Can a registered nurse live comfortably with their salary?

Nursing Students ADN/BSN Nursing Q/A

I live in California. I'm not talking mansion with nice cars and buying anything I want. Just some middle class apartment and a car like a mini cooper or something. I'm just wondering. I'm working to get my BSN right now, and I know I shouldn't be thinking too far into the future, but I just want to know that when/if I eventually get a job, will I be able to live comfortably? I'm single, no kids, just me and a friend being room mates. (she's also working towards her BSN). We wouldn't care for vacations or anything like that, just hanging out around the city is all I can think of as relaxing. Nothing big.

yes, you can live comfortably, the key is to NEvER live outside of your means, point blank. I drive a new car, live in a nice house in a subdivision, buy whatever i want, ect. i work in LTC 3 days a week and make 60,000 a year. state GA.

Specializes in ICU 3+ years, travel nurse 1+ years.

Agree with most posters on this thread. I live in the midwest, and granted the pay is not the best where I'm from but as a travel nurse I am making it work. I own my own home, drive a brand new car, am paying off my loans and just bought a hot tub (yay!) as well as saving for the future. I do not have kids, however I have a cat who can be just as expensive :rotfl: At the same time I'm supporting my boyfriend as he is going to school. Just budget wisely and you will do fine.

Specializes in Hospice / Ambulatory Clinic.

You can get a used mini for a reasonable price not that wouldn't make it anymore expensive that a normal car. Even new mini's aren't that expensive.

I live in LA and I could afford those things on a full time LVN salary so I'm sure on an RN's one you'll be able to manage. Not over paying for rent is the most important thing in this town other than that it's really not that bad.

Specializes in Med Surg, PCU, Travel.

The words "live comfortably" means different things to different people. Some people can make $100,000 per year and NOT live comfortably, while others can do it with less than 50,000. My sister has been an RN in canada for a number of years, shes only 34 have a nice new house, 2 cars, 3 kids, her husband works but she makes more than him, and yes they live comfortably, but what works for Peter make not work for Paul...if you single, first thoughts should be getting financially gounded with a sizable 12 month emergency savings and investment account, then worry about the new car, it will come in time.

Specializes in Emergency.

Yes. You can live comfortably. I own my home (not a mansion) and I drive a BMW that I bought new. The house and the car are the ONLY debt I have, I also save a considerable amount of money each month. Just be smart with your spending and don't over use credit cards, you should be fine.

& I'm in SoCal

I was wondering the same thing. I just graduated from a BSN program in Alabama, and I would really like to purchase a new or slightly used Acura TSX. I start my new job on the Cardiothoracic ICU in September, so I was planning on buying one in November/December.

For p.m. shift new grads here in Alabama, the after-tax take home pay is roughly $2300 per month. My rent, groceries, cable, power, gas, insurances, etc. all adds up to about $1400, leaving me $900 each month to play with. After the down payment and my trade-in, the monthly note for the Acura is going to be around $275.

So, even after the new/used car payment, I can still save $600ish each month. And that's without any PRN shifts on another unit, or overtime.

My only concern is that I am going back to CRNA school in 3 years (the nurse manager at the CICU asks that his employees dedicate 2 years of service to him before he will write a letter of rec. Meaning I wouldn't start the program until I've worked for 3 years). Anyways, I would either have to use my savings to pay off the car before I begin the CRNA program, or continue making the payments during the program. I've had my current car since I turned 16, which was 7 years ago. So I would really like to reward myself for my academic accomplishments.

Thoughts??

Yes. Like I said, after all my bills, groceries, car payment, insurance, etc.. I will still have $600 left to save. If I only work one overtime shift each month, I can save $900. Which adds up to about $32,000 total at the end of the 3 years. I could use part of that to pay off what's left of the car loan before I begin grad school.

Also, I forgot to mention that I don't have any outstanding student loans. My father was in the armed forces, so my college work was paid for.

Do you think the new car is a bad idea?

Specializes in Peds Medical Floor.

Just wanted to say don't count on the OT shift. I just got off of orientation at my new job. I took a PT job because that's all I could get. The floor hasn't been full since I started and there is NO OT. When you budget, budget what you are guaranteed, not what you hope to pick up.

Specializes in Hospice / Ambulatory Clinic.

Definately try and find a gently used car say 1-2 years old so your not paying full price. Having said that both my husband and I bought our cars brand new which worked out to be a good thing because we've been able to keep them 11 years and 8 years with no break downs. (One american made and one japanese made so quality goes both ways) So if your planning to keep your car a loooong time then sometimes paying the extra for new makes sense since 3 years on a car when you buy it is 3 years less it's going to last you.

Specializes in Hospice / Ambulatory Clinic.

Yeah but that answer really doesn't fit the OP's need or neighborhood. She lives in LA there is NOWHERE in LA you can buy for $120,000 (hard to find something for $400k either) so renting a nice apartment is probably as good as it gets. Also Mini Coopers aren't expensive, they really aren't. The OP was asking us if she will be able to buy the things SHE deems important. Maybe she doesn't want to drive a Subaru so she can afford a sailboat instead.

One of the great things about living in LA is the staycations you can take.

Anyways OP again my answer is yes a middle class apartment and a mini is possible but apparently everyone things you have fancy tastes.

When you are young and single an RN makes a lot of money (not luxury but enough to rent a small place and have a car and food) . When you are older and have a family, it's enought to get by paycheck to paycheck and nothing more. Aim for higher education and income and aim to move up.

I understand your anxiety. My family makes a pretty good living and I worry that I will not be able to provide the same for whatever children I have in the future. But while I have met nurses who were getting by I never met nurses in complete poverty and desolation.

It can be when single. Not providing for kids. Before a kid, my income went far and was saving. Add in a kid and relocation for spouse's job then his furlough and it is a struggle

+ Add a Comment