Category Medical School

8 Tips to Prepare for Fourth year of Medical School

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As the wife of an anesthesia attending, I know medical school is quite an experience and everyone has their own unique journey. I also know that getting to fourth year can be often be a challenge. We have had our share of the good, bad and ugly life experiences. Medical school for sure was a tough road for us. Leading up to fourth year all of our struggles have come from trying to balance school, work & home life. Here I have a few tips to help you survive fourth year!

Tip 1: Budget, Budget, Budget- At this point you should have your bills and loan money down to a science. Fourth year was one of our most expensive years in my husband’s medical school journey. There are so many extra costs that you need to account for, such as residency application cost, travel (gas, car rental, hotel, food, etc) cost to and from interviews (unless your one of the lucky ones who applies to a place that does virtual interviews), cost of living for audition rotations, don’t forget to budget extra for some interview outfits. You will also want to set some money aside to afford to move to your residency program location as well! If you need some extra cash look into private loans for residency and relocation. These loans were made for medical students preparing to transition to residency.

Tip 2: The Application Process- Applying to residency programs is stressful and the amount of programs in each field of medicine can be overwhelming. Be sure to give your loved one some grace during this time. They have spent the past three years leading up to this moment so the stress can definitely feel overwhelming at times. If you are moving with them on the next phase (residency) then be sure to be included in the process of making a list together. We narrowed down our list to places that we could see ourself living, places we could afford to live and places where our family would be happy. For some you may want to be closer to family and loved ones, some may want to live close to a beach, lake, desert, or mountains. We also made sure all the places we applied were affordable for our budget. Residence pay is more than what you have lived on in medical school but still may be considered low income depending on what part of the country you chose to live in. 

Tip 3: Interviews- As the interviews start to roll in, the excitement starts to build… things are finally happening! During this time my best advice is to be supportive, listen, offer feedback when possible, be honest with your feelings on programs or places that you like or don’t like. But most of all remind them to be themselves! This is the one chance your loved one has to add that “wow” factor and impress programs. They will want to prepare ahead of time what may set them apart from other candidates. I will tell you that some programs look strictly at scores and achievements, while others are looking at who will be a good fit at their program. If the interview is in person, be sure to encourage them to attend the residency dinner the night before the interview (this may be in person or virtual depending on the residency program). This is a great time for them to get to know the program and the potential future co residents. Also, they can ask questions like what is the program hours like, does anyone have families and how much call will there be the first year. Some programs will also invite you to join along if you are in town as well. Make sure your loved one gets a good nights rest to prepare for interview day. So if it is in person or virtual be sure to be yourself and show the program why you will be a good fit!

Tip 4: Audition Rotations- Audition rotations are tough! If you are like us and have a family than audition rotations will be the most challenging part of this med school experience. I tried to prepare myself and our kids for audition rotations but it was still way harder than expected. For weeks I was a solo parent and it was lonely and depressing at times. For my husband it was overwhelming and stressful to feel like he had to be the perfect student at all times. Just like me he felt lonely and depressed to come home to an apartment far away from his family. The best advice I can give you is that it’s temporary and make sure you try and spend quality time before and after they return…. also, thank goodness for FaceTime (such a blessing)!

Tip 5: Back up Plan– Be patient but have a plan b! As interviews start to roll in, it can be exciting but nerve wracking. If your loved one is trying to match to a competitive program it really does come down to numbers. They will want to get as many interviews as possible because that means they will have more chances of ranking into a program of their interest. However, it is always best to have a backup plan and it is better now to get the ball rolling than to have to do it in a rush and scramble aka SOAP.

Tip 6: Create a Match List- While this may seem like the easiest part of your med school adventure it can get quite complicated. We have found that creating a spreadsheet with pros and cons for each program that you interview at worked best for us. Another idea is to bring an index card to each interview or keep notes in your phone, so you can write down all the programs pros and cons while they are still fresh in your brain. Remember that your list will be ranked in that order so be sure to rank each program from favorite to least favorite program. Ranking our list was so incredibly difficult because we were so split between the North and the South. We loved a program in the south (This is where we matched!) but all of our friends and family live in the North. Sometimes your rank list needs to be between you and your loved one and what really matters to the both of you since it is going to affect where you will be living for the next few years.

Tip 7: Love Letters- Don’t be afraid to send letters of interest! If your loved one really wants a program, tell them! Remember that you and your loved one have the upper hand in the match when it comes to ranking but programs do like to hear that your loved one wants to go to their program. I don’t recommend doing this to every program they apply to, because programs do talk to one another and word does get around. Also, If your loved one really wants a program, don’t be afraid to have them reach out to their schools staff, mentor or any physician that could write them an additional letter of recommendation.

Tip 8: Relax- Enjoy the last few months of medical school! Once your loved one submits that rank list there is no reason to stress… well, until Match Day. If you are like me and you are too excited about the new adventure you are about to embark on, put that time to good use and start packing! For packing tips, check out my article 7 Fabulous Moving Tips from a Dr. Wife Also, be sure to spend as much time as you can with loved ones because intern year is going to be a new kind of beast you will have to conquer!

