My mentality is that I will burn every single drill available per FY. Anything left come Sep, I'm burning. This is my 3rd full year in the reserves, and I still haven't left a single drill on the table (knock on wood). From a simple budgeting perspective, it helps you not accidentally get behind, and if you have a regular schedule, it also helps with your $$$$ expectations. As you get more experienced with the new language and lifestyle, you will learn creative ways to get the best bang for your buck/time (IDTT being a good example). FWIW, I believe drill vs AT/ADT/orders break even point is orders > 30 days. Anything less than that, and you are losing money if you still have drills in your piggy bank. For an O-4 at max out flight pay, you earn about half the pay on orders per day, unless you are getting full BAH which is only invoked for orders > 30. I think even then, you are losing a few dollars. Other things to keep in mind.....if you have admin stuff to do, whether that be some sort of annual requirement, or actual work to do, you better not be putting on a uniform for less than an RMP. I love this job, and I'm lucky to have it, but time is money and the clock is running.