Doin' it for the money!

[LUBDUBB]

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Many people talk about doin' it for the money. I just wanted to know when fellow SDNers talk about the "money" what do they mean?

Do they mean

driving a benz and living in a 1.2 million dollar house?

OR do they mean having a comfortable life so you can enjoy the company of your family, take vacations, not worry about losing your job, send your parents (who worked soo hard all their lives) on vacation, not worry about having adequate health insurance or legal represenatation.

 

[TTSD]

To me, the money incentive is:

a) Most important: Make sure my family can live comfortably.
b) Save up for kids tuitions and fees
c) Be able to go on a vacation every so often lest I go homicidal on top of a belltower.
d) Have something in the retirement funds
e) Have a nice car, my ass likes to sit on something nice.

 

[Nutmeg]

I think that the "doin' it for the money" is to distinguish between accumulating wealth being the top priority in going into medicine, vs. money being second or third to other priorities, such as making a difference, helping people, having an interesting career, job security, increasing your game, etc. Obviously money has a role to play, or we all likely would be in nursing programs or so forth; likewise, the prestige the MD carries has factored into everyone's decision at some point.

There are some who set out on the path to medicine to get the benz and the 1.2 million dollar house, but it doesn't take long to see that medicine is a sh*tty way to reach that destination.

My own standards are along the lines of provide for my family, be prepared for finacial sitautions (eg tuition, retirement), and my one luxury that I expect is to be able to travel.

 

[Smitty3L]

When picking a career, you would be lying if you said that money was not a factor. I don't think anyone would go through medical school if they weren't going to be paid for it later. But, people that put making tons of money at top priority, would probably be best suited in another career. Any doctor that only cares about his paycheck is going to be unhappy and not to mention not a great a doctor.

 

[Gleevec]

Originally posted by LUBDUBB
do they mean having a comfortable life so you can enjoy the company of your family, take vacations, not worry about losing your job, send your parents (who worked soo hard all their lives) on vacation, not worry about having adequate health insurance or legal represenatation.

though i do want a sedan for my family that can withstand a direct hit from an escalade, which might mean buying a nicer car

 

[Pre-Dent-David]

I also want a hummer with a trailor hitch so I can tow a boat around everywhere I go or possibly tow another car as well. I also want one of those snow plows ont he front of my car and 4 CB radio antennas with golf balls stuck on top of them.

 

[28129]

You'll get a higher return on investment by taking the med. school money and purchasing a McDonald's franchise.

 

[PMED99]

For me, doing it for the money means doing it for job security. I would like to do GP in a rural area, so I doubt there will be much money in my future. Just a comfortable living.

I suppose it varies a lot for what type of physician you are and what type of practice you hold.

 

[Street Philosopher]

by "money", i mean "b!tches"

 

[zero counter]

Everyone will have their own motives for becoming a physician, whether it be fame, fortune, both or what have you.

Priorities tend to be the overall judging factor on whether money is the reason. Personally, after living on at least $25k per year for the last 4 years, I am not really worried about that aspect. I am going to give people a better quality of life even after taking a hypocritical oath.

Family and religion are the reasons for my view.

 

[jlee9531]

i love medicine and as long as it can get me more than the 14,000 a year I make trying to support a family of 3 (mom, bro and me) then thats just an added bonus.

im used to living in poverty, so the monetary aspect isnt a driving motivation to attend medical school. I just want to be above the poverty line.

 

[Zweihander]

I grew up dirt poor as an immigrant whose parents came to this country with nothing. I don't care if I'm rich, but I don't ever want my kids to live through their parents struggling like mine did, and I want to be in a position where I can support my own parents so they can finally stop working their tails off like they have been their whole lives.

That said, I'm lucky 'cause I've found myself studying a profession in which I can do these things and which I am actually loving as well. But if I didn't feel like I would love it going in, I would have found something else to do with my life.

 

[Bridaddy]

I think being a doctor is the best balance of all the things I want in a career.

Its an environment of constant change (even if you treat the same diseases, the people generally are different).

Its challenging both intellectually and physically, and is well respected.

You get to do something that when you are on your deathbed, you can be proud of your accomplishments. Other lay there and think that I was able to get the accounting department to increase efficiency 3% that one year, the best year EVER!

As far as the money, coupled with my interest in investments, I know will be enough to live comfortably, put my kids through school, retire a millionaire, and have something left over to give my children some security after I'm gone (hopefully this won't be needed, and can be given to charity, but you never know with kids) 🙂

All in all, sounds like a tremendous way to spend 50 years or so (hopefull more, if science keeps us old fogies alive).