Let me be the first to congratulate you for making it this far! I hope you & your loved one Match to your top program and good luck on your medical journey!

Happy Survivin’

The Best of Greenville,SC

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Before my husband had received his acceptance letter to medical school we knew we wanted to move south. We loved everything about the south from the southern charm to the Barbecue and the Sweet Tea! Once we found out we were moving to Greenville, SC we were more than thrilled! I am going to share with you all of our favorite things to do and places to eat in Greenville, SC! So pack your bags because your next adventure starts now….

Let’t start in the heart and soul of the city… Downtown Greenville. This little city is filled with everything you need from nightlife to southern culture to the fine arts. While living in Greenville we saw some amazing plays such as Junie B. Jones meets Pinkalicious to Rodgers and Hammerstein’s Cinderella. It even has something for the kids like Mice on Main which is a well known scavenger hunt made up of tiny bronze mice that are hidden up and down Main St! (Can you find them all?) While you’re downtown be sure to check out Falls Park on Reedy River. This gorgeous park is located right in the heart of downtown. It has a footbridge so visitors can take in the picture perfect view, it also has plenty of nature trails, picnic areas and of course the Reedy River in all of its glory!

Since we are downtown lets take a trip to The Children’s Museum of the Upstate! This museum is the first children’s museum in the US that is a Smithsonian affiliate, and trust me it shows because this place is amazing! The exhibits range from a children’s hospital, to a news studio, and a Publix market! My kiddos loved the Construction Zone as well as the Reedy River Bend! If you are traveling with little ones this is a must do!

One of my absolute favorite things to do with my kids downtown is the Greenville Zoo! I love that the parking is FREE! There is also a huge playground out front with plenty of picnic tables and sometimes the Kona Ice truck will even pay a visit, so be sure to have some cash on hand. Most of all I love the animals! The zoo is on the smaller side but that is fine by me because it means, most kids will be able to walk it with out a stroller. They have a great selection of animals to view from Giraffe’s, to an Orangutan, to the Red Panda’s and the African Lions! What’s not to love! My favorite time to visit is in the fall just before Halloween when the weather is cooler and this is also when the zoo holds a special event called Boo in the Zoo. The zoo is decorated for Halloween and on select days your kids can go trick or treating in the zoo. Be sure to go early because this event is very popular!

Forget to pack something or are you looking for a quick bite to eat? Then I have the place for you! The Haywood Mall has it all, from great stores to delicious food. When we first moved to Greenville, this mall had just started it’s renovations. So we have seen how far it has come over the years. Our favorite store is the Palmetto Moon, it is where we bring all of friends and family when they come into town to stock up on Greenville, SC one of a kind merchandise. Our favorite restaurant is the Cheesecake Factory, because who doesn’t love a 30 page menu and the cheesecake is to die for! My favorite is the Adam’s Peanut Butter Cup Fudge Ripple Cheesecake, so yummy! Even if you aren’t in the mood to shop or snack, this mall is a great place to get some exercise on rainy days, so lace up those sneakers and grab a friend to join you!

If you are looking for a place for little ones to burn off some energy or to watch some planes take off then check out Runway Park at GMU. This park is located right next to the downtown Greenville airport and you have a front row seat to watch some incredible aircrafts take flight. The park has picnic tables, a small track for kids to run or ride scooters on, plenty of benches for parents to sit back and relax, and the playground is our kiddos favorite because it is aviation themed. I will warn you this place gets pretty busy on the weekends so go early!

One of my favorite things to do in the Palmetto State is eat! (Food is what the south is known for!) South Carolina is known for the best southern food around! My husband stuffed his face with shrimp and grits, collard greens & barbecue! Although his biggest weakness comes from a gas station called QT in the shape a maple frosted donut, haha. These donuts are delightful and don’t forget to grab your QT cup to grab a drink to accompany this tasty treat! I, on the other hand, couldn’t get enough of the biscuits! I don’t know how South Carolina does it but I have never eaten more delicious biscuits in any other state in my life! I have two favorite places to eat biscuits. My first favorite place is Biscuit Head. Here the biscuits are literally the size of the plate, so I suggest sharing. What I love most about this place is the Jam Bar! Every jam, jelly and butter is made in house and is fresh daily and you can mix match and blend till your little heart desires. I am a big fan of the classics and the strawberry jam is my favorite. My second favorite, is Maple Street Biscuit Company. I lucked out big time because Jacksonville, FL happens to be the headquarters of this wonderful business which means even in Florida I still get to eat my favorite biscuits! Score! What I love about Maple Street is that they take my two favorite things, chicken and biscuits, and put together one of the most unique menus I have ever eaten. I also love how the question of the month is different. So each visit seems like a new experience. The one thing that is hard to find in Greenville is good pizza. The closest thing we could find to good pizza was a place called Copper River Grill, they have the best Stone fired BBQ Chicken Pizza around. I also, highly recommend ordering a side salads as well, mostly because they come with a butter croissant that melts in your mouth that is drizzled in a sweet glaze. Yes, it tastes as good as it sounds!

