affordable apartment with rn salary

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I want to move to an apartment after I graduate this May with rent at about $3000/month. My salary will be $75,000/year (before they take out money). I won't be allowed to work over time at first because it's a residency program.

What ill save on: I have a car but from this apartment I can walk to the hospital for work, it's about 1 block away. My aunt can watch my dog for free.

I also want graduate school and will take out loans. I have no student loans from undergraduate. The hospital I'll be employed at gives money for grad school (5k a semester) and scholarships.

Do you guys think this apartment is affordable? Is it realistic I could even save money? I'm trying to think cost of everything. .and I figured I'd ask because those who lived on your rn salary will have an idea..thank you.

Specializes in Critical Care.

I would guestimate net pay after federal and state taxes and health insurance would only be about $4,000 a month tops and probably less ie $3,600, so there is no way you could afford that rent! As others stated the goal is to keep housing at 30% or less. When you are young, single and just starting out roommates are ideal, save on rent and furniture and will always have a friend to go out to dinner or a movie with.

A good budget from Congresswoman Elizabeth Warren's book All Your Worth is 50% necessities, 30% wants and 20% savings/debt repayment. Surely you have student loans to repay, don't count on govt loan forgiveness. Also you should start saving in a 403b a minimum of 6% to get the company match of 3%. Start saving for retirement right away, don't put it off because in the future you will have other expenses like a mortgage and family so it won't be any easier plus you'll have lost the benefit of time that you can never get back! Read up on personal finance to start off on sound footing.

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Well....I was just offered a position with Duke hospital. I turned down a position with MedStar in DC because moving there was just not realistic. But moving to Raleigh or Durham is realistic!!! I wonder if I should do it. Pay much lower, but cheaper cost of living, much nicer area, but the hospital I have a promised position with now would pay for most of grad school, but much nicer area!!

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Well....I was just offered a position with Duke hospital. I turned down a position with MedStar in DC because moving there was just not realistic. But moving to Raleigh or Durham is realistic!!! I wonder if I should do it. Pay much lower, but cheaper cost of living, much nicer area, but the hospital I have a promised position with now would pay for most of grad school, but much nicer area!!

I hear a lot of nurses moving away from south. Are you certain this will be beneficial for your career?

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I hear a lot of nurses moving away from south. Are you certain this will be beneficial for your career?

I'm not sure. Do you know why they are moving away from the south?

It's a lower salary of around 25k/year less from a job I can accept in NJ, but it's also cheaper to live in NC than NJ. The NP salary is comparable/competitive though at least from what I googled and I eventually plan to earn my NP. The hospital system in NJ that I have my promised job with (when I pass boards) is a good system, and really I have a lot of respect for it's values, but is it worth it if I hate the area I live in? I go back and forth a lot with this...I had applied to Duke a while ago and said I'd decide what to do if I even am accepted.. I've been to Raleigh for trips and really love it.

And I feel like also my health is bad here in NJ. The freshman 40 is for real!! For me at least! Well it took 4 years lol. I stay inside all winter, just walk my dog an hour a day, then I love summers and wish I could be outside every day all day in the summer..I go to the lake with friends or just hike. But NJ winter is long. I live in a high crime area although I can move to a safer area and still be in the same hospital system.

My mom was dx with cancer this summer. I feel like health should come first now..and like also our dreams shouldn't be put off too long since you never know what will happen tomorrow. But I also want to be smart and plan for a long good future!

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Specializes in Pedi.
I'm not sure. Do you know why they are moving away from the south?

It's a lower salary of around 25k/year less from a job I can accept in NJ, but it's also cheaper to live in NC than NJ. The NP salary is comparable/competitive though at least from what I googled and I eventually plan to earn my NP. The hospital system in NJ that I have my promised job with (when I pass boards) is a good system, and really I have a lot of respect for it's values, but is it worth it if I hate the area I live in? I go back and forth a lot with this...I had applied to Duke a while ago and said I'd decide what to do if I even am accepted.. I've been to Raleigh for trips and really love it.

And I feel like also my health is bad here in NJ. The freshman 40 is for real!! For me at least! Well it took 4 years lol. I stay inside all winter, just walk my dog an hour a day, then I love summers and wish I could be outside every day all day in the summer..I go to the lake with friends or just hike. But NJ winter is long. I live in a high crime area although I can move to a safer area and still be in the same hospital system.

My mom was dx with cancer this summer. I feel like health should come first now..and like also our dreams shouldn't be put off too long since you never know what will happen tomorrow. But I also want to be smart and plan for a long good future!

Honestly I think you should sit down and weigh the pros and cons of both scenarios.

Ex- Duke: pros- nicer area, lower cost of living; cons- lower salary, moving far away from home, don't know anyone there, etc. NJ- pros- higher salary, closer to Mom who is ill and you may want to spend more time with; cons- high crime area, higher cost of living, etc.

I recently changed jobs and this is how I made my decision. I had several good prospects but in the end, the job I accepted won out d/t benefits, salary and flexibility.

How soon do you have to give Duke a decision?

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Honestly I think you should sit down and weigh the pros and cons of both scenarios.

Ex- Duke: pros- nicer area, lower cost of living; cons- lower salary, moving far away from home, don't know anyone there, etc. NJ- pros- higher salary, closer to Mom who is ill and you may want to spend more time with; cons- high crime area, higher cost of living, etc.

I recently changed jobs and this is how I made my decision. I had several good prospects but in the end, the job I accepted won out d/t benefits, salary and flexibility.

How soon do you have to give Duke a decision?

I asked about this on the main nurse forum too just now then saw your reply here!

Here is the thing. My mom will move with me if I decide to move to NC. If I stay in NJ, she's going to still move (by the end of the summer maybe) to somewhere else in NJ, but then if I changed my mind and want to go to NC, she won't move again (she just wants to not go through the hassle and everything). I feel like I'll lose the chance. I'll write out all the pros and cons. I have to notify Duke as soon as I pass my boards. Thanks for replying!

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That is so expensive. You should look for something cheaper.

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