Do you overspend on luxury items as a nurse?

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When you went into the nursing profession and received your first salaried job, did it make you want to spend more and buy luxury cars, electronics ,etc?

I ask this because I'm pretty frugal, but when I see a car or new gadget that I really really like the first thing that comes to my mind is "I'm going to get that when I become a nurse". Did any of you nurses felt like that with your salary where you just have to buy, buy, and buy because you can afford it but you don't need it?

Specializes in Oncology, ICU.

I've been working full time as a nurse for 5 years now, and I do have expensive taste in clothes/shoes, etc. Luckily, I grew up knowing the value of a dollar and when I started working, I set up a separate checking account just for shopping, nice makeup, getting my hair/nails done...basically all the girly non-essentials. I pay myself into that checking account every time I get paid (as well as pay into multiple savings accounts). I only buy for myself out of this account, and if I want something and the account is drained...I don't buy it. During this time I paid off credit card debt, saved a ton of money, and bought a brand new car (Subaru) which is completely paid for. This method has worked great for me and the only debt I still have is student loans.

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Specializes in CCU, SICU, CVSICU, Precepting & Teaching.
"but when I see a car or new gadget that I really really like the first thing that comes to my mind is "I'm going to get that when I become a nurse"."

THIS Bothers me. You make it sound like nurses are rolling in all kinds of disposable money. I am most certainly not. A nursing salary places you firmly in middle class, therefore making all the "luxury items" almost unattainable. I am stretched with morgage, household bills, taxes and daily living expenses. So, I am not sure why you think you would be rolling in money, but remember that living below your means is the way to go and maybe, just maybe, you could retire at 65....

Not everyone has the same idea of a luxury item. I wanted a reliable car that I could drive anywhere I wanted without worry of being stranded. I bought a Honda Civic, not a Mercedes Benz. To me, that was an enormous luxury. In my first year of nursing, I happened across a Coach bag. It was slim and sturdy, stylish and I knew it would last forever. I saved until I could buy it to replace the quilted handbag my mother made in her sewing class . . . . And it lasted, and lasted, and lasted until Coach came out with bags that had linings and little pockets inside. Now that bag was a luxury compared to the quilted bad, or a faux leather bag I bought at K-Mart. But I used it for years, and it was attractive, stylish and sturdy. The others didn't hold up nearly as long. To someone who lists after a Birken bag, it was plain vanilla and nut a luxury but a basic. To someone who lists after a BMW, my Civic was nothing.

Luxury is in the eye of the beholder. So is "rolling in all kinds of disposals money." To the nurse who has ever had to worry about paying the rent OR buying groceries, or the electric bill OR putting gas in the car to get to work, a nurse IS rolling in money. Imagine the luxury of being able to pay all your bills when due, put food on the table AND afford some item you've been lusting after for years.

I'm assuming that some of you don't understand this because you haven't ever been poor, or because you've never had to struggle to make ends meet at the most basic level. If you're living with your parents and struggling with whether to buy that fifth Coach bag or pay your car insurance because you know you can't do both and still have money to go out on Saturday night, it's not the same thing.

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YES!!! ABSOLUTELY!! I find myself buying full price from the thrift store. Before nursing, I only bought when it was 50% off. I even freely indulge in goodwill online and eBay. (Actually, I bought all my first scrubs and lab coat from the thrift store. They were new with tags :yes: )

I only get a new car every 10 years, so I tend to buy durable ones. Truthfully, my only real luxury purchases are fragrances, shoes and accessories--but in moderation and after saving up specifically for them. I know quite a few young, single nurses making $70k plus and they get carried away sometimes with their spending. Having a family kinda keeps me in line. However, I do plan to treat myself to a Chanel jumbo flap when I get my DNP.

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Specializes in Educator.

Everyone already said it, no-one coming into nursing was looking for that big pay day! I enjoy a comfortable lifestyle but I save till it hurts. I want to retire soon and don't want to be working in my golden years. I do splurge on items I want, but I am thrifty by nature so what I consider a 'splurge' may not fit anyone elses definition. Life is short, enjoy - but plan for the long haul. I have put three kids through college and they all graduated debt free, that was the best gift I could give them. You put your money where your priorities are.

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"but when I see a car or new gadget that I really really like the first thing that comes to my mind is "I'm going to get that when I become a nurse"."

THIS Bothers me. You make it sound like nurses are rolling in all kinds of disposable money. I am most certainly not. A nursing salary places you firmly in middle class, therefore making all the "luxury items" almost unattainable. I am stretched with morgage, household bills, taxes and daily living expenses. So, I am not sure why you think you would be rolling in money, but remember that living below your means is the way to go and maybe, just maybe, you could retire at 65....