If you are traveling in the summer and are looking to beat that Carolina heat check out the Greenville County Waterparks! Greenville has three small waterparks: Discovery Island Waterpark, Otter Creek and 7th inning Splash. Discovery Island is our favorite it has a small lazy river, two water slides, and a great water structure that our kiddos loved to play on! Another great summertime activity is catching a ballgame at Fluor Field and if you are Red Sox fans like us than you are in luck because the Greenville Drive happens to be the affiliate team for the Boston Red Sox!

If you are traveling in the winter months our favorite thing to do is to get in the car turn on some holiday music, grab some hot chocolate from Dunkin Donuts (since I am a New England girl) and check out the holiday light displays throughout the city. If you are looking to extend your car ride, take a day trip to Asheville to see the lights at the Biltmore. Another holiday treat is ice skating on Main St also known as Ice on Main! To the folks of Greenville this is a must do holiday activity!

I hope you love the Palmetto State as much as I did! If not then bless your heart! One of the best things about Greenville, SC is the people who live there. You will never meet nicer people in your life no matter where you travel. These people will give you the shirt off their backs. They bring a whole new meaning to southern charm and hospitality. Now every time I travel and hear a “Hey Y’all!” it brings me back to the upstate and the amazing memories we’ve made there!

Happy Travelin’

Disclaimer: This article is based on my opinions and is not affiliated or being endorsed by any of the companies listed above.

Dear Fourth Year Medical Student Spouse…

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Dear Fourth Year Medical Student Spouse and Significant Others,

First, I just want to tell you that I see you and all the hard work you do. You are amazing and your loved ones would not be the able to be the best darn doctor they can be if it were not for your support too, so thank you for all that you do! You are the real MVP behind the white coat! Congratulations on making it through medical school and now onward and upward to the next new adventure and new beginning… residency!

Currently we are about to go into our second year of residency (Yayyyyy!!!).  Residency is hard, there is no question about that! Intern year is by far the worst year of this journey for us. Many of us have to move across the country with relatively short notice and leave behind all of our family and friends. We then have to start over again in a new town, often feeling alone and scared. The advantage of starting is over is exactly that, a clean slate, a fresh start. A chance to begin again. For us this is our next chapter in our medical journey and we hope it brings us peace. But I am not going to lie to you, it is hard at times. The hours are awful! Your spouse is now at the bottom of the totem pole. The pager will now be your worst nightmare and don’t even get me started on the dreaded words “on call” and “overnights”. All of these things you didn’t have to deal with in medical school are now going to be part of your new normal and it’s going to be a difficult change even for the most seasoned couple. Hang in there, friend!

Even though, this medical journey can be challenging at times. It will get better over time. Just be patient. As I’ve said in the past, find your tribe (I hope you heard me in the back or I will say it again!), don’t be afraid to call upon them when you need something or even just a shoulder to cry on. People will admire your strength and those that truly have your back will be the ones to catch you when you fall. So, if you fall, dust yourself off and stand back up! But don’t be afraid to ask for help!

When we first started our medical journey I would often hear other medical spouses talk about how they resented their spouse for putting their family through this grueling lifestyle. I am often taken back by these comments. When I married my husband almost ten years ago I knew he wanted to be a doctor. I knew some of the challenges we would face. I was the one who pushed my husband to apply to medical school. I felt like if he was passionate enough about this dream then he should pursue it. Even though at times this journey has been more than challenging, it has been important for my husband and I to remain on the same team. We both made the plan to pursue this life. We both agreed on his match list. We both know that residency is just temporary. So when those feelings of resentment start to creep up on me, I just remember that this was just as much my decision as it was his. Talk with your spouse about your struggles. Make a list of things they can do to help you, this can be as simple as listening to you vent or taking out the trash. Marriage is hard work and it requires constant up keep so be sure to work as a team! Always be each other’s biggest cheerleader!

I often have to remind myself that this medical journey is a long one and it is important not to put your life on hold. Being a wife and a mother is often a selfless job. We sometimes have to sacrifice our own happiness for others. Some days are harder than others but remember that someday all of this will be worth it. Live in the moment and just take it one day at a time but don’t forget to take care of yourself. Sometimes just working on being the best version of yourself is enough.

Remember that everyone’s medical journey is different but we all have the same end goal to help our medical spouses live their dream of helping others, and if your ever in Florida let’s go visit Mickey Mouse and grab a Dole Whip!

Warmly,

Your Fellow Dr. Wife in Training

Don’t Be Afraid When You Don’t Fit In

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Last month, I had the opportunity to be a guest blogger for the Married to Doctors podcast website.  If you are not listening to Lara’s podcast, you need to start! She is amazing!! I am honored to be able to share our family’s story with other medical families who may also be struggling like we were in medical school and give them hope that it will get better. So be sure to check out my article below and give Lara’s podcast “Married to Doctors” a listen (You can tune in on everything from Spotify to Apple podcasts)!

