What can you do with your pay?

Jenny P · Apr 23, 2001

Hi, Mijourney,here's my short and quick answers to your questions.

1.Living on just my salary, I could not live in the middle class neighborhood I currently am in.

2.We have one 6 year old small compact economy car, and one banged-up minivan (which holds my husbands' Rascal scooter);keeping them running has been a problem this last 1 1/2 years.

3. my kids went to public school- we couldn't afford private

4.We do eat healthy food, but rarely eat out

5.I go to my MNA and ANA nursing conventions.

6. My convention trips are my"vacations". We have not been on a family vacation of any length in 3 years.

7.Forget that!

8. When my kids were younger, they were in Scouts and dance; but we only had 1 car and I was the driver.

However, money doesn't make the quality of life better; it's what you do with the life you have that makes the difference. (But it would be nice to not have to worry about replacing the transmission in the danged car again and just go buy a new car!).

nurs4kids · Apr 23, 2001

Originally posted by Mijourney:
Hi. This topic piggybacks off the "How much do you make topic." For trench nurses, if you had to or are solely living off your income, would you be able to afford to:

1. Own and maintain a home in a mid to upper class neighborhood?
2. Own and maintain a car driven by those who live in a mid to upper class neighborhood?
3. Send your children to private schools?
4. Eat healthy diets?
5. Join a trade organization or attend trade conferences once or twice a year?
6. Take trips to other countries or take extended vacations?
7. Join special tennis or similar clubs for exercise and out of the box networking purposes?
8. Enroll your child into activities like the scouts or music lessons?

Obviously, this is not an exhaustive list. I would appreciate as much input from you as possible. Responses may give an idea of whether trench nurses have the quality of life that most certified professionals assume.

I own a house in a middle class neighborhood. I drive a 2000 Toyota Corolla, my husband drives a 1991 Silverado. The cost of daycare for my two children is close to the same cost of private school. We eat healthy diets most times, do eat out some. Do not attend trade conferences. No trips to other countries, no time for extended vacation . Belong to a fitness club. Children too young for scouts, etc.

These questions are relative to what's important to an individual. My husband is in school full time and works in Maintenance at a hospital. The cost of his school weighs heavily on our income. Your question was if you had it to do alone, could you? I know of no one parent household that enjoy the lifestyle you described (unless they were "born with a silver spoon in their mouth" or lost the spouse d/t death and reaped financial gain from the tragedy). We are obviously underpaid, but I'm not sure this is a good way to measure. Regardless of income, you must decide what's most important to you and sacrifice in the areas less important. To answer your question: No, I couldn't do ALL these on my income alone without excessive OT. I could live happily by choosing what's most important to me and leaving behind those less important. The biggest irritant to me? No money left over for savings after the "necessary" things are covered. Perhaps savings isn't MY "most important" goal, eh?

Mijourney · Apr 23, 2001

Hi nurs4kids. You're right! Quality of life is subjective. What I was trying to establish is whether nurses pay, alone, gives us the ability to participate in what is typically considered the middle class American dream. My list is emblematic of what I know is considered middle class in my neck of the woods. Also, many of us consider ourselves professionals, which again in my neck of the woods is a person who is able to have all the material things associated with a middle class lifestyle. I must say that for myself and my family, we would still not find the need to wholly engage in the middle class way of life even if we had the money.

And yes, you are on target about savings and retirement. So there goes the middle class lifestyle. Many of us can't afford to retire in peace!

Navy Nurse · Apr 23, 2001

According to Money magazine, 1 out of 5 American couples make over $100,000 dollars a yr. There is you a measuring tool.

To answer your questions:

1) Yes own a house in upper middle class neighbor hood.

2) Own a 1999 Pathfinder, 1995 Volvo, 96 Mercury 98 Nissan Sentra and 98 Ford Escort

3) Pay for 2 kids in college

4) Eat healthy

5) Try to attend one conference a year

6) Take trips at least once yearly, going to Australia on Thursday.

7) Belong to an Athletic Club, season ticket holder for local Minor League Pro Hockey Team

8) Kids are older.

9) Contribute to 401K and other investments monthly

fergus51 · Apr 23, 2001

I want your pay! I make less money than most of you cause I am in Canada. I canot afford a home in a nice neighbourhood (have a little townhouse for me and my chihuahua). My car is old...too old. I have no kids (no hubby either) so I can afford to eat well.

