I've been away from the board for quite awhile. I'm working night shift and it has been very difficult to get adjusted.
To everyone that is running up high student loans/credit cards/etc....here is something to consider.
I knew that I wasn't going to get rich nursing, but I didn't expect to barely be able to pay my bills and have NO money..yes, no money, for savings. At this rate, I'll be eating cat food in retirement.
These 12-hour shifts that nurses are on are designed to shaft you out of the other 4 hours per week that you could otherwise be working. When you have children that don't get to see you on the 3 days per week you are working, it's hard to stomach taking a 2nd job to see them even less but it's what I started doing today because I discovered that by the time I get my next paycheck, I'll have only $175 in order to pay for the groceries and gas to last for two weeks after bills are paid.
I don't enjoy going to work because I feel like I am there only to exist and there is no benefit to being there. I am too inexperienced to apply for much else and for the last couple of months I have had to literally plan my meals tryign to figure up how many cups of pasta, sugar, eggs, etc...I'll need so I don't buy one thing more.
I went yesterday to donate plasma for the first time in my life because I am worried I won't make it.
I need two new tires for my car and I have no idea of how I am going to pay for them.
I have a car I have had for 7 years and I pray every day when I get in to start it that it lasts because I don't know when I"ll be able to afford one. I couldn't even afford a $100 monthly payment right now.
I am so sad all of the time and I don't get any joy out of anything anymore and for the first time in a long time I have had to tell my children that they cannot have certain things and the next time they need clothes, Goodwill is probably all I'll be able to afford. I got called on low-census for the second time in two months...which reduces me down to only 2 days of vacation left...as I had to take time off for my own healthcare issues as well as one of my children. Who cares about a vacation...I couldn't even afford to take them to the Playland at McDonald's.
It's sad...it's a really sad situation..and I don't know how to get out of it.
I'm so sorry you are going through this. I do not know if your employer has an employee assistance