Thank you again for all of your love and support! Don’t Be Afraid When You Don’t Fit In

Edit- I was just informed that the website is no longer working. So I am attaching the article below!

Happy Travelin’

Looking back now medical school for our family was all about chasing the highs and
weathering the storms of the lows. After moving thousands of miles across the country. Medical
school was the first time we had ever been completely on our own. It was just my husband and
I. If I had to describe myself back then, I’d say I was excited but nervous about the long medical
journey ahead. Four years of school and four years of residency training seemed like a lifetime
and for this reason, I couldn’t wait to meet all the other medical student significant others who
would be on the journey with me. I just knew we would all quickly be bonded for life like the girls
from the “Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants” movie. Unfortunately, I quickly realized that my
family stuck out like a sore thumb. The only way I can describe it, is that I felt like we were
unicorns in a sea of zebras! There were only a handful of medical students with families in my
husbands’ class but we seemed to be the only ones with kids who seemed different. We
couldn’t quite figure out why but early social events just didn’t feel right. Our kids weren’t
interacting like the other kids and we just weren’t enjoying ourselves at all. We had no idea why
and after a while we just stopped trying. It was devastating for me. I felt so alone.

About a month into medical school, we received news that our nine month old baby had
a rare disease called food protein-induced enterocolitis syndrome or ‘FPIES’. This explained his
persistent episodes of projectile vomiting and lethargy. He had 38 food allergies that could
cause an FPIES reaction. Each reaction seemed worse than the last and would leave my baby
gray and lethargic, too weak to support his own head and vomiting so forcefully that he had
trouble catching his breath in between retches. I was relieved to have a diagnosis but it also
meant a self imposed house arrest for us for the foreseeable future. He was at the age where
he would put anything in his mouth and a literal crumb could trigger a reaction. I made sure my
home was always so clean that you could safely eat off my floor. I treated my house like a Fort
Knox of cleanliness and allergen-free eating. The last thing on my mind now was meeting new
friends and having play dates in our new city. Instead, I was a mama bear who needed to keep
her baby safe from the allergen-filled outside world.

With all these allergies to common foods like corn, soy and dairy, he required special
formula just to avoid reactions. We could not afford this special formula on a medical student
budget so we had to use WIC (Women, Infants & Children) vouchers to pay for it. To this day, I
am so grateful for WIC and without that program we would not have been able to feed our very
sick baby boy. Luckily, by age four, he had actually outgrown all 38 food allergies and is now
bigger than his older brother! Those years of being trapped in the house and playing with him all
day long are now some of my favorite memories. To this day, I still find myself checking
ingredients for allergens, so I guess once an allergy mom always an allergy mom!
Two years into medical school, and days before my other son was about to start
Kindergarten, my world was again changed forever when we awoke in the early morning hours
to find him having a full tonic-clonic seizure at the foot of our bed. That night will forever be
engraved into my brain because, for a few moments, we thought we were going to lose our sweet boy forever. I will never forget my husband telling me he thought he was going to have to
start CPR, because he had stopped breathing. I remember screaming at my husband that I
couldn’t remember how to dial 911. Once he was transferred to the hospital, the ER doctor told
us this was likely an isolated seizure and would probably never happen again. The next night,
just to be safe, we decided to sleep in shifts and have him sleep between us. Sure enough, he
had another seizure. This time he was able to come out of it and managed to say to us, “I hate it
when that happens.” My husband and I were in complete and utter shock! We took him back to
the hospital for an EEG. After the test, the neurologist came into the room, sat us down and
said, “The EEG was abnormal. Your son has epilepsy.” After he said those words my body went
numb and everything was a blur from then on. We were admitted that night for further testing.
That was one of the longest nights of my life. I kept thinking of all of these awful things that are
associated with epilepsy. Luckily the remainder of his tests came back normal and he was
discharged on daily medication.

To this day, epilepsy has been one of the hardest things we faced in medical school
because it is still so unexpected and can strike in a moments notice. Every seizure still scares
the daylights out of me and, at this point, I swear they have taken years off my life. I hate that
my sweet boy has to go through this and I hate that his little brother and older sister have to see
it and step up to help me when their dad is at work. I am also grateful though, because it is
making them both more accepting and accommodating of those with disabilities and special
needs. Our daughter is currently writing a speech for her school project to educate her peers
about epilepsy and what to do if you ever come across someone having a seizure.
I know what you’re thinking, it can’t get any worse for this poor family right?!? Well, yes
and no… so before epilepsy was even a factor, we knew my oldest son was special. I mentioned
before that social events just didn’t work well for us. He always did things different from my other
children. He had special dietary needs, sensory needs, etc. So, after years of occupational
therapy and conversations with his pediatrician, I set up an appointment with a developmental
pediatrician. When I set up the appointment, my husband and I both suspected he might have
Aspergers syndrome, which is now considered part of the Autism Spectrum Disorder. After
years of being worked up with other GI doctors back home in Boston before medical school,
though, I kind of figured they would just say they couldn’t find anything wrong and send us on
our way.

