A few basics on budgeting

If you have a significant other, budget together! You have to be on the same page for this to work.  I loved Dave Ramsey’s advice on this:  if one of you is the “nerd” and loves spreadsheets and budgets, make your budget and slide it across the table to your “free spirit.”  Then…SHUT UP.   Let them have some time to look it over and make adjustments. If you don’t have a significant other, it can help to have a trusted friend hold you accountable.  

If you’ve never made a budget before, here are some simple steps to get you started.

1. Start by examining last month’s expenses or track this month’s. 
2. Now get a piece of paper, spreadsheet, Mint, YNAB,  EveryDollar, or whatever…and write down your monthly take home pay.
3. List your expenses.  In addition to the usual stuff (mortgage/rent/electricity) think about upcoming bills (quarterly bills and etc).  Then tally up your more flexible expenses (food, gas, Netflix).  Subtract your expenses from your income.  Give every dollar a job! Remember your saving goals, debt goals, and etc.   If you're budget spends more than your income, it's time to reevaluate and make some cuts.  
4. Track your expenses to see how you are doing.  Re-evaluate as necessary.  Every month may be different!

Expect mastering a budge to take more than 1 or 2 months!  

If you have trouble “sticking to the budget.”  Cut up the credit cards and go cash only.  It’s hard to overspend when you only have cash on hand! 

Tips from my own budgeting:

• I like to write it down every month, then go over it with my husband.  I'm the nerd about budgeting!  I've tried spreadsheets, mint, and YNAB...but for whatever reason, I still like writing out my budget.
• We cut cable television, and I don't miss it. 
• We try to plan our meals and avoid fast food.  I like to cook as little as possible (as you might imagine from the title of this blog), so I cook a large quantity and freeze the excess
• Planning meals then utilizing curbside pick up keeps me out of the stores and helps prevent impulse shopping!
• Do you have a nervous shopping habit?  In the midst of stress and anxiety, I often found myself in Michael's...So addressing my feelings through therapy, exercise, walking in nature, playing, or whatever helps keep my stress spending down.  It may be worthwhile to examine your own emotions and identify what drives some of your spending habits.

What budgeting tips or software do you find useful? I'm always looking for more tips and tricks for my own life and for my students' lives.
 

Peace and love, y'all

Pearls of Personal Finance (for Veterinary Students)

 
“Don’t be follower; be a student. Make sure your actions are the product of your own conclusions.” - Jim Rohn

I've struggled mightily with my own personal finance.  I've made many mistakes...some I've discovered, and some I will probably find out later in life.  So I wanted to try to help those starting on their journeys through sharing what I've learned and the mistakes I've made.   This blog is my own personal opinion;  I want readers to do their own research, and make their own decisions! 

Habits and Values

 “Most people have it all wrong about wealth in America.  Wealth is not the same as income.  If you make a good income each year and spend it all, you are not getting wealthier.  You are just living high.  Wealth is what you accumulate, not what you spend…It is seldom luck or inheritance or advanced degrees or even intelligence that enables people to amass fortunes.  Wealth is more often a result of a lifestyle of hard work, perseverance, planning and most of all, self-discipline.”  – Thomas J. Stanley, The Millionaire Next Door.

Building wealth and getting out of debt is more about your habits than your income.   Develop good habits of saving and living within your means.  Of course where you spend your money and what order to place your financial goals depends on what you value.  How does debt make you feel?  Can you live with debt or does it cause you great anxiety?  How important is owning vs. renting?  Can you be content with less than the Jones?   Should you investing in USA funds or global funds?  What about tithing and giving?  You should probably spend some time thinking about what is truly important to you because your values should be reflected in your financial plan.

A Basic Plan

I’ve been reading as fast as I can (with a book in one hand and toddler in the other) to learn about personal finances.    It started with taking Dave Ramsey’s Financial Peace through a local church, but I started to question some of his teachings.   So I read blogs and websites (Money Girl: Quick and Dirty Tips, You Need a Budget Podcast, Dave Ramsey, The Vin Foundation Student Debt Center).  Then moved on to books: The Millionaire Next Door, The White Coat Investor, and more soon).  Most financial gurus have quite a bit of similarity in their plans.  All of them involve good spending habits, consistent saving/investing, and having a plan for debt.   Here’s a basic plan adapted from Dave Ramsey’s Financial Peace and The White Coat Investor with a touch my own opinion.  This is not meant to be a be-all-end-all guide to your financial future, but a springboard to dive in.  Y’all are some of the smartest people I know, you can do this! 