Ok but define "luxury". I grew up poor and let me tell you, being "firmly in middle class" sounds BEYOND luxurious and I fantasize about the day when I won't have to worry about how I'll get my next healthy meal or how I'll scrounge up the money to be seen by a doctor when I'm sick. Luxury means different things to different people. Luxury to me means being able to afford the cost of living.

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As a new grad, fresh out of my 4-year undergrad BSN, I'm making way, way, more money that I ever have in the past as a nanny or assistant. So right now, I am indulging myself a little bit. Replacing my worn out laptop with a Mac, finally getting some matching decor for my house, and other things here and there. However, when I graduated and then got a job, I took the time to sit down with someone and really go through my expenses and my income, as well as my loan debt, to create a budget that was maintainable and still allowed $ for personal spending. I'm certainly putting money away for the future, and I generally am pretty frugal by most people's standards, but at this point in my life where I'm not worried about supporting anyone else, it's a nice change of pace to be able to afford a few nice things here and there!

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Specializes in Palliative.

Not gonna lie, I planned for egregious spending in my first year of working. I bought everything I told myself to wait until I was done school for: a big rock, clothes, trips to see my friends and a very expensive sewing machine.

I paid cash for it all so I can't say I overspent. Though as I said almost all of it was planned spending. I have no kids and I paid my own way through school so going from cutting my own hair and budgeting down to my last dollar, to getting whatever I wanted was fun. After that first year I had all the stuff I had went without, so I could cut back considerably.

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Ok but define "luxury". I grew up poor and let me tell you, being "firmly in middle class" sounds BEYOND luxurious and I fantasize about the day when I won't have to worry about how I'll get my next healthy meal or how I'll scrounge up the money to be seen by a doctor when I'm sick. Luxury means different things to different people. Luxury to me means being able to afford the cost of living.

Perhaps. But the standard definition implies more than just making ends meet. It usually implies much more than that. I don't know where the OP's definition falls.

lux·u·ry

ˈləkSH(ə)rē,ˈləɡZH(ə)rē/

noun

  • 1.
    the state of great comfort and extravagant living.
    "he lived a life of luxury"
    [TABLE=class: vk_tbl vk_gy]
    [TR]
    [TD=class: lr_dct_nyms_ttl]synonyms:[/TD]
    [TD]opulence, luxuriousness, sumptuousness, grandeur, magnificence, splendor,lavishness, the lap of luxury, a bed of roses, (the land of) milk and honey; informalthe life of Riley
    "we'll live in luxury"

    [/TD]
    [/TR]
    [/TABLE]

adjective

  • 1.
    luxurious or of the nature of a luxury.
    "a luxury yacht"

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You will find that your income is considered when it comes time to apply for financial aid for the step kids. You may find yourself paying for their education one way or another.

Waaaaaay ahead of you. No legal marriage. Won't be no legal marriage. Like I said, mama didn't raise no fool! LOL. Dad's girlfriends' money does not factor in to FAFSA..I checked;)

I love those kids, but I made a conscious choice to remain child free and when I met my man I explained to him that I have no intention of making their debts mine. I am still paying off my school, almost done, and that is my first priority. He would never let me pay their expenses, anyways. I did pay for half my stepsons school trip to Europe last year because I really wanted him to see it and get out of his little town. It was not much at all and I loved that I was able to do that for him.

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Specializes in CCU, SICU, CVSICU, Precepting & Teaching.
Waaaaaay ahead of you. No legal marriage. Won't be no legal marriage. Like I said, mama didn't raise no fool! LOL. Dad's girlfriends' money does not factor in to FAFSA..I checked;)

I love those kids, but I made a conscious choice to remain child free and when I met my man I explained to him that I have no intention of making their debts mine. I am still paying off my school, almost done, and that is my first priority. He would never let me pay their expenses, anyways. I did pay for half my stepsons school trip to Europe last year because I really wanted him to see it and get out of his little town. It was not much at all and I loved that I was able to do that for him.

If you aren't legally married, they aren't your stepkids. They're your boyfriend's kids.

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If you aren't legally married, they aren't your stepkids. They're your boyfriend's kids.

Really??? I didn't know that!! Thank you!!!!

Fine, whatever makes you feel better.

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Specializes in Cardiovascular recovery unit/ICU.
Well, I just bought a pair of walking shoes with sleeves and custom orthotics for $$$... it is definitely overspending for me, but it will help me to save my back and knees. So I count it as an investment :)

i love this!!! I'm working 6 straight 12 hr shifts then 8 off. I don't have good shoes. I'm about to buy some Danskos Pro XP's about $150. That is a splurge for me lol!

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