So, after 15 months of waiting the day finally came! My husband and I made a list of all
the behaviors and signs that we had noticed over the past years. That day, the pediatrician
came in asked me some questions before taking my son in and performing the examination. A
few hours later I was called in and she sat me down and said, “You were right, your son has
Aspergers syndrome which is now a part of the Autism Spectrum Disorder”. Once again my
body went numb. For some reason, this diagnosis was harder for me to swallow at first. From
there, it took me months of grieving, acceptance and lots and lots of tears. Then finally, one day
I looked at him and realized it’s simply a diagnosis and nothing more. He is still my sweet boy
who loves cars, America and his family so much. Even though those first few months were tough, I definitely think it was important for me to go through that to be able to be the best autism mom I can be for him today.

Even though I didn’t manage to leave medical school with a pair of magical pants or a
sisterhood of best friends, I did have a kick ass team of family and friends that supported us
(many from across the country!) through the good and bad. If I could describe myself now, I
would say that I’m stronger for it and still hopeful for the future. I know my story may be nothing
like yours but it is just that, my story. Life is what you make of it. Even in our lowest of our lows,
there were people I would have never expected to be there who showed up for us. Those are
the people who matter to me now. They may not have a special needs kiddo or have a doctor
spouse but they are my tribe and I’m forever grateful.

So, if you ever find yourself in a sea of zebras, don’t be afraid to be a unicorn!

7 Fabulous Moving Tips from a Dr. Wife!

llmckenzi 1 Comment
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Our medical school journey has come to an end, yay! I am so proud of my husband for this amazing accomplishment and I’m excited for our next adventure… Residency! Wish us luck! This new adventure will be relocating us from South Carolina to Florida! We can’t wait to see what the sunshine state has in store for us for the next four years!
We are so proud and excited for new changes however, as many of my fellow Dr. wives can agree, we do not look forward to moving! Most of the move falls on our plate as well as all of the stress! This move has taught me a lot along the way which I have translated to some pretty awesome moving tips to share with you.
Moving Tip 1: Start packing the moment you find out you are moving! Seriously, the day after Match Day I started packing up closets and holiday decorations. Pack all non essential items. This with help you immensely when it’s go time!
Moving Tip 2: Use colored duct tape to organize your moving system. I know this may sound crazy or like too much work but trust me, it will help you when you are unpacking a sea of boxes trying to find essential items. I used three different colors: pink, green and blue.  I placed just a small 2×2 piece of duct tape in each corner of each box. The pink was for boxes that needed to be opened immediately. Things like medicine, sheets and food. The green was for boxes that needed to be opened semi urgently. Things like toys, lamps, pots and pans. Lastly the blue was for non urgent things. These boxes are still in our garage! Haha, I have all summer to organize those boxes. They contain things like holiday decorations, coats and winter clothes (we won’t need those in the summer heat of Florida!). For fragile items I recommend putting a larger piece of duct tape across the top of the box to help remind the movers to be careful with it. When that doesn’t work… I just write death threats on those boxes, just kidding (I’m really not!).
Moving Tip 3: Mark each box with the name of the room that it will be unpacked in your new house. Our last move we did the opposite and wrote the name of the room it was packed in and it caused so much confusion since our house had doubled in size.
Moving Tip 4: Wash essential items ahead of time and place them in bags instead of boxes. A few days prior to our move I washed all the new sheets for our beds and placed them in non-scented trash bags and plastic airtight bins. You can also toss in a dryer sheet to keep them smelling extra fresh! These were the first bins to be unloaded and once beds were built at the new house fresh linens went on them! Also, you can do the same with silverwear. Wash and dry ahead of time then place them in ziplock bags before placing into boxes. Use all non-essential linens such as moving blankets to wrap fragile items in. We used old towels, sheets, blankets & pillows instead of buying bubble wrap.
Moving Tip 5: Find your moving tribe! A few posts back I wrote about how important it is in Medical School to find your tribe (your support team). Now is the time to call upon that tribe and beg them to help you pack, move and unpack! Feel free to pay them how you please. In our case, it was lots of pizza and beer!
Moving Tip 6: Create a budget.. then double it!  Moving is so expensive and it’s better to be over-prepared than under… like us! This past move killed our budget, because we ended up having to rent two moving trucks for all our stuff. I don’t know why we do this to ourselves but moving always starts off with a good budget them explodes in your face on moving day! The upside is if you end up under budget then you will now have a nice nest egg to buy some new things for your new house. Which brings me to my final tip…
Moving Tip 7: Expect the unexpected! Moving is so stressful. Every time we have moved something has gone wrong. The upside is we will be extra cautious with future moves. In the mean time, take a deep breath and just live day by day. I promise everything will eventually get unpacked and all will be well again.
When all else fails, there is always next time. Of course, we will be hiring a full service to move for us while my family and I will take a long vacation to Hawaii!
Happy Movin’

The Traveling Fab Five turns 2!!!