The Plan Components

1. Save for an emergency.
2. Formulate a debt strategy
3. Protect your Assets
4. Save for retirement
5. Save for children’s college
6. Pay off your home
7. Give and live life!

The order you accomplish those items will depend on your values and goals, but I recommend doing the first 3 STAT.

Over the next few weeks, I plan on going through some of the basics I've learned on each component.  May it help someone out there! 

1. Emergency Fund

If you take Dave Ramsey’s Financial Peace University or read his Total Money Makeover,  his “Baby Step 1” is to rapidly save $1000 for a rainy day.  Sell some furniture. Sell so much, the kids worry they are next.   If you don’t have this much in the bank, do this NOW.   Commit to not spending more than you make.  If that means cutting up the credit cards, cut them up!  The last thing veterinarians need is consumer debt on top of student debt.   Although Dave Ramsey recommends saving $1000, paying down debt, then saving 3-6 months for a real emergency fund, I was far from comfortable only having $1000 in the bank for the time it takes me to pay down (or serve my time on IBR) my 6 digits of student loans.  For that reason, I’m not committing to his order. For my own stress level, I want an emergency fund fully funded first!

Where to put it?

–       Consider your habits and your feelings toward debt/risk.

–       Money Market/High Yield Savings– less volatile than mutual funds, but earns less.  Readily available through banks.  This is where Dave Ramsey recommends putting it.  This was too close for me.  It only took 1 tiny little transfer to get to it…

–       Mutual Funds – May not instantly be available, but might earn more…or it might lose all value!  If you need money instantly, do you have enough credit to cover it?  How do you feel about credit?  This is risky but has more potential for it to grow.

–       Roth IRA – Your contributions can be withdrawn without penalty.  Risk level depends on how it’s invested.   More on Roth IRAs later…

But Wait… How does one save money?

 “Some may say it is easy to save when you have a high income, but the savings and donations percentages I listed essentially remained the same regardless of whether we were making 45,000/yr as a resident or the much higher income that we now earn.  If you are not disciplined to save on a $45,000 income, it won’t be any easier on a six-figure income.” – The White Coat Investor

If you are living paycheck to paycheck, in order to start saving something must change.  If you keep doing the same thing and expect a different outcome, that’s insanity.  You really only have 2 options:

• Make more
•  Spend less

If your life is anything like mine, the thought of one more job exhausts me.   How could I possibly pick up another side-hustle? Another part-time job? I still have kids to raise.  However, I can always spend less.  The key is a BUDGET.  You need a budget.  Even if you make more, without a budget you will find that your expenses rise to consume that money.  You have to work for your money, so put your money to work too!

“A budget is telling your money where to go instead of wondering where it went.”  - Dave Ramsey

I'll blog about budgeting and post it in the next week or so.

Peace and Love, y'all!

Sabbatical

Y'all.  I did something crazy.  I quit my job 3 months ago.  I didn't find another full time job.  I didn't look.

Since I graduated in 2012, I have tirelessly worked and been the main breadwinner for the family.  It feels odd to step back and to let Chase provide for our family.   The first day I woke up with nowhere to go, I spent most of the day weeping....ugly cry...full out...weeping.  The feeling of having a full day to spend with my children without being interrupted by "Hey Dr. Katie" calls was so liberating.  The feeling of knowing these days would continue with no foreseeable stop.  Unbelievable.  Overwhelming.   

My children are so beautiful.  I had no idea when I was planning this career what having children would mean...how it would shift all that I hold dear.  Maybe I can't have it all - a perfectly balanced career and home life, but I want to be sure to choose what is better.  So for the time being, I'm laying my career on the altar like Abraham giving Isaac to God.  Maybe someday, God will restore my career, but for now...I'm going to teach 2 little babies everything I can.  I'm going to play cars, meow like a cat, cook dinner by 6, take naps, and read books.    I felt these wonder years slipping away, but I've stopped running for a bit to savor every moment.

Peace of Nature

 

Yesterday after work, we went to a local park and waded in the creek.  It was beautiful, hot day.  I love summer!  

