That first attending paycheck changes everything, and not always for the better. In this episode I break down lifestyle inflation: how a sudden jump in income quietly turns into a stack of obligations that hand your hard-earned freedom right back, this time to credit cards and debt instead of a residency program. I get into why physicians are uniquely at risk, how the golden handcuffs form, and why high income doesn't mean high disposable income.

This one is for new attendings, residents about to graduate, and any physician who wants to build a great life on their income without ending up trapped by it. I cover the ego trap, the purchases that actually commit you, the real cost of waiting to invest, and a set of practical filters you can use before your next big purchase.

0:00 The First Attending Paycheck

1:14 How Lifestyle Inflation Actually Happens

2:13 Why Doctors Are at Higher Risk

3:25 The Ego Trap and Spending to Impress

5:32 The Purchases That Trap You

6:42 The Cost of Waiting to Invest

7:54 Don't Make Being a Doctor Your Identity

10:33 Practical Ways to Stay Free

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About Me

I am a physician (M.D.) practicing a mix of hospitalist medicine, and urgent care. I learned a lot in my journey to becoming a physician and about more than just medicine. Follow along as I reflect and teach what I wish I knew, which for the most part, is the stuff you don’t learn in school.

Get In Touch:Happy to chat, reach out via above options.