 

[link26]

sick people = guaranteed ca$h flow.


$$$ = buy the shiat you want, no holding back.

you can't do that by working at Blockbuster

 

[Bridaddy]

There will be holding back, its not like being a doctor is like winning the lottery. You'd be surprised how quickly money is spent.

 

[greggth]

Originally posted by jlee9531
i love medicine and as long as it can get me more than the 14,000 a year I make trying to support a family of 3 (mom, bro and me) then thats just an added bonus.

im used to living in poverty, so the monetary aspect isnt a driving motivation to attend medical school. I just want to be above the poverty line.

When I am on my deathbed, I want to look back on life and say, not "I lived an unhappy life but I had a really nice car" but "I lived a happy life, I helped people." You can't take it with you. This is also why I am not going to have children, they are too expensive. 🙂

Nursing would be less fun than being a physician.

 

[....]

" love medicine and as long as it can get me more than the 14,000 a year I make trying to support a family of 3 (mom, bro and me) then thats just an added bonus.

im used to living in poverty, so the monetary aspect isnt a driving motivation to attend medical school. I just want to be above the poverty line."

Im glad im not your child.

Isnt there somethiing to say for being able to do everything you can for your kids? My parents were able to pay for my living expenses through alot of my undergrad, but i could have gotten into a duke or better but they said it was not an option for them.

And medschool is all on my shoulders. I know alot of people getting in right now whos parents are pay for it all. I will have to take out 250K in loans as it stands unless i get into a state school. (which again would be sacrificing the better school for money).

Lack of money is a huge burden that I wouldnt wish on anyone. And if im going to suffer form lack of money, im going to make damm sure that means my kids wont.

Part of good parenting is being able to say Yes or No to your kids when its appropriate, not when you can or cant afford it.

 

[Fritz]

I totally agree with you.

I have been poor most of my life and I really hope that if I ever get into medical school and become doctor, I be able to:
1. pay my 250K loans from medical school
2. buy a house
3. save for my kids college tuition
4. give my family a comfortable life.

I don't want to have millions of dollars, I just want to be able to go eat chinese one night when I feel like it without thinking that if I spend $20 on a meal, I will not be able to affort other things that I need.

just my 2 cents.

 

[Smitty3L]

I have had no help from my parents for school, or even my upcoming wedding. During my freshman year I greatly resented it, but I have come to appreciate it. If my mom had the money she would give it to me, but I'm glad things turned out like they did.

Your parents are responsible for you only for so long. At 18 and moving away to college (let alone22 and going to medical school) it's time to take responsbility for yourself.

 

[Teufelhunden]

Originally posted by jlee9531
i love medicine and as long as it can get me more than the 14,000 a year I make trying to support a family of 3 (mom, bro and me) then thats just an added bonus.

im used to living in poverty, so the monetary aspect isnt a driving motivation to attend medical school. I just want to be above the poverty line.

uuuuuhh...that's just about the stupidest thing i've ever heard in my life

be sure to post back in 10 years and let me know how that whole poverty thing is working out for you

oh, and btw...if your future employers ever pay you more than you're comfortable with, I'd be happy to take that money off your hands....5-series BMWs are expensive and I'm gonna need all the help I can get!

 

[....]

"""I have had no help from my parents for school, or even my upcoming wedding. During my freshman year I greatly resented it, but I have come to appreciate it. If my mom had the money she would give it to me, but I'm glad things turned out like they did.

Your parents are responsible for you only for so long. At 18 and moving away to college (let alone22 and going to medical school) it's time to take responsbility for yourself."""

I never said it was OWED to me. I said I wanted to provide support for my kids however they need it. Everyone does. Some people feel that they are doing the most for their kids by NOT giving them anything. But, typicaly those are poor people rationalizing failing to be providers. Not all parents who make their kids work harder than neccasary fit that description, but as oft said denial aint just a river in egypt, and alot of parents justify there lack of finacial soundness but saying "It will make them stronger"...Perhaps they are right, but I was to have the money to give, and then i can make a decicion, knowing im free to choose what i REALLY think is best.

I hate it that people in other countries, countries so poor that the existing population is starving, keep popping out kids like ping pong balls. Worry about taking care of your own butt before you make more babies. I hold myself to that same standard. And 14K, asside from being nowhere near any doctor has ever made, is NOT an acceptable income to be having kids on. Not with a clear conscience anyway.

 

[calcrew14]

Originally posted by LUBDUBB
Many people talk about doin' it for the money. I just wanted to know when fellow SDNers talk about the "money" what do they mean?

Do they mean

driving a benz and living in a 1.2 million dollar house?

