Money

AllisonLP · Feb 12, 2009

I am very frugal , I have an old car that gets 28 mpg and is cheap to insure, I used my tax return to pay tuition, work part time (usually! I can NOT find a job right now with a lot of experience), use my mom and sister as baby sitters (to save money) I share a house with my sister and her boyfriend to cut costs, and I have a fabulous boyfriend who makes decent money as a physicist and covers most of our bills. I have chosen an online LPN program though my grades and NET score would get me into an RN program because most of it is online limiting the need for daycare and both my kids will be in elementary school by the time I am ready to bridge.

I buy school books used, buy things on sale and pack the kids and BF lunch from home, we just find ways to cut expenses.

I see people complain about not being able to afford this and that and whining that they can't afford school but then these same people have $300 purses, eat out daily and are getting their hair and nails done twice a month. I know my priorities and hyper consumerism disgusts me so it isn't that hard.

lilredbedhed · Feb 13, 2009

Not all of our boyfriends are physicists who can cover most of the bills. My husband works pretty hard, and right now he is covering our expenses too. I don't buy 300 dollar purses or get my hair and nails done on a monthly basis. As a matter of fact, I have never had a manicure. I pick up part time work when I can. It is HARD right now making ends meet. It costs money to raise kids and make your house payments and rent. We all don't have sisters or brother's to move in with, we have our own homes to make payments on and we all don't have room to spare! I think its fantastic if some people are not having a hard time, but let's appreciate the fact that we are all in DIFFERENT circumstances....some better than others. Nursing school is hard, and takes up a lot of our time, so let's encourage each other, and have some understanding!

RadfordSN · Feb 13, 2009

Money? What's that?

Seriously though, I have $1 in my bank account. I have $100 worth of textbooks charged on credit cards and a $200 room deposit, both due this month. My work study job only makes it worse by giving me awful hours and little pay each month. I don't get my first paycheck until March 3rd, and I've had to take off work just to be able to get assignments done for classes and clinical.

It's so frustrating.

I feel for you all that also have a family to take care.

travis73 · Feb 13, 2009

Thanks for all your input. Cutting corners and counting pennies is def a big priority for me right now. I plan to work as much as I can, as long as it doesn't affectmy grades

gelousstudent · Feb 13, 2009

Money is truly TIGHT while in nursing school. I didn't buy all the textbooks that they told us we needed. I used the internet and shared alot of my books OR bought older versions. ALL which worked well for me. Another way to SAVE on money right now, USE coupons!!!! Great ways to save but it adds up. every little dime counts. Just think Only a short time and all of this will end and hopefully we won't have to pinch pennies like we do now days! I am just call in as a PCA and my husband works full time in Factory work, so we are saving in all ways possible right now. :twocents:

RNMom2010 · Feb 13, 2009

We survive on my husbands income and I supplement with private loans which I took out extra to cover both school and living expenses. We also don't go out like we used to, and I have limited my shopping to only buying something if it is on one heck of a sale! I do not purchase any texbook or study guide that is labeled "recommended".

travis73 · Feb 13, 2009

My factory could shut down at any time from today to the end of June. I'm on a "need vs want" budget right now. Just paying tuition and books seems like a HUGE expense right now. It will seem impossible when I'm out of work.

FLmomof5 · Feb 13, 2009

I was laid off 2 weeks ago today. My husbands income only covers 1/2 of our bills. Yeah, we lived quite comfortably before now! (Essentially, we just lost $4800/mo NET in income.)

SOOOOO... one adult son in college moved home. His student loan funds (after tuition/books) goes into the HH budget. I took out max loans and put it in the bank acct. Just got my $3800 refund from the IRS. Both of my kids (where I took out loans for their cars and they are on my insurance), must now cover the entire cost of their vehicles. (payment, insurance, gas, etc.). Also included is the $1100/mo unemployment.

In April, DD comes home from the Army. She will begin college as well. She plans on contributing the BAH (~$1200/mo) to the HH budget while she gets her nursing degree as well.

It will be TIGHT. I hope that a job will become available for me. Right now most jobs avail in town pay less (after taxes) than I get on unemployment.

God willing, we will all get through this as a team!

mulan027 · Feb 13, 2009

Times are tough, and the economy is not looking any better! I go to school 28 hours and work 40 hours a week to meet the basic necessity of life. (75% of my check goes to tuition, books, gas, food). I had cut all luxuries out- no starbucks, shopping, eating out, and discovered carpooling, coupons, library cards, and cup of noodles aren't that bad once you drain out the sodium! It's a small sacrifice, but well worth it. Good luck

AllisonLP · Feb 13, 2009

someone said coupons... I think this is a great idea but I have found that most of the time just buying generic stuff saves about the same amount without having to hunt through the paper. I also do not buy books that are not required and in some classes did not buy one when I could do the reading online, I have also shared books with other people or borrowed from people who already took the class.

JUST TO REDHEAD:

for clarification, my sister and her boyfriend were both laid off and asked if they could move in with us so we found a bigger house to rent and we both save money.

you were really unreasonably nasty and mine was not a personal attack but, your was. if your SO works hard and pays your bills, you don't need to be nasty because mine does too. Certainly people who are having a hard time making ends meet aren't all buying $300 purses, etc but a hell of a lot of them are! Just because I point that you doesn't mean you need to get defensive and personally attack my post, that is childish. Did you actually read my post past whatever you chose to be offended by? my life is tough like everyone else's: i have not bought myself new clothes in YEARS, i have a ****** car, the only things I do for fun are FREE, to save money my sister and her bf came to live with me making me the cleaning lady, etc. (but i put up with it to save money) And my mom had undiagnosed lyme disease for 8 years and is really sick so every extra dollar i can find goes to help support her. I had the same tennis shoes for 5 years!!! I recently replased them with $7 shoes on sale at traget because the sole came off when I was running (a FREE form of exercise). I did NOT say I was doing great or that others should be doing better, etc. I said people need to prioritize and they may have to do things they don't want to (like share a house). so yeah, let's be supportive, unlike how you treated me.

Not all of our boyfriends are physicists who can cover most of the bills. My husband works pretty hard, and right now he is covering our expenses too. I don't buy 300 dollar purses or get my hair and nails done on a monthly basis. As a matter of fact, I have never had a manicure. I pick up part time work when I can. It is HARD right now making ends meet. It costs money to raise kids and make your house payments and rent. We all don't have sisters or brother's to move in with, we have our own homes to make payments on and we all don't have room to spare! I think its fantastic if some people are not having a hard time, but let's appreciate the fact that we are all in DIFFERENT circumstances....some better than others. Nursing school is hard, and takes up a lot of our time, so let's encourage each other, and have some understanding!

NSALVADORE · Feb 15, 2009

It is hard!! I have 2 kids in daycare while I'm at school, my hubby is working hard to make the bulk of the money. I'm working part time in a doctors office to help make ends meet! I use coupons, always pack a lunch. Buy in bulk and prepare meals ahead of time. I try to cook dinners that will double as lunches for the week. I make coffee at home rather than dunkin donuts and such. I try to avoid buying junk food which helps with the pocket and my health. A few nights a week we make breakfast for diner like egg sandwiches or pancakes, that really helps! I buy my books used, usually on Amazon! I don't buy much of anything for myself unless I really need it. I do take out extra money from my loans to help us through. My tax returns will be coming in handy in a few weeks!! Carpooling, taking the bus, coupons, budgeting, these are all important. When there are thing around the house that I realize we aren't using I try to sell them on ebay or craigslist, every little bit helps!!