My children loved splashing in the creek.  They loved even more discovering these crawfish!  I haven't had time to really sit down and identify the species, but they are cool all the same :)

Proverbs

This summer, I am working my way through the Proverbs.  These were written by King Solomon as guidance for his children and the young adults in his life.  I certainly could use some wisdom.   In each chapter of Proverbs, I'm working through these steps:

1. Pray first.  I pray that God will open my eyes and help me to gain and apply the wisdom.  
2. Content:
1. I summarize each verse or section of the chapter. (Google BSF homiletics)
2. I look for particular themes that I chose to focus on
1. Attributes of God
2. Success/Blessing vs Destruction
3. Fools/Scoffers - recognizing them by their behavior, responding to a fool
4. Money
5. Work
6. Marriage/Love
7. Worry/Stress/Fear vs. Peace
8. Family/Parenting
9. Heart/Mind
10. Words/Speech 
11. Sin/Evil
12. Wisdom/Knowledge
3. What is the overall principle? The purpose?  Write questions to apply.
4. What will I apply to my life? Specifically.
5. Pray again.

I am particularly interested in reading about fools.   The original Hebrew had many words for fools and each had a slightly different meaning.  However, I'm going to be looking at fool as a general term.  The answers I seek are... Are there people who truly are "fools?" How do I recognize them? How do I respond to them?  Is it even right to call them a fool?   

I suppose there have been difficult people around for all time.  I'm sure Solomon dealt with more than his fair share since he was a king.  I can think of a few people who have caused me frustration, anger, or pain because of poor choices/responses/behavior.  This is my quest to figure out how I should behave.    I'm also doing Internal Family Systems therapy during my therapy sessions.  It's quite interesting, but that's a subject  for another time....

Burnout, Therapy, and the Proverbs.

What a long time since my last post!  I haven't been doing much of anything except working and taking care of my toddlers!   My kids are 3 and almost 2...  My oldest son, Cheetah, is no longer in our home, but I still keep track of him.  He has been struggling, but his story is his own...and I will not share it here.  Regardless, prayers for him are always welcome.

6 years ago in May, I graduated veterinary school.  The first 2 years were brutal.  There were many times I thought I would just walk away from it completely.  It is a heavy burden to carry the weight of beloved pets' health.   Every single day.  I took it hard when owners didn't follow my recommendations, their pet declined, and then sometimes responded in anger toward me.  I emotionally handled work even worse when pets didn't respond to the "gold standard."   Since those first 2 years, I've learned to detach a little (and had 2 babies and an unknown number of foster children).  I'm learning to accept my limitations.  I'm not omniscient or omnipotent.  I can't always know the answers, and I certainly can't know the answers when recommendations for diagnostics are not followed.  There are clients who are just mean, demanding, unreasonable, and just plain ignorant but unwilling to learn.  There are clients who are amazing, kind, teachable, and appreciative.  The second type are the ones I stick around for... but how do I handle the first type?  I've also had a few HR conflicts at work, and it's really led to significant burnout.  Lately, the veterinary trade journals have been flooded with articles on compassion fatigue, burnout, and the general poor mental state of veterinarians.  It seems as if every month, I hear of one of my colleagues committing suicide.   Did you know that the rate of suicide among veterinarians is very high compared to the general population?  These are from an article in Veterinarian's Money Digest (which they got from a CDC study on veterinarian health):

• 6.8 percent of male and 10.9 percent of female veterinarians have serious psychological distress, compared with 3.5 percent and 4.4 percent of male and female adults, respectively, in the general population.
• 14 percent of male and 19 percent of female veterinarians have suicidal thoughts, three times that of the general U.S. population.
• 24.5 percent of male and 36.7 percent of female veterinarians have experienced depressive episodes since veterinary school graduation, about 1.5 times the prevalence among U.S. adults throughout their lifetime.
• 1.1 percent of male and 1.4 percent of female veterinarians have attempted suicide since veterinary school.

 I have never personally considered suicide, but I have experienced mental anguish so intense because of my job that for a moment...I understood why veterinarians commit suicide.   So what can I do to make it better?  What can I do to improve our profession?   I spent a lot of time thinking about this.   What is they say on the airplane?  Put on your own mask before assisting your neighbor.   So, I signed up for therapy.    But...the therapist had a 4 month wait list.... so I started studying the Proverbs and reading numerous books.  I'll try to blog a little more this year.  I have rare instances of my kids not needing constant attention...rare instances indeed.  Maybe my blog will help someone...maybe not, but at least it will be therapeutic for me.