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It’s our Blog-aversary!! Rebranding my blog two years ago was such a blessing in disguise. I have accomplished so much and have been honored to write guest articles for  Life of a Med Student  and The FPIES Foundation , hosted sponsored parties for the Walt Disney World company as well as Publix/A&W Root Beer and have been apart of the Chick-fil-A Moms Panel. I am so grateful for all of those who have followed along on our traveling adventures. Our journey in Medical School has come to an end but the next chapter in Residency has just began. I can’t wait to see what life has in store for us and I am excited to see what new adventures are ahead! Thanks again for all the love and support!

Happy Travelin’

8 Fabulous Tips for Surviving Road Trips with Kids

llmckenzi 2 Comments

On the road again…

After moving south for medical school, my husband and I thought we would never be able to afford to travel until after he graduated. Boy, were we wrong! We have traveled more during medical school than we have at any other time in our lives. Prior to med school we agreed that we would not just put our life on hold and try to enjoy this new life adventure to the fullest. We saved as much as possible and with the help of these eight simple tips we have been able to travel the East coast on a budget!

Tip 1- Drive– We found that we could never afford five plane tickets on our budget so we drive everywhere. It only costs us one tank of gas to get to Florida from our home in South Carolina and it costs us three tanks of gas to drive home to Massachusetts. As you can see driving is a no brainer.

Tip 2- Bring your own food– I cannot even begin to tell you how much money we save when we bring our own meals from home. It saves us time because that is one less stop we need to make along the way.

Tip 3- Play car games– Growing up we did not have fancy electronics to keep us entertained when taking long road trips. Even now, my kids and I enjoy taking a screen time break to play some good ole fashion road trip car games. One of our favorites is the license plate game where we try to find the most unique license plate states. You can even pass the time with a game of eye spy! This game is a favorite of my younger kiddos since they can’t read license plates yet.

Tip 4- Pack a potty seat– I know this tip is more for potty training but I have found that sometimes your kiddos just have to go and there is no potty in sight for miles. I can’t even begin to tell you how many times the potty seat saved us from a potty disaster!

Tip 5- Bring grocery bags and Zip-lock bags– Now is the perfect time to make use out of all those grocery bags that you have stored away. Grocery bags come in handy to control the trash chaos that can happen in the back seat on a road trip. You can never bring too many! I will never forget what our car looked like after our first road trip. It looked like a tornado passed through my car! Zip-lock bags are my best friend when traveling because when it comes to road trips my kiddos cannot stop snacking and they never seem to be able to finish anything. Using a zip lock bag I can just bag it and save it for later. They also double as storage for car chargers or cords and are great for holding small toys with little pieces that you don’t want to lose in your car.

Tip 6- Bring muffin tins– Muffins tins are perfect for travel because they are small enough to place on your child’s lap but also the holes are deep enough that you can put snacks and meals in them. A bonus tip: Muffin tins double as additional drink storage, so you’re welcome! We also like to use these special travel divider plates that I keep in our car year round. It is perfect for travel because it has a food separator to keep your condiments from spreading into your other food.

Tip 7- Bring pillows and blankets– I hate sleeping in the car without a pillow. It is so uncomfortable! I never leave for a road trip without bringing my pillow from home. I also bring blankets to layer on us since it is easier than driving in hot stuffy jackets.

Tip 8- Drive at night– My husband loves to drive at night. With less traffic and cars on the road it saves time getting to your destination. It makes the trip go by faster because we put the kids to bed in the car then when they wake up in the morning we are almost to our destination. He loads up on coffee and snacks and will pop in an earbud to listen to podcasts to keep him alert and pass the time.

Hope you enjoyed my road trip traveling tips! For more traveling tips be sure to check out my article “Ten Fabulous Traveling Tips.”

Happy Travelin’

Shopping on a Med Student budget!

llmckenzi 1 Comment

I am a stay at home mom (SAHM) so I am always looking for ways to save money for my family. Our medical school budget is split into three parts: Bills, Gas, and Food/ Necessities. Unfortunately we have paid off all the bills that we can and cannot cut our bill budget anymore (well unless we win the lottery… but that is just wishful thinking!) As for gas the only way to cut our budget is to not drive anywhere… and I don’t think my husband would be a fan of running to work and school. That leaves me having to get creative with our food and necessities budget. My husband and three kids love their groceries and they sure know how to clean out our cupboards. My journey as a SAHM and med student wife continues to be a challenge for me but here are a few helpful tips I have found along the way…

Shopping Tip 1: Always make a list!

