and possible marriage that I won’t be invited to anyway? Is there even an open bar? Doubt it.
And what’s with the craptastic name? I mean, I do kinda like the Simpsons reference, but if you’re going to have a panther based domain name, I mean… be Sex Panther.
OK. So he’s the Financial (not Sex) Panther and is playing the same game as me. Fine. Whatever. And he’s a lawyer who at least doesn’t chase ambulances, and is engaged to a dentist.
My Dad and my Dad’s Dad were dentists. I have an admiration for dentists. I hate him a little less.
And he lives where? Minneapolis? The home of my beloved Golden Gophers? Really? Color me aggravated, because I’m starting to like this guy.
So what does he want? Oh yeah, that White Coat Investor book. The one that the good Dr. Dahle autographed for me. I thought I made it clear in my book report: Get your own copy!
But…
But I’ve already read it.
And as the author pointed out, as a financially independent physician, I probably didn’t need to read it anyway. This young couple could probably benefit from a book like this. I do want to help people. That’s why I started this blog, for crying out loud. To help people
So this happened.
From blog comment to shared beers and one book handed off in fewer than 48 hours. And the aforementioned Financial Panther got all that he was asking for and more.
And that’s why we leave blog comments.
Have a great week!
-Physician on FIRE
p.s. Cheers to Surly Brewing and Dr. Jim Dahle, The White Coat Investor, for making this meeting of the meager minds possible.
p.p.s. Did you watch the fifteen second Simpons clip linked above? Do you not like to laugh?
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20 thoughts on “The Sunday Best (9/11/2016)”
So while reading Montana Money Adventure’s latest net worth post, I saw a comment by Financial Panther, to which Ms. Montana referred to this awesome post, which then got me reading here and soon cracking up in laughter to your backstory on meeting FP. Just what I needed during my mid-morning break. Another reason why I like when people comment. Thank you POF.
Just read your article on investmentzen.com!
Amazing and very inspiring!!! I don’t know if I will ever be able to do what you did, but am definitely willing to try hard.
If you don’t mind me asking, have you ever written a post about what your average expenses per year are? I know you don’t budget, but I would be interested to know the details behind the 75K yearly expenses for a family of 4.
Thank you, and great question! Also, great timing — check the site tomorrow morning. More numbers will be revealed.
Cheers!
-PoF
Thank you PoF for allowing us to be part of the mission! Anything we can do to support the financial education of physicians, which of course all start with the contract and income negotiation/agreement. A poor contract and subsequent exit of a practice can set a Physician’s financial goals back significantly – anyone can call us here at Contract Diagnostics anytime for a consultation.
That is such a cool story. Great to read how you turned an initial annoyance into a great adventure and meet-up. I always enjoy your Sunday reading post.
cd :O)
Thanks for mention, PoF! I love that Simpson’s clip…haha.
Great to meet you PoF and thanks for letting me borrow that book! And now we got another excuse to meet up again so I can get the book back to you.
Thanks for taking the time to meet up, Financial Panther! It was a real pleasure meeting you. I’ll be sure to look you up another time when I’m back in town.
Cheers!
-PoF
Great list as usual PoF and love the fact that you got together with Financial Panther to exchange the book and share a beer – awesome!
Thanks, Jon! The couple of times I’ve met up with other bloggers in real life have been wonderful. I look forward to meeting many more of you over the years.
Cheers!
-PoF
I’m halfway through WCI’s book then I’ll give mine away too, but others should know that they can request that their library purchase specific books. Check the website or ask your librarian for details– I requested and my library bought jlcollins’s Simple Path to Wealth.
Hey, I’m leaving a comment on your post!! 😉
I don’t buy beers for everyone that comments, just so you know, Fritz. 🙂
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Good stuff PoF. As an aside, your Sunday Best series has inspired me to do something similar (Happy Philosopher Weekend Reading).
The car posts are interesting. I don’t think most people really sit down and do the math with respect to how much transportation costs them over their lifetime. I thought I was doing great buying brand new cars and keeping them for 15 years, but even so it is amazing how expensive even that is. The terrifying thing is that at average income levels (50k) the cost of fancy new cars becomes a staggeringly high percentage of income. You should write about this in a future post. WCI did a great article on it, but spreadsheets would really bring down the hammer.
Thank you, Happy Philosopher. You had a powerful series of posts this weekend.
I could probably throw together some numbers to examine the impact of varying levels of luxury in autos, and how the costs add up. Will put it in the drafts folder. It might actually work well as a 4 physicians post.
Cheers!
-POF
Thank you, Happy Philosopher. You hosted a series of powerful posts this weekend.
I think I could run some numbers on varying levels of luxury in autos, and how the costs add up. It might make for a good 12th installment in the 4 physician’s series. Will put it in the drafts folder. Thanks for the inspiration!
Best,
-PoF
Good list POF. Will go through them.
Football is back! Maybe I’ll win a fantasy league for once. I wish your teams well!
In 7 or 8 years in a 12-team league, I’ve finished first, second, third, and fourth in different years. Good luck to you, Fervent Finance!
Best,
-PoF
Wow, thanks for the mention PoF! I feel like the little dude in the Sunday Best photo, standing here with my arms outstretched, enjoying all the glory in my underwear. All I need is a victory wreath to hold, but I would settle for one of those beers – they look delicious.