Ok, I know we should be frugal after we graduate and invest in retirement, pay off debt and student loans, etc. However, for a little fun, what kinds of things do you look forward to buying after you graduate and are working as a nurse?
For me: a Dyson vacuum cleaner ($500) and a set of NARS blushes ($200), the best blush on the planet. I've also been fixated on buying a Mini Cooper:
I suspect I'll buy the Dyson and NARS, but the Mini Cooper may just not be a good financial choice.
Wow NICU thanks so much for your post. I was ready to run down to the car lot and purchase a LEXUS IS 250 the minute I received my pin, but now I am rethinking that. My "putt-putt" has lasted me 10 years with no trouble, there is no reason why I shouldn't make my dream of buying a bigger house my main priority. It's nice to see that sacrifice (even when it's not entirely necessary) really does pay off.
i graduate in may 2010 if all goes as planned and as of now i'm going to continue living at home w/ my parents in order to save money for a year to get MARRIED to the man of my dreams! i'm also gonna need to buy a car...nothing fancy just something good on gas mileage and reliable...right now i drive an antique muscle car and though the approving looks of others gives me an extreme high b/c i am a car freak...breaking down and running out of gas gets old after a while! haha
i told myself i was buying diamond earrings, but the bf surprised me at x-mas. we can scratch that.
we plan on living rent free (managing an apt. complex) until sometime in late 2010, then we start really looking for a dream house! our ghetto apt. doesn't have heat (yeah, it's florida, but we get lows in the 30's too!).
requirements:
*2 stories
*central heat/air
*near (maybe ON!) the intracoastal
*fireplace
*wood floors
*craftsman style type bungalow
*a fenced in yard (6' high, plz) for the wandering pitbull
*a pool!
i already have my dream car (it helps to shoot low). ahh, it would be nice to upgrade my wardrobe though.
OH! most importantly! a bottle of bubbly! i think some pj shall suffice!
I don't know, for some reason, Corvettes scream "man in mid-life crisis" to me---kind of like I will always associate Caddy's with the elderly population---a stigma stuck in my head!
I understand, I tend to associate members of our profession with extreme liberalism, socialism.
I also associate nursing with always wanting the tax payer to flip the bill, no personal responsibility, but that is my stigma that is stuck in my head also.
As a "Former New Nurse" I will give you all my hindsight view...
I desperately wanted to buy my first "new" car...After thoroughly thinking over my options, I decided it would be better to wait until after we got a house, then buy a really good used car. For the first 8 months after graduation, we lived like we still had only one income. No take out, clipping mad amounts of coupons, buying reduced anything we could find, and putting all but $40 of my check in a separate acct. We were approved for a house and moved in much sooner that I could have ever thought possible. Our dream house has 4 bdrms, 3 full baths, an office, a florida room, and an inground pool. We are in an excellent school district, and a short commute from both of our jobs. We were fortunate enough to not have debt(with 3 kids) when I graduated. We laughed we walked around our new neighborhood that we were the only family that had two "beat up" cars in the driveway.
We were also able to obtain a 15 year mortgage, so after 5 years, we are more than 1/3 paid off :)
I got a Toyota Avalon, with leather(heated:)) seats, about 6 months after moving into our new home. I think our decision to continue to live frugal, was one of the smartest choices we ever made. We continue to live within our means, despite the economy. While I think it is great to reward your hard work with something fun, I challenge you prioritize the things you want most, and how soon you want them. Good luck to you all as you transition into your new lives as Nurses!
I completely agree with you! My new husband and I already own a home, but we want one that is much bigger. We plan to live like we do now once I graduate....for about a year or so.......and sock away my new income. I think it's a smart thing to do, rather than run out and buy all sorts of things. I'd rather save for a while and work on selling our townhouse first, then buy myself a new car, etc. later on!
I understand, I tend to associate members of our profession with extreme liberalism, socialism.
I also associate nursing with always wanting the tax payer to flip the bill, no personal responsibility, but that is my stigma that is stuck in my head also.
I would love some new furniture. I can run my current vehicle into the ground, I rather like not having a car payment!
I said that too at one point, and then my car broke down three times while I was out alone (thankfully it didnt happen when hubby and my 2 babies had it) and finally last weekend my car caught fire due to an electrical problem in 20 degree weather in the dark (on the way to work) on a country road 30 minutes from anywhere. I thought it was going to blow up. I've never been so terrified in my entire life.
I'll take the car payment and the security of knowing my car is safer. :)
BellasMommyOBRN
400 Posts
oh, and i want a little toy sized yorkie puppy :chuckle i would buy one now but i just can't justify $3000.00 for a puppy on a tight budget:heartbeat