Making out a shopping list that only includes the items you need, will help you stay on budget. I do allow myself one treat each week that is not on the list since I usually find something on sale that would make my week go from ordinary to extraordinary! Note: I only allow an extra treat when I have wiggle room in my budget. Every once in awhile I forget to get something on my list (this happens more frequently when I bring the kids with me shopping.) If I don’t have time to run to the store, I will ask my wonderful med student husband to pick it up for me. However you should know that my husband is notorious for going to the store and coming home with bags and bags of snacks, treats, and too much food! The best part is not only did he go over budget but sometimes he even forgets to pick up what I asked him to grab for me (Haha, this is one of the joys of marriage!) I also find when I bring the whole family shopping I tend to go over budget because everyone likes to put individual treats in the cart. Always make a list and stick to it! Another helpful tip for grocery shopping is make a weekly menu! A few years ago I started making a weekly menu to save time and money at the grocery store. I bought a small whiteboard and some dry erase markers and each week I make out our menu. It took awhile for my family to get on board with this new plan, since my family likes to eat how they feel. Over time this little tip has saved us money (which is AMAZING!!!) but at first it may be hard sticking to the menu. Trust me, as long as you stick to it you will see a difference in your budget! A bonus tip is to plan your menu around what is on sale at your local grocery store that week.

Shopping Tip 2: Bring your own reusable bags!

Not only is this tip better for our environment but it also pays to help save the earth (literally!) Many stores offer incentives and will pay you to bring your own bag. Usually it is only a few cents but over time that adds up! So do your part and bring your own bag! My favorite bags are the Target bags because they only cost you a dollar, they are sturdy and hold up to my heavy grocery items and Target gives me 5 cents for every bag I bring with me! Score!

Shopping Tip 3: Buy yourself a small calculator or use your phone app!

When I first began this journey of living on a budget, I often found that when I took a running tally of my groceries I was always off. I went to the Dollar Store and bought myself a small calculator to bring with me everywhere.  You can also use the calculator app on your phone but I find it easier to do it the old fashion way! Trust me, your calculator will become your best friend when you are trying to stick to a budget. Every once in awhile I will get strange looks in the store since I have my calculator in one hand and my list in the other, all while pushing the carriage and grabbing all the items on my list. The best part about using a calculator while you shop is that you will know if you are over or under budget before you get to the checkout counter. It also gets you familiar with the prices of products so when you get to the checkout counter you will know right away if something rang up incorrectly. Don’t be afraid to ask for a manager if you think something is mismarked and always take a picture of the price with your camera phone because most stores will honor the mismarked price if you have proof.

Shopping Tip 4: Use coupons, they will save you a ton!

I still consider myself a coupon virgin because I am still new at it but I saved my family over $125 the first month I tried it. I cut coupons from the weekly ads in the newspapers. I sign up for any e-coupons that get sent to my email.  I also have coupons sent to my phone that can be scanned right from my phone. The best way to coupon is to tell your friends and family. My family and friends will save their weekly newspaper coupons for me and any other ads that I may be able to use. The more coupons you have the more you can save! Make sure to check out the stores coupon policy because some stores will allow you to double or triple coupons. Other stores may only allow you to use one manufacturers coupon and one store coupon per item. Also, some stores like Bed, Bath and Beyond will take expired coupons, so you’re welcome!

Shopping Tip 5: Buy store brand products!

If I don’t have a coupon for a name brand product then I will buy the store brand. Some products you will see only a few cents of difference and then others you will find are dollars less than the brand name products. Most of the time the quality of the store brands are just as good or even better than some of the name brands.  I usually will buy store brand on my canned goods and my frozen foods.

Shopping Tip 6: Take advantage of reward programs!

I always sign up for free rewards programs. It usually is a great way to save a little extra! Some of my favorite programs offer free “cash” or store credit if you spend a certain amount of money. Most of these programs you have to read the fine print to check and see if there is an expiration date (and make sure you take advantage of it before it expires!). Other programs work as an additional coupon that you can just scan at checkout. I also use cash back apps like Ibotta, which takes the hassle out of searching online ads to find rebates and coupons for certain products.  Ebates is a similar program that offers cash back rewards if you online shop off of their website. I like to use Checkout 51 to save me money at the grocery store. This is also a free money savings app that saves you the time and effort of cutting coupons by doing it for you. Shopkick is my favorite in-store app that you sign into using your phone and Bluetooth where you earn points for simply walking into certain stores and scanning certain products. Sometimes you can double or triple your points if you purchase the item and scan your receipt. You can cash in your points for gift cards, purses, TV’s and other cool items. So what are you waiting for, start downloading and start saving!!

Shopping Tip 7: Buy online!

Over the years I have found it more difficult to find the time to get to the store to shop. Besides grocery shopping and my obsessive Target shopping addiction, I don’t shop in store as much as I used to. I find online shopping much easier since I can essentially shop around and check product prices at multiple places while sitting in the comforts of my home. Heck, most of my shopping is done late at night after I have put our kiddos to bed. I love online shopping because I often find the deals to be better than in-store. Many places will even allow you to use multiple coupons online while in-store that may not be the case.   

Shopping Tip 8: Buy in Bulk!

Since our student loans get distributed twice a year, I have found that buying in bulk has saved us a ton of money on certain products. There are many wholesale clubs that offer special perks and some even pay for themselves if you spend a certain amount in a year.  Do not worry if you do not have any wholesale clubs nearby, you can buy many bulk items on Amazon. I buy our paper goods and non-perishables in bulk at our local wholesale club. On Amazon I buy our cat food, baby diapers and wipes, since they have the best deals with their Subscribe & Save program.