I take trips, but mine are cheap. I went to Thailand for a month last year for a total cost of about 1400$ american. I don't belong to a gym or any nice clubs. My retirement plan is to move to a country like Thailand where one dollar goes a LOOOOOOOOOOONG way

Originally posted by Navy Nurse:
According to Money magazine, 1 out of 5 American couples make over $100,000 dollars a yr. There is you a measuring tool.

To answer your questions:
1) Yes own a house in upper middle class neighbor hood.
2) Own a 1999 Pathfinder, 1995 Volvo, 96 Mercury 98 Nissan Sentra and 98 Ford Escort
3) Pay for 2 kids in college
4) Eat healthy
5) Try to attend one conference a year
6) Take trips at least once yearly, going to Australia on Thursday.
7) Belong to an Athletic Club, season ticket holder for local Minor League Pro Hockey Team
8) Kids are older.
9) Contribute to 401K and other investments monthly

justanurse · Apr 26, 2001

Mijourney, care to provide answers for your own questions? Just wondering.

Mijourney · Apr 27, 2001

Originally posted by justanurse:
Mijourney, care to provide answers for your own questions? Just wondering.

Hi justanurse. Good question. Here are my responses on the basis on my wages alone:

1. No

2. No

3. No

4. Yes

5. Yes

6. No

7. Depends

8. Maybe

justanurse · Apr 27, 2001

Now, my $.02

1. No

2. No

3. No in the traditional sense

4. Yes

5. Yes

6. No

7. Yes, if I wanted

8. Yes

Now, all that said, if I had made some different decisions financially, I would probably be able to answer yes to a few more of these questions. And, if I would live a more thrifty life, I could still do more, but I guess that's not the point of the question.

AnneD · Apr 27, 2001

1.NO

2.NO

3.NO

4.YES

5.NO

6.NO

7.NO

7.YES

This is why I'm so upset. I can't even qualify to buy a house in the area I live because my income is not enough. This is a sad commentary on the value placed on my work.

Ann4 · Apr 27, 2001

I'm an RN at a medium-sized hospital and my boyfriend is a respiratory therapist.

1. We live in a working class neighborhood and own a new (small) house. Could afford better but are trying to live below our means and save money for early retirement.

2. Both our vehicles are paid for and at least 5 years old.

3. No kids, don't plan on having any.

4. We're vegetarians and eat out once a week but also clip coupons and buy food on sale.

5. It would be nice to take in an occasional conference out of town, but it's not a priority.

6. We take at least one nice trip a year, usually a ski trip, but budget heavily so we can stay longer. Also go visit family on the West Coast, camp alot and drive to the beach.

7. Not really interested in keeping up with the Joneses - enjoy hiking and playing tennis at local parks.

8. Again, no kids, but we're very happy without them.

We make about $72K between the two of us and feel we can do alot if we plan properly. It would be great to make more money and live in a nicer house and drive new cars, but that's not what's important to us.

ecb · May 16, 2001

1. Own and maintain a home in a mid to upper class neighborhood?

Only because my husband died and we had Mortgage Insurance (otherwise I would have had to sell it)

2. Own and maintain a car driven by those who live in a mid to upper class neighborhood?

I was given a down payment to buy a minivan by my parents, or I would only have a 7 year old Civic

3. Send your children to private schools?

My Parents pay for that

4. Eat healthy diets?

I try, its still hard unless the babysitter cooks

5. Join a trade organization or attend trade conferences once or twice a year?

when!?!?!?! I work 50-60 hours a week, and need to have time with the kids

6. Take trips to other countries or take extended vacations?

to go on vacation, I drive, not fly, and even then;

I get a womens retreat 1X a year, and go home to see my parents 2 Xs a year

7. Join special tennis or similar clubs for exercise and out of the box networking purposes?

I have a membership to the local YMCA so the kids can take T-ball and swim (does that count?)

8. Enroll your child into activities like the scouts or music lessons? I repeate WHEN!?!?!?!?!

I have a live in nanny, because my hours are hellish, and its still cheeper than day care or after care from the school, and if I have to go in (on call) its covered as flex time for her, with little or no muss or fuss

I take my GF out about 1X a month, and she takes me out 2X a month