Can nurses live a luxurious life?

Nurses General Nursing

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Hello,

I live in NY and I plan on being a RN and getting a bachelors degree. The majority of answers I've seen on this topic is "it's not about the money" etc. I would never take a job for the money bc I know I'd end up hating and regretting it. However, is it possible as a nurse to live a luxurious life where you can afford nice things? Thanks in advance for the answers.

Specializes in Clinical Research, Outpt Women's Health.

You can live a middle class life. What do you consider luxuries?

Specializes in CMSRN, hospice.

I LOLed at "luxurious." Can I get a definition, please?

While I'm not one to care about having "nice" things, per se, I do like to have some quality in my life for the things that matter. As a nurse, I can repair my car when I need to, I always have a decent pair of running shoes, and I can take a nice vacation every couple years with some planning, get a massage every now and then, etc. *And* when I'm bummed that I don't have a mansion, a pony, and a private jet, I simply remember that I'm too tired to enjoy those things anyway.

An RN with some experience in the US typically falls in the top 1% of global income distributions.

Course, you won't live luxuriously by American standards of "luxury" (even by that standard, you might if you marry wealthy, inherit, go the CRNA route, or invest wisely). But mostly it all depends on how you look at it.

Specializes in IMC, school nursing.

Youngling, let me give you a wonderful life lesson. Go driving through any upscale community at 6 PM. What you will see is dark homes. Why are they dark? No one is home. Their children are in aftercare and the parents/ adults are working 12-16 hours to maintain this lifestyle. I see it at the private school I work. The other secret? These people are miserable. Unless you are a trust fund kid, you will be laboring for your income, and most families want that dual income because, as Rockefeller said, $1 beyond the next dollar will be enough. The American Dream is the best sell in the history of the world, your freedom becomes your master. Good luck.

Specializes in Peds, School Nurse, clinical instructor.
Absolutely, without a doubt. Just marry a surgeon.

OMG I literally spit out my coffee laughing! Awesome way to start the day :)

Specializes in Critical Care; Cardiac; Professional Development.

The term "luxury" and "nice things" are subjective, as is what a "luxurious life" would look like to you. Are you going to be wealthy as a nurse? Not likely. How much of your income is disposable for "luxury" items - vacations, cars, regular appointments for hair and nails and eyelash and hair extensions and designer clothing, shoes and cosmetics, high end trips, etc etc etc - all really depends on how much you spend on food, housing, gas and other baseline necessities. This will vary with region of the country. It also will depend on how much debt you go into both in school and once you are out of school.

I have a very stable financial life. I am 47 years old and we just paid off our mortgage in what is considered one of the nicer suburbs in my area. My house has 2000 square feet. I drive a two year old Camry and own that car without payments. I get my hair cut when I need to at a higher end salon but color it myself because I would rather spend the money it would take to color it on other things. I travel about three to four times a year, some of it higher end, some of it moderate. I fly coach class the vast majority of the time. I have a few pieces of nice jewelry but am far from dripping in diamonds. I own several Coach purses. I do not own any fancy shoes. I do my own nails. I don't get eyelash or hair extensions, though those things are common where I live. I get a facial four times a year roughly. I don't get massages. We go out to eat at moderate places about once a month, high end places two or three times yearly and somewhere very low end, like Papa Murphy's pizza, about once a week. I make moderate charitable donations to causes I believe in and I can afford to give nice gifts when occasion calls for it. I earn decent money by US standards, as does my husband.

I don't think my life is luxurious by any means, but it is certainly comfortable by almost any definition and I enjoy serious peace of mind regarding financial matters. I expect to maintain this lifestyle after I retire due to the way we save and invest.

If you are wanting Paris Hilton level of luxury, then no. This is the wrong career. If you want financial security, it can easily be obtained via the choices you make. Those choices will not mean a lot of "luxury" by most definitions but will mean a high level of financial stability by almost any and better off than the vast majority of the world. Not having to fret about bills, how to pay for a broken water heater or new tires or a new car or my retirement someday...those are luxuries to me.

1 Votes
Youngling, let me give you a wonderful life lesson. Go driving through any upscale community at 6 PM. What you will see is dark homes. Why are they dark? No one is home. Their children are in aftercare and the parents/ adults are working 12-16 hours to maintain this lifestyle. I see it at the private school I work. The other secret? These people are miserable. Unless you are a trust fund kid, you will be laboring for your income, and most families want that dual income because, as Rockefeller said, $1 beyond the next dollar will be enough. The American Dream is the best sell in the history of the world, your freedom becomes your master. Good luck.

Not the case in the "upscale" neighborhood where we raised our kids. The wealthy often have the option for one to stay home with the kids while one spouse works outside of the home. Our "affluent" neighborhood was full of young, happy families. Lots of SAHMs and even some SAHDs. Homes were NOT dark after 6 pm; that's actually kind of a silly assertion.

Money absolutely does not buy happiness. However, in contrast to a lot of the urban myths out there, it doesn't cause misery either. Personal circumstances determine happiness, not financial status.

I've been rich and I've been poor. I was always happy either way. But I slept better when I had plenty of cash in the bank. Not having to constantly worry about money is a huge "luxury."

1 Votes
Specializes in IMC, school nursing.
Not the case in the "upscale" neighborhood where we raised our kids. The wealthy often have the option for one to stay home with the kids while one spouse works outside of the home. Our "affluent" neighborhood was full of young, happy families. Homes were NOT dark after 6 pm; that's actually kind of a silly assertion.

Money absolutely does not buy happiness. However, in contrast to a lot of the urban myths out there, it doesn't cause misery either. Personal circumstances determine happiness, not financial status.

I've been rich and I've been poor. I was always happy either way. But I slept better when I had plenty of cash in the bank.

I can only draw from my Nashville and Baltimore experiences, but that is my observation in most of the lower to middle upper class neighborhoods in those areas.

Specializes in Med/Surg, Women's Health, LTC.

I would say it depends on your definition of luxury.

It is possible without dependent I feel

Simple answer is yes.

Specializes in Med-Surg, CCU and School Nurse.

If you want luxury, do not become a school nurse unless your husband has a good job. I live well, but not because of my income. I love my job, but I took a huge pay cut when I got out of the hospital. The trade offs are definitely worth it to me though.

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