Quoting *...*...*...*:" I was browsing SDN trying to read some reviews on residency programs for my husband. (It's a pre-medical, ... [snip!] ... towards next car, next vacation, emergency fund etc $622 Subtotal of Variable Expenses $3022 Total Expenses $17647"

Wow! What jumps out as me is how low his taxes are. Clearly, the doc lives in a low-tax area.

I'm sure his use of the word "poor" is tongue-in-cheek. His point was not well-presented. He is just tryng to adjust expectations that you will live like royalty once you become an attending. The fact is that overwhelmingly, when people make more, they spend more. I'm sure he knows he isnt poor.

If you can afford just under 2k towards charity and almost 2k in gym memberships and vacation funds then no you are not poor. Obviously has absolutely no idea what it means to literally go to bed hungry at night.

If you can afford to pay all your essential expenses and still have money left over you are not poor at all.

Wow! Is this guy joking? Did he really refer to himself as poor?  

Quoting Wiggity Wack:" Wow! Is this guy joking? Did he really refer to himself as poor?  "

it's tongue-in-cheek.

Quoting TheNuge:" it's tongue-in-cheek. "

Are you sure he was joking?

These people are buttholes. They're saving for retirement, giving a couple grand to charity, paying two mortgages...their kids are enrolled in enriching activities and they're eating well. "oh we're poor" because there's nothing left at the end of the month? Give me a break.

Also, money out is same as money in. That means they are not poor! If they owed $24000 per month but made 18000, then yeah. I could accept they're as f****d as me. This is ridiculous. EMERGENCY FUND?!!? Many people couldn't dream of putting away money for emergencies.

Quoting Wiggity Wack:" Are you sure he was joking?"

From what i read, he was trying to make a point about the fact that just because you get to the level of being an attending doesnt mean you are living like a king or queen. as a doc, he deals with poor people and knows he isnt poor.

Quoting *...*...*...*:" I was browsing SDN trying to read some reviews on residency programs for my husband. (It's a pre-medical, ... [snip!] ... towards next car, next vacation, emergency fund etc $622 Subtotal of Variable Expenses $3022 Total Expenses $17647"

Is he literally poor? No.

Is he living the hypothetical Doctor dream most people imagine? Not really.

At least he's not paying student loans, right?  

<blockquote><b>Quoting BrittanieY:</b>" Is he literally poor? No. Is he living the hypothetical Doctor dream most people imagine? Not really. At least he's not paying student loans, right?  "</blockquote>



Right but hey at least lets give it to the guy for giving 2k to charity. Now imagine if he didnt he would be a jackass for real. Lol

Quoting BrittanieY:" Is he literally poor? No. Is he living the hypothetical Doctor dream most people imagine? Not really. At least he's not paying student loans, right?  "

Ha, I know right. I think he did the Military route.

Is this a monthly expense or yearly?

Quoting TheNuge:" Wow! What jumps out as me is how low his taxes are. Clearly, the doc lives in a low-tax area. I'm ... [snip!] ... become an attending. The fact is that overwhelmingly, when people make more, they spend more. I'm sure he knows he isnt poor."

That is a huge issue. People live far beyond their means, and they are taught that the more they make, the more they have to show off that wealth.

My family's income more than doubled 2 years ago. All of the extra income went into an emergency fund, a couple of savings accounts and charitable donations.

People need to learn that money comes and goes, I thought that these most recent financial issues around the world would open people's eyes....they haven't. Looking at the posts on here about spending several hundred dollars on Christmas much of it on layaway....buying houses beyond their means....etc.

Quoting speaktruth2powr:" That is a huge issue. People live far beyond their means, and they are taught that the more they make, ... [snip!] ... on here about spending several hundred dollars on Christmas much of it on layaway....buying houses beyond their means....etc."

*applauds* We need to live under our means. Our family's motto is "live to give". There is no reason we need to live right at our means, or even attempt to surpass them.

Quoting Destinite:" Is this a monthly expense or yearly?"

Monthly

Quoting the grace life:" *applauds* We need to live under our means. Our family's motto is "live to give". There is no reason we need to live right at our means, or even attempt to surpass them."

Exactly. I grew up poor. Like my mother would skip eating in order for us to eat, poor.

My favorite Christmas memories were making our own ornaments and decorating our apartment, I grew up not having a ton of stuff and that is how I have lived my life since then.