One of the best jobs I had was waitressing. It taught me time management, how to keep changing to the needs and stress of a shift, and how to deal with all sorts of people. I was in the healthcare field and excelled in our clinical rotations over others in my program. Once working in multiple hospitals, I could handle all sorts of personalities and knew the importance of viewing all employees within the hospital as my coworkers. It definitely helps to have variety before one starts their career.
Thank you for all that you have done and left us with. I did not know you, but I feel like I have lost a friend. I greatly admire your outlook on life and the final lesson you left us with. You will be missed.
I can think of three core financial moves that have been the best and all I give thanks to my parents for instilling them in me. 1) Getting a quality education. My father always said, "They can not take your education away from you". I chose a degree in a high demand healthcare field and one that gender had nothing to do with salary.
2) Always paying myself first (retirement funding). My father repeatedly told me if I waited till everyone else was paid then I would have nothing for myself. 3) Live below your means. My mother taught me the art of budgeting for every known and possible future expense. It has served me very well.
I come from the angle of being an inpatient acute care Physical Therapist having to deal with patients who physically can not go home. So many people can not wrap their heads around not being able to safely go up and down stairs and seem shocked when they have to convert a Dining room, etc. into a bedroom. I think we are thinking of ourselves as we were when we were young and healthy. 1 level houses with no steps to enter is the way to go.
Excellent article. I am just at the very beginning stage of pondering at 60 y/o for planning my future. Having worked in acute setting of healthcare for 26 years, I know first hand through my patients how important this type of planning is. Thank you for writing about this.
As a long career inpatient Physical Therapist, you gave excellent suggestions. Anyone at home wanting to make an ice pack: 3 parts water to 1 part rubbing alcohol in a gallon ziploc bag. PLEASE start pre-surgery rehab, it truly will help. If a pre-op surgery class is offered, take it! Those patients do much better because they are educated and prepared for the process after surgery.
Enjoyed your rant. Nice to read from someone else who also sees the bright and shiny as a bit too much. I used to read a FIRE blogger out of San Fran then he annoyed me so I stopped reading. Later learned this guy returned to work a few years later. I'm sure he spun it.
Comments
One of the best jobs I had was waitressing. It taught me time management, how to keep changing to the needs and stress of a shift, and how to deal with all sorts of people. I was in the healthcare field and excelled in our clinical rotations over others in my program. Once working in multiple hospitals, I could handle all sorts of personalities and knew the importance of viewing all employees within the hospital as my coworkers. It definitely helps to have variety before one starts their career.
Post: Lessons Learned Along the Way
Link to comment from July 1, 2026
Thank you for all that you have done and left us with. I did not know you, but I feel like I have lost a friend. I greatly admire your outlook on life and the final lesson you left us with. You will be missed.
Post: Farewell Friends
Link to comment from September 30, 2025
Enjoy! I retired on May 30th this year. It has been wonderful doing what I wanted to do each day.
Post: Today’s the Day!
Link to comment from July 10, 2025
I can think of three core financial moves that have been the best and all I give thanks to my parents for instilling them in me. 1) Getting a quality education. My father always said, "They can not take your education away from you". I chose a degree in a high demand healthcare field and one that gender had nothing to do with salary. 2) Always paying myself first (retirement funding). My father repeatedly told me if I waited till everyone else was paid then I would have nothing for myself. 3) Live below your means. My mother taught me the art of budgeting for every known and possible future expense. It has served me very well.
Post: What are the smartest financial moves you’ve ever made?
Link to comment from April 6, 2024
Always pay yourself first. My Father
Post: What’s your favorite financial quote?
Link to comment from April 6, 2024
Excellent article. I work in acute care so I get to see all the patients that waited too long.
Post: Doctor’s Orders
Link to comment from October 18, 2023
I come from the angle of being an inpatient acute care Physical Therapist having to deal with patients who physically can not go home. So many people can not wrap their heads around not being able to safely go up and down stairs and seem shocked when they have to convert a Dining room, etc. into a bedroom. I think we are thinking of ourselves as we were when we were young and healthy. 1 level houses with no steps to enter is the way to go.
Post: A Half-Century Later
Link to comment from September 27, 2023
Excellent article. I am just at the very beginning stage of pondering at 60 y/o for planning my future. Having worked in acute setting of healthcare for 26 years, I know first hand through my patients how important this type of planning is. Thank you for writing about this.
Post: Continuing Care
Link to comment from August 12, 2023
As a long career inpatient Physical Therapist, you gave excellent suggestions. Anyone at home wanting to make an ice pack: 3 parts water to 1 part rubbing alcohol in a gallon ziploc bag. PLEASE start pre-surgery rehab, it truly will help. If a pre-op surgery class is offered, take it! Those patients do much better because they are educated and prepared for the process after surgery.
Post: Pretty Nice Joint
Link to comment from April 9, 2023
Enjoyed your rant. Nice to read from someone else who also sees the bright and shiny as a bit too much. I used to read a FIRE blogger out of San Fran then he annoyed me so I stopped reading. Later learned this guy returned to work a few years later. I'm sure he spun it.
Post: My First 2023 Rant
Link to comment from January 25, 2023