I hope these tips help to make your shopping work for you and your budget! Check back soon for more budget friendly tips! For travel saving tips check out Traveling on a Med Student Budget

Happy Travelin’

 

Disclaimer: I do not work for and/or get any compensation from any of the following companies listed above: Target, Amazon, Ibotta, Ebates, Bed, Bath and Beyond, Checkout51 and Shopkick. This article is based on my own experiences and opinions.

The Traveling Fab Five turns 1!!!

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Recently The Traveling Fab Five turned one!! Yayy! I am beyond thankful for all the love and support you all have shown me. I started blogging back in 2012 but life took a crazy turn and writing got put on the back burner. Fast forward to a year ago, my husband was about to start his third year of medical school and another one of my kiddos was about to start school. I was desperately trying to find a hobby to keep me busy while staying home with our youngest. I told my husband I wanted to redo my website, start fresh and really commit to blogging this time around. Go big or go home, right? So here we are a year later.. 10 wonderful articles that I have put my heart and soul into. I am so grateful for the people who have checked out my page and shared it. Last month I was approached by @LifeofaMedStudnt and was asked to share my life & tips of a medical student’s wife. I was beyond honored to be approached by them in the first place, so I obviously said Yes!! You can read my article here:  5 Tips for Surviving Med School

Medical school has not been an easy journey for my family. We have been faced with medical problems with our children and dealt with the ongoing financial burden that comes with being a medical student. My husband is now a fourth year medical student and we are starting to see the light at the end of the tunnel. We are looking forward to the next chapter in his medical career. We hope that you continue to follow us on our crazy journey and enjoy our traveling tips. Thanks again for all the love and support!

Happy Travelin’

 

Traveling on a Med Student Budget

llmckenzi 1 Comment

 

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I am a stay at home mama on a limited budget. We are constantly cutting corners to stay afloat. Medical school was not built for families, especially one like ours with children who have medical problems. We live off student loan checks that only come twice a year and a per-diem paramedic job that my husband has on the side to help us get by. So now you are probably wondering how we manage to travel so much on a shoestring budget. Well let me tell you it’s not easy!

  • We budget. I know this is a given since we are in medical school but everything we do is budgeted for. We even budget on vacation. It’s important to make a plan of all your travel expenses including hotel, food, and souvenirs. We even try to over budget in order to make sure we have some room for unplanned necessities.
  • We put a little bit aside each week. Taking as little as $25 out of your paycheck every other week can add up to $650 at the end of the year! That can easily pay for a relaxing getaway or a fun family weekend.
  • We stay with family whenever possible. Not only does that save us on hotel cost but it also fills our “home sickness” gap since we live in SC and most of our family live up north.
  • We drive everywhere! Our mini van was the best purchase we have ever made! It can easily turn into our home away from home when traveling. Plane tickets for a family of five would cost a fortune. So we drive, and if we can’t drive or afford to fly then we don’t go. Someday my husband and I dream of traveling the world on a “Doctors salary” but until then no First Class for us!
  • We bring food from home! Not only does this save us some serious cash but also since I have two children with food allergies it gives us the peace of mind that everything they eat is safe. We always make sure to pack breakfast and snacks since those are the most convenient meals to travel with. We do enjoy eating out every once in awhile but only if it’s in the budget! Another way to save some money while on vacation is by splitting or sharing meals. We can order two adult meals and it will easily feed four of us. We also eat a lot of pizza when traveling because a large pizza will feed us all, and it is so cheap!
  • We use travel points from our credit card. We put gas and groceries on our credit card each week then pay it off. By doing this we earn points that we use to pay for things like airfare & hotels. We love using the Disney Chase card because we can convert our points to Disney dollars and use it when we vacation in Disney. Nothing makes a Mickey bar taste sweeter than knowing it was purchased using your free credit card points!
  • We use websites like Priceline, Orbitz & Hotels.com. Last year we had to travel to Boston quite often because of my son’s medical condition. Over the course of a year we stayed in over ten hotels. If you book ten hotel nights using the Hotel.com website you earn a free night stay. We just recently used our free hotel night and stayed at a gorgeous hotel in Charlotte, NC. Priceline comes in handy when we have an idea of where we want to stay but also a price point to stick to.  It has been super helpful to be able to stay on budget while finding fabulous four and five star hotels. Priceline is also good for last minute travel deals. Orbitz is a great tool because you can earn Orbucks. Every time you book with them you can earn a number of Orbucks, then you can use the Orbucks to pay for future travel on the Orbitz website. You have to sign up to earn rewards though!

My husband and I made a pact prior to him starting medical school that we would never get too busy making a living that we forgot to make a life.  Now go out and see the world! Go to as many places as you can! You can always make money but you can’t always make memories (especially Disney memories)!

I look forward to hearing other ways you and your family save on travel!

 

Happy Travelin’

 

Disclaimer: These are my own opinions and experiences. I do not work for Disney, Orbitz, Priceline, or Hotels.com. I do not receive compensation of any kind from these companies.