The working mom's struggle

Yesterday was a busy day for my family.   I worked from 7:30am until about 5:30, with a 1 hour lunch break.  Chase had to take a sick day to stay home with our feverish baby.  Unfortunately that little sick toddler was asleep during my lunch break so I didn't get to see her.  I rushed home after work to start dinner.  I tried to balance the baby on one hip, talk to our teen about his day at school, and cook dinner all at the same time.  Chase went to go get ready in our room for CPR certification class.  The babysitter arrived right as the house started to fill with smoke.  I'm a pretty good vet, a loving mom, and an ok artist...but I'm a terrible chef!  I don't know how to cook with the cast iron skillet without filling my house with smoke.  I think maybe not rushing is the trick....but ain't nobody got time for that.   We got most of dinner on the table in time to go to our class, but the teen had to finish the mac and cheese.  We waved goodbye to the kids, and shoved our faces full of food on the way out the door.  Luckily this isn't our  babysitter's first rodeo with our kids so we didn't have to explain anything.

We arrived 10 minutes late to our CPR class, but we didn't miss anything.  About 30 minutes in, my cell phone starts going off.  Algebra crisis.  I texted the teen that he'd have to wait for us to get home...or try his luck with grandpa!  After calling Nanna, he decided to wait until we got home. 

Mom enough?

A blog post with only my phone...no access to a computer to type my blog posts.  

Fostering and New Life

Saturday was beautiful.  The temperature was in the 60s and the sun was shining down.  I was off from work, and it just felt so good.  We slept in until 9 (thank you MM!!).  I woke up feeling refreshed and energized so I decided to make my family a delicious breakfast.  I made MM a scrambled egg, and cut up some fruit.  She sat munching on breakfast while I made pancakes and omelets for the rest of my family.   I woke everyone else up and we stuffed ourselves to the brim.  "Here's something else you can make without burning!  You make a good omelet" said Cheetah.   Thanks, Cheetah!.....I think?   

MM was quickly ready for her nap, and we scrambled to clean the house while she slept.  We got through a lot of the list, but the day was just too beautiful to waste indoors.  So we all sat down for sandwiches and more fresh fruit.  We loaded up both cars with our 3 bicycles and drove to Walt's, where Chase and I bought our bikes.  We bought Cheetah a helmet and explained that it is ALWAYS required on a bicycle;  even Chase and I wear helmets.  At Walts, you can rent those cool baby trailers.  Luckily they still had one available.  They gave us a quick demo, and off we went.   It was already 3 pm by then, but we figured that would be plenty of time for 3 out of shape folks to be out exercising.  We ended up going 15 miles total, and the sun set on us before we got back!  Whoops!  MM loved the way out...but was not a happy camper on the way back!  We just stayed out a little too long.  BUT we had a great time!   Cheetah said it was an awesome day, and he just can't wait to do it again!  Time together away from the stress of school or work...and no computer screens!   It was wonderful!

We've been busy since Cheetah moved back in with us.   It's back to court dates, family visits, CASA visits, case worker visits,  therapy appointments, and all the other schedule-filling items involved with foster care.  MM has been sick with colds off an on for the last 3 weeks, and she's seen the doctor at least 2 times for high fevers.  Poor little Bear.  There have been algebra battles, discussions on bullying, and lots of "what ifs."     When you're in foster care...there are always lots of what ifs.     Chase and I are working to provide a loving and stable home for both of our kiddos.  We may be broke and in deeper student debt than you can imagine....but we are rich in love.  God's love has been great for our family, and we endeavor to show others His love.

My life is full of blessings.  As I watched my son ride his bike (with helmet) around the block while Chase pushed MM on her tricycle (also wearing a helmet), I felt a great sense of peace and contentment.   The peace you can only know when you hear God's call for your life...and feel that maybe today you are answering it.  Maybe this is what I am here on earth for...



It's kinda funny, life doesn't always take the path you expect for it to follow.   This year, after saying goodbye to Cheetah, we decided to drop out of all volunteering and fostering roles.  We wanted to add to our family, let Chase find a job outside of the home, and let our kids grow a couple of years.  Then we wanted to re-evaluate and maybe foster again...or maybe not.  However, only 1 part of that plan was successful!  We took 1 month off before Cheetah moved right back in with us.  Of course, we are also now expecting!   I never would have signed up for a toddler, teen, and infant all at the same time, but that's the unexpected turn. We are so very grateful for baby number 2 and of course that we were here for Cheetah when he needed us.  I don't know what else the future holds, but I am sure God's hand is in it :)

Glimmers of Joyful life

last week:

