Don’t Judge a Book By its Designer Cover

As I’ve probably mentioned before, when I’m not writing or being a mom, I work as a pediatrician. In other words, twice a week from 9 to 5, I pretend to be a real person with a day job. The rest of the time, as the sign in my minivan window clearly announces, I’m driving my family around in “Mom’s Taxi”!

Yesterday, when I was at work, a patient’s mother introduced me to her husband, informing me that they were sharing a vehicle while their other car was undergoing major repairs. I sighed, gave her a knowing look and moaned about the new brake job my van had needed recently.

“Yeah, but you’re a doctor. You can afford it,” the mom had replied offhandedly. And I was completely taken aback. Sure, I’m a doctor, a very part-time one. So, regardless of what anyone wants to believe, I’m certainly not wealthy. Far from it. And I definitely felt that $600 car repair back in June.

I suppose people make assumptions about others based on looks and stereotypes. Yet, as I try to teach my children, one should never assume, because you usually end up looking like a fool when you do.

I often laugh when I hear people talk about “rich doctors.” The truth is that the wealthiest people tend to be those in business and financial fields. Maybe years ago physicians were rolling in the money. Yet this is honestly no longer true. I work hard for my money and try to show respect for every dollar I earn, a lesson I hope to pass on to my kids.

As I found myself thinking about my patient’s comment, I began wondering what made her think I had so much money. Could it be the Jimmy Choo sandals I was wearing? You know, the kind that everyone shows off on Sex and the City? Shoes that no one can possibly afford because they sell for hundreds of dollars? Well, mine cost 10 bucks on eBay!

Maybe she was admiring my new Coach purse that I found last year, also on eBay for $20. Or possibly she’d heard that I’d bought my oldest daughter an entire new wardrobe of Abercrombie and Juicy Couture clothing for school. Anyone who sees my child would think she was easily wearing a couple hundred dollars of clothes every day. But I had the last laugh between resale shops and once again eBay as I spent pennies on the dollar for her back-to-school attire.

I’m also really fond of buying my neighbors’ old junk at their garage sales, including a fairly new refrigerator that was dirt cheap and the television that we have in our basement that cost less than the stand we set it on. And I’ll never go on vacation without trying to get a deal on priceline.com where you can name your own price for hotels and airfare. The first time I got a four-star hotel for 50 bucks a night, I was sold on that wonderful Web site.

So, you see, it’s not that I’m rich. It’s that I’m savvy. I have what I have because I work hard and spend as little as possible for the things I desire. I look for sales and bargains, and I shop wisely. And I learned long ago that everything is negotiable. Just a few weeks back I jokingly asked for a “nice person discount” at a bra shop, and the owner gave me half off my purchase.

So, I still feel the pain of my recent car repair just like anyone else would (although I did use a coupon and AAA discount!) And I’m definitely not dripping in money. But I’m good at finding deals, which makes for a very happy family at the end of the day.

Next time you want to have some fun, come join me in “Mom’s Taxi” on my day off and let’s go shopping!

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by Sharon Dunski Vermont