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 ER, Med-surg.

No. In fact it took several months after I started my first nursing job to transition out of the mindset of "I need a new nightstand, let me figure out how many pay periods before I can buy that" to "Right now. I can buy a nightstand right now and it won't ruin my budget."

I got a cosmetic procedure I'd wanted for a long time near the end of my new grad year as a "congratulations on getting through all these years of suck" present to myself, but in general I have never been a big spender.

I think a key thing is not taking on huge amounts of debt that will cause your indebtedness to keep pace with your income so that you're never really out of the hole. Don't let lifestyle creep eat your new paycheck.

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I'm fortunate in that my husband's salary has always been very generous so we've lived comfortably for many, many years now on just his income. My part time income prior to becoming an RN a few years ago was my spending money so we didn't rely on it for anything. Now that I'm earning a decent salary, I use my income to pay for our vacations (we take 2-3 big vacations a year), pay a couple of car payments, and put money into our retirement account. I'm not into purses and shoes and manis/pedis and expensive meals so I've never spent money on luxury stuff like that but I love our vacations!

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Wait!!! We can afford luxury items?!?!

Seriously though the only thing I do differently is I could afford to buy a house and did so and I take one really nice vacation every year. I couldn't have done that on my pre nursing salary.

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Instead of blowing money on fancy stuff why not try to save some money while you live with your Mom? One thing I have learned us that "stuff" doesn't bring happiness.

Didn't mention that I was going to give something back to my mom for raising me.

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Didn't mention that I was going to give something back to my mom for raising me.

WHAT?!!! Ummm. She chose to have you and I'm sure she doesn't expect you to make reparations. My mom would kill me if I tried to do that. Well, once she stopped laughing at me. :laugh:Maybe offering to pay your share of living expenses would be more appropriate.

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Just started as a nurse, wasnt employed before now, mom paid tuition so no loans. First big spending i'm going to do is to buy a play station 4. I don't have a driver license yet because i never needed one but I'm going to work on that soon, uber everyday is getting kinda expensive.

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Specializes in Mental Health.

Almost a nurse 2 years now, I make more money than I ever did - I bought a fancy car and joined a private gym so I'm paying that off and I save - I only pay for myself at the moment but I am scared to think what would happen if I had kids, a house, bills on my wage!!

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WHAT?!!! Ummm. She chose to have you and I'm sure she doesn't expect you to make reparations. My mom would kill me if I tried to do that. Well, once she stopped laughing at me. :laugh:Maybe offering to pay your share of living expenses would be more appropriate.

Lol, I wish I could but she doesn't even let me pay bills now.

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Just started as a nurse, wasnt employed before now, mom paid tuition so no loans. First big spending i'm going to do is to buy a play station 4. I don't have a driver license yet because i never needed one but I'm going to work on that soon, uber everyday is getting kinda expensive.

Yes getting a driver's license and a car was the best thing that ever happened to me.

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Specializes in Geriatrics, Home Health.
Two words: Dave Ramsey.

I prefer financial advice *without* Bible verses.

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I can afford to take trips abroad and I can now afford cable. That's enough luxury for me.

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Specializes in Oncology, critical care.

I didn't go crazy, I still had bills to pay. But if there was something "extra" or expensive I wanted (eg. expensive purse or new phone or something) I would only allow myself to get it if I worked an OT shift to cover the cost of it, I never took it out of my regular pay. I guess that's the equivalent of saving up for something? Haha. And picking up an extra shift here and there is never a problem. Note that I did this maybe 2-3 x a year, so it wasn't a common thing.

When I was in nursing school I DID think I would spend a lot once I was working -- but the funny thing is, when you have no money you see TONS of stuff you want, but the minute you do have money, nothing is appealing anymore.

The most I've seen other nurses spend on is travel and housing (like working like bananas to save up for a down payment or to buy property in cash or to remodel/update part of their home). Nothing crazy, just normal life stuff I guess.

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