OR do they mean having a comfortable life so you can enjoy the company of your family, take vacations, not worry about losing your job, send your parents (who worked soo hard all their lives) on vacation, not worry about having adequate health insurance or legal represenatation.

I mean an early retirement, man. After then, I could do all those good things every applicant tells the adcom. My children could do it soon afterwards too. My grandchildren and theirs too.......

 

[kmnfive]

A person must be really desperate, shallow or greedy to take on what they dont love in the word of financial security. if you think about it, most people sleep about 1/3 third of their life sleeping, goto school for 1/4 and the rest of it you work or do something--hopefully-that is productive until you grow old and incapable. because think about it ok? goto school for 25% of your life to do something that is soley concentrated on making $$$? you sleep for 33% ... with the time left over, you find yourself doing something that will take up 42% of the rest of your life incarcerated behind some office prostituting yourself to some corporation, which is run my some mini-Hitler who gives you the stick every time you make a mistake. i know allot of people who have become doctors or lawyers because they thought--or they were pressured into thinking--that life is just all about security. and they regret it -- not all of them, some of them find joy in buying crap that they dont need with their new found fortune. but what about when you die? you spent all your life chasing money and when your life flashes before your eyes you'll regret it, and now its too late because there is no time left to undo those choices. when im about to die and see my life flashing before my eyes i dont wanna be disapointed, because that movie better be entertaining.

 

[kmnfive]

BUMP

 

[doc05]

give me a break. the great majority of Americans work at jobs they dislike, many in fact HATE their jobs. Why do you think evening rush hour is so damn hectic? Because everyone's rushing to get the hell out of the office.

very few of us can make it in jobs we love. (if that were possible, we'd all be in the NBA.) doing medicine because of financial security is perfectly fine. it's just a job, after all.

Originally posted by kmnfive
A person must be really desperate, shallow or greedy to take on what they dont love in the word of financial security. if you think about it, most people sleep about 1/3 third of their life sleeping, goto school for 1/4 and the rest of it you work or do something--hopefully-that is productive until you grow old and incapable. because think about it ok? goto school for 25% of your life to do something that is soley concentrated on making $$$? you sleep for 33% ... with the time left over, you find yourself doing something that will take up 42% of the rest of your life incarcerated behind some office prostituting yourself to some corporation, which is run my some mini-Hitler who gives you the stick every time you make a mistake. i know allot of people who have become doctors or lawyers because they thought--or they were pressured into thinking--that life is just all about security. and they regret it -- not all of them, some of them find joy in buying crap that they dont need with their new found fortune. but what about when you die? you spent all your life chasing money and when your life flashes before your eyes you'll regret it, and now its too late because there is no time left to undo those choices. when im about to die and see my life flashing before my eyes i dont wanna be disapointed, because that movie better be entertaining.

 

[Smitty3L]

Originally posted by hightrump
"""I have had no help from my parents for school, or even my upcoming wedding. During my freshman year I greatly resented it, but I have come to appreciate it. If my mom had the money she would give it to me, but I'm glad things turned out like they did.

Your parents are responsible for you only for so long. At 18 and moving away to college (let alone22 and going to medical school) it's time to take responsbility for yourself."""

I never said it was OWED to me. I said I wanted to provide support for my kids however they need it. Everyone does. Some people feel that they are doing the most for their kids by NOT giving them anything. But, typicaly those are poor people rationalizing failing to be providers. Not all parents who make their kids work harder than neccasary fit that description, but as oft said denial aint just a river in egypt, and alot of parents justify there lack of finacial soundness but saying "It will make them stronger"...Perhaps they are right, but I was to have the money to give, and then i can make a decicion, knowing im free to choose what i REALLY think is best.

I hate it that people in other countries, countries so poor that the existing population is starving, keep popping out kids like ping pong balls. Worry about taking care of your own butt before you make more babies. I hold myself to that same standard. And 14K, asside from being nowhere near any doctor has ever made, is NOT an acceptable income to be having kids on. Not with a clear conscience anyway.

I think that you are missing my point. Of course everyone wants to provide for their children, but there has to be a time that those children become adults and accept their own financial responsibilities. It just seems that those of us who aspire to be responsible for taking care of others should first be able to be responsible for ourselves.

 

[sgilani]

my parents didn't pay for school. thank goodness for scholarships. i don't expect them to be able to pay for medical school. we haven't talked about it yet. their take is follow your dream and don't think about the money.
living large for me would mean being able to provide the best education for my children and knowing that i would be able to pay for whatever school they decided on. i wasn't able to go to columbia for undergrad b/c my parents couldn't afford it. i don't want my kids to have to sarifice the same.