need your opinion:jobs/decsions/money/happines...

[deven]

97tbird, as a fellow pharmacist, let me first say you guys chose a great profession. I also graduated pharmacy school with close to $80k in debt. My loans had a fixed interest at 4% so I was in no hurry putting more money in the loans and paying them off faster. What extra money I had, I invested in the market. What adivse I can give you is, if your loans are of low fixed interest rate, pay the minimum monthly amounts and put the extra money in a mutual fund. With compound interest, you will still come out on top. Just my advise.
As for the job, I have always worked in the retail setting and I can understand why your wife is not happy there. Its one of the most stressful jobs I have had and it really does put a strain on your private life. It has happened to me first hand so i know. Please dont let your wife work in the retail enviornment especially if she hates it. If she hates it now, once she becomes a pharmacist she'll hate it even worse. Once you are a pharmacist, its a whole different animal and with it does come more stress. When I was a grad intern I used to do everything a pharmacist would do and thought i had seen the worst but let me tell you, after getting my license it did get worse. You dont want this strain in your relationship. Please heed my advise and let her work in the clinical setting. Look at it this way, in 2 years your househole income will be over $200,000 dollars and you guys will be financially wealthy in no time after that. Sorry for the rambling, if you have any questions about pharmacy please PM me. Good luck to both of you.

Deven

 

[refaller]

I am glad to hear from the happiness crowd. I agree. Happiness is worth more than any amount of money. After all, if our money is not to enable our happiness, then what good is it? I love my job(s) and would leave in a heartbeat if I were not so happy. Of course, I took the lower paying one so it is an easier decision.

ref

 

[Jim 5]

My opinion is that it is easier to pay your dues and pay off your loans right out of school when you're both young. You may soon need to adjust your lifestyle to account for children. If that is in the plan, you won't be at liberty to consider less pay (maternity leave/part time work) if you're carrying all the debt.

I would work/save hard in the first few years after school, pay off the debt, and build experience while you are young. Consider it the last few years of school....paying it off.

You have deferred many things that would have been immediately satisfying in favor of the longer term goal of education. While you are still in that frame of mind, get those student loans paid off and then enjoy the quality of life that financial peace of mind will provide for you. Not to mention the options you will have available to you (absent crippling debt) when life's little miracles happen.

Hang on just a little longer.... it's worth it.

Just one person's perspective. Whatever you decide, good luck to you!

 

[Merkava_4]

120K a year is good money, but that's got to be one of the most boring jobs in the world; counting pills all day. Your wife needs to live her own life and be happy WITHOUT pulling your weight. Whoever said that marriage is supposed to be a team effort doesn't understand the importance of happiness.

Just my opinion.

 

[deven]

Originally Posted By: Merkava_4
that's got to be one of the most boring jobs in the world


LOL...you sound like my brother in law. Try dealing with insurances all day long, it spices up a little bit.

 

[mechtech2]

Get the money.
Switch to personal satisfaction later.
It sounds like you are relatively young, and have this option/luxury available.
That is a tremendous amount of extra cash to me over 5 or more years.

 

[wander2039]

How about the job she loves and then a pt job to pay off the bills? I know they have openings for PT pharamcist at the hospital I work for.

 

[Turk]

That's a huge difference..........

Think this through thoroughly:

1) Is there some rotten people "there" that she'd work with or could they be good where she "may" actually enjoy it for a while?

2) Is it anxiety causing it and it truly may not be that bad there?

3) Can she read a book or two to take a different attitude on the situation & help enjoy it?

4) Can you take a "sliver" of the difference every month and do something "SPECIAL" you both wouldn't do otherwise? A Resort for the weekend, a Comedy Club, Dance Lessons, a couple massages, install a Spa Tub, etc...??