I sat waiting in Big-O tires.  MM played with some toys on the floor and started cruising around the coffee table.  She looked up from the table toward me, and extended her little arms.  She took 3 tentative steps toward me and collapsed in my outstretched arms.  We both were smiling and giggling!  Her first real steps were in a tire store!  As we played and giggled, a young man approached us.  He was not smiling. “Hey, would you buy this gift card from me?  It’s got $200 on it, and I’m asking $150.”  Thinking it was a scam, I told him he should save it as car troubles can spring up in the future even if he doesn’t need it now.   He told me his license had been taken because of a DUI, and he needed money to pay the court expenses.  I felt a little sorry for him so I talked to him about forgiveness.  There is life after a big mistake, and he will be ok!   He walked away, and returned again in a few seconds.  “How about $100?”  I thought that it could be a scam, but this poor kid needed the money more than I.  So I agreed.  As soon as he left, I checked the balance with a clerk.  Sure enough $200!  I was so excited.   I met an honest young man, hopefully encouraged him a little, and got a $100 discount on new tires for my car.     I realize I could have checked it before I purchased it, but sometimes a person needs to be shown a little trust as encouragement to become trustworthy.   Or maybe I’m just too trusting and gullible, but it paid off!  Lol… of course the estimate for yet more repairs on the HHR put a small damper on my enthusiasm, but that’s life! 

When I got home, Peggy refused to go down for nap.  She was wired!  Maybe she was thinking about how to walk!  Who knows the mind of a baby…  Cheetah arrived home from school, and he wanted to help teach MM to walk.  We sat with a few feet between us and encouraged MM to walk from one set of arms to the other.   Her improvement was evident with every step!  I bet she will be running by her first birthday.  Cheetah smiled and said “she’s grown so much since I moved in.  It’s so much fun to see her grow!  When I first got here, she couldn’t even crawl.”  Peggy has been saying “Chachacha,” and Chase thinks she might be trying to say Cheetah’s name.  That little squirt loves her big brother, and he clearly loves her too.   Every child needs a loving home, and I’m so blessed to have 2 children laughing and playing in my home!

Peace and love, y’all!

Some Memories...

Days Ago

I was happily snapping pictures of my family relaxing around the Christmas tree while I was trying to figure out more advanced settings on my new camera. Cheetah asked me what happened to the old one. I explained that the baby broke the lens so it doesn't attach well to the camera. He replied "I'm really good at fixing things. Can I take a look?" So he taped the 18-55mm lens on to the old Nikon D40 and started happily taking pictures of everything. I watched him for a few minutes...then asked "would you like that camera?" His eyes lit up for a minute...then he said "No, no. I couldn't take this." So I insisted. Then I got all the gear that went with it and explained the function of each. He got a Nikon D40, 18-55mm (sorta broken) lens, 55-200mm lens, battery charger, and a bag. He was SO HAPPY! "Now I can take nice portraits of my family when we get back together!!" I can't think of a better way to give my old camera..my very first dslr...new life. I hope he'll get many years of happy pictures of his friends and family

Cheetah was talking to his momma on the computer earlier this week and saw me walk by. He said "hey Katie! Can we do the ornament now?" I handed him today's ornament, waved at his mom on the screen and said hello, and then handed him the little devotional that goes along with yesterday's ornament. Both of us smiled while he shared the fall of Adam and Eve, and God's promise to redeem mankind. It was a moment of shared parenting - 2 sets of parents working together for the good of a child. He asked if he could continue the tradition at his house, and his momma of course said yes.

Weeks ago:

It had been a hard day at work.  I cried with owners as we said goodbye to pets and patients.  For whatever reason…I had multiple euthanasias that day, and even more over the previous week.  I was exhausted and sad.  Then I got this text message: “wat can I do to make your day better? So you don’t cry?” I replied “You just did.” 

Months ago:

 Cheetah worked up the courage to try to rock MM to sleep.  Chase gently placed her in his arms, and they settled into the rocking recliner.  MM fussed as she always does, but he persisted.  Soon my little baby was snuggled up with my teenage boy.  He had a huge grin on his face because he was so proud of himself.  Seeing them together made my heart melt into a mushy puddle. Since then, MM has adored Cheetah.  She picked up some of his dance moves (whip and naenae), and crawl-chased him around the living room.  She looks for him when he hides behind a wall or under a blanket.  He tells me he really wants a baby someday…but only 1! Since multiple kids are hard to handle! I think MM will miss him when he leaves our doors.