Does anyone live alone?

Nurses General Nursing

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Hi I'm a student starting my second year in the fall. Originally I was going to move with family after graduation, but I decided I didn't want to move to that area. I currently hate where I live with every fiber of my being! So moving is my #1 motivation to push myself hard in school and obviously important to me. My BF will not be moving with me either because of his career. We both are accepting of this, that I chose location and he chose career over our relationship but anyway the point is I'll be moving alone to an area where I don't know anyone.

So I was wondering about nurses who live alone. Are you a single parent? Do you have pets? How do you work those things out if so with 12 hr shifts? Do you keep up with the bills well enough and housework? I don't know this doesn't seem that important of a topic but I'm asking anyway and interested in the answers, Thank you :)

Specializes in NICU, ICU, PICU, Academia.

I'm mighty jealous of you all. See- not only have I never lived alone, I've never- in my whole life- had my own ROOM. I slept in a crib in my parent's room as a baby, had sisters to share w/ since the age of 14 months, went to college(roomie) and got married (Mr. MaryJean) and then had four kids.

I'm now 61- still have two college kids at home and really, really really want my own space!

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Specializes in geriatrics.

If I ever do get married, I want my own room, or at least my own SPACE. I'm so used to being alone. Ideally, I need to be with someone who travels for work.

Some people would consider that odd, but I know myself well.

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Specializes in ED, Pedi Vasc access, Paramedic serving 6 towns.

Hi,

Here is my story which is very similar to yours.

I live alone and have since I turned 29, I am 38 now, and you know what? I LOVE it. I get home from a long shift I can come home and have no worries about bothering someone else or them bothering me. I hate the TV so I don't have to worry about someone else watching it with the volume cranked (like nails down a chalkboard for me).

I worked as a medic and then decided to go to nursing school, I graduated with my ASN in 2007, got a job immediately as a new grad making a fairly decent wage (about 25.00 and hour). I was 29 and had lived with my mom all of my life, and realized that it was finally time to leave the nest now that I was done school for the time being.

I decided I really didn't want to rent and pay someone else's mortgage, so I looked online to see if there were any places for sale that i might be able to afford to buy. A small condo would be ideal at this point in my life I thought. I had no idea how much my actual take home pay would be since I hadn't even started to work as a nurse yet, but I did the math and figured I could afford a place for around 150 K. I searched online and came across a brand new condo development with garden style condos. I went with my mom and looked at them, they were very nice, and priced around 156K. Perfect! I picked out the colors of the rugs, cabinets etc, all while being extremely nervous as to whether or not I would even be able to afford the place. I was scared ******** because not only was I taking on a mortgage, but I had to pay utilities which I never had to deal with. Also if anything broke, like the hot water heater or the furnace, I couldn't call a landlord to fix it. I payed my mom around 400 a month for rent and that was it.

I began my new nursing job in August and closed on my condo on 9/21/07. Here I am almost 9 years later... I am doing fine and have more than enough money every month (of course my pay has gone up too), although I will add I reverted back to working on the ambulance because I am not a huge fan of being a nurse. When I made the choice to buy a home I also considered that I had an additional career I could fall back on if the nursing job didn't work out. I also had a per-deim job as a medic on top of my nursing job, so I could increase my pay if I needed too.

I am happy here, but the downside to buying a home is that you have to worry about selling it if you want to move into a bigger home or to a different place. I am in the process of putting my condo on the market now and it has been EXTREMELY stressful. I suggest if you are not sure you want to stay in a certain area for at least 10 years you don't buy a place, just rent, until you are ready to settle down. On the upside I make 92K a year and would end up owing about 1500+ in taxes every year, but because I own a home I can make deductions and end up getting money back instead, so that has been worth it!!

Needless to say my 1100 square foot condo was lonely with just me in it. I had friends and family that would visit of course, but it was missing something. I was used to having the companionship of a pet. I went off to the animal shelter and picked up two kittens a few months after moving in. They are still here and doing well, although I must say they will be my last cats, as they are a lot of work and I'm not a fan of having a cat litter box in such a small place. Anyway, the whole pet thing is something you have to decide is right for you. They are A LOT of work, and you need to be able to provide for them even when you are exhausted from work. I would say try living on your own first. I got cats because I work long shifts on the ambulance and I would not have time for a dog. I got two cats so they would at least have the company of each other when I am not there. I also have a parrotlet and he is the bomb! He is awesome, doesn't smell, easy to clean his cage, he comes out and stays with me where ever I go, and best of all he talks up a storm, but he doesn't scream like a large parrot would! He is the cutest funniest thing!

My advise to you is to find a job as a nurse and make sure you like nursing BEFORE you get your own place, even if it is just renting for now. You don't want to get trapped in a job you hate. Then when you are ready go for it, get a place to live on your own, you won't have regrets. I say stay closer to family when you first move out on your own, just my opinion.

Good luck!

Annie

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Specializes in ED, Pedi Vasc access, Paramedic serving 6 towns.
I'm mighty jealous of you all. See- not only have I never lived alone, I've never- in my whole life- had my own ROOM. I slept in a crib in my parent's room as a baby, had sisters to share w/ since the age of 14 months, went to college(roomie) and got married (Mr. MaryJean) and then had four kids.

I'm now 61- still have two college kids at home and really, really really want my own space!

No wonder you are "mean"!!

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Specializes in Pediatric Critical Care.
...and I'm not a fan of having a cat litter box in such a small place.

1100 sq feet? I currently am living in a 650 sq ft apartment. With two cats and their litter box.

It's....not ideal.

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Specializes in Peds Urology,primary care, hem/onc.

I have lived alone since graduating college at 22 (I am 40 now). I had roommates all through college. I was not opposed to having one but I moved to a new city and did not know anyone when I started my first nursing job. I initially lived in a small apartment and up-sized as my pay increased. I eventually bought a condo that I could afford (which ended up being less $$ than my rent for my apartment was). After I graduated from grad school, I again moved to a completely new city for my NP job. I rented an apartment for the first few years then bought a townhouse in an area I liked and have been there the last 7 years. My original condo my dad bought from me because he wanted a rental property.

I would have had a roommate if I could but there was never one available. You just have to be organized. when I worked shifts, I gave myself to do lists on my days off so I could get laundry, grocery shopping, cleaning done. Now that I work M-F, I plan what I am going to do on the weekends. I did splurge a few years ago and started having someone clean for me twice a month and it is glorious.

You will be fine on your own. You just need to budget and live in your means. Good Luck!

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Specializes in Oncology, critical care.

I lived alone through both of my undergrad degrees & when about 7 years of my nursing career. I had pets (cats). Honestly, I loved it! I would meal prep and clean on my days off. When I was in school my schedule varied so I would just squeeze stuff in where I could (I worked while in school). My cats hated my being gone but they got used to it. Financially, in school I had a very tight budget -- though I was an adult student so I also didn't need to factor in money for partying (I don't drink or anything). I didn't buy any processed food or restaurant food (not even coffee/tea/water) -- I would bring my own food everywhere. You would be amazed at how much money you save. I didn't drive so no car expenses, took the metro. I applied for every scholarship, bursary, grant, etc I could find -- and I received a lot of them which helped. I didn't have cable (I don't really watch tv anyway), but I did have unlimited internet (back then there wasn't really tv/movies online & no Facebook/Twitter/etc so less distraction!). I bought new clothes/shoes/whatever only when I really needed it (sucks, but was worth the sacrifice). I'd stock up on hygiene/beauty supplies and cat food/litter at the beginning of each term so I wouldn't have to spend money during the semester (my sister would drive and help me do this). Basically a "no-buy" except necessities.

After graduating and working as a nurse I ended up getting a lot of the things I didn't have as a student and I allowed myself more freedom in the food/beverage/clothing dept since I had more disposable income. I still made most of my meals though, it is cheaper and healthier (& still meal prep on days off since it saves a lot of time/energy later in the week). I use a grocery delivery service instead of shopping myself (I hate grocery shopping!). I clean and do laundry on off days, never on work days since 12 hrs plus 2 hours commute time=no. My boyfriend lives with me now and helps with stuff, but it really wasn't a problem when I lived alone. If anything, living alone when you're in school is good since it's less distracting/noisy/etc.

My only suggestion is pick a SAFE place to live. I was always particular, never lived on the ground floor and opted to pay a bit more to live in a better neighbourhood close to school or work. Make sure there is good lighting and others close by. You'll often be coming home very late/very early, in the dark, and you don't want to be stressing about making it home ok.

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I LOVED reading all these stories! Thank you for the time to share them! I see many of you have cats. I have dogs..plural haha..and they are active. But I found a gorgeous apartment in the area I'd like to live in that's affordable and safe. It's 880 sq ft. I'll need a dog walker. It's hard I understand people not owning dogs completely, they love to give me the guilty trip when I'm studying by staring at me :bag:

But I get them out an hour every day.

After I searched around for apartments (even though I'm not moving until graduation) I really started to like the idea of finding my own place in an area I love, being independent, walking around in PJ's :) :)

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I did some calculations. I can't afford to live by myself with a nursing salary. I calculated apartment and utilities, car insurance, health insurance (estimated), food for me and my dogs, dog walker, and estimated gas of $100/wk. With a salary of $40,000/year which is the starting for a new RN in the area I was looking at (I was looking at Richmond), I come up $100 short, and that's without any other expenses. :***: The apartment was the cheaper one that allowed dogs and still in a nice area. That's kinda depressing to me but that's life!

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Specializes in geriatrics.

Gas will cost you 100/ week? Is there any way you can look at reducing this amount? Is it essential that you drive every day? Is public transportation an option? Moving closer to work and walking?

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Specializes in OR, Nursing Professional Development.

$100 in gas per week? How much driving do you plan to do? I spend less than half of that in a month!

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Specializes in TBI and SCI.

I live alone. I moved out half way through nursing school actually and I made it....

I clean whenever I can. Off days I go all out and clean clean clean. I love to clean so that's easy for me. This same day I do laundry. I cook when I have time, but unfortunately I have to eat out, buy those ready to go salads and eat a lot of frozen Amy's...

I have a calendar in my phone with all the dates of my bills- my app is called Colorful for iphone

I have my bill payee set up through my online banking and get almost everything via email... you will start to remember... if not make a list. Bills are due at the same time each month anyways, won't be too hard.

I have no pets, and just broke up with my bf because he didn't understand the importance of my career choice. Oh well! My 12hr shifts, I come home chill for like 2-3 hours, then I'm asleep in bed or passed out on the couch.. it's not bad

Good luck- living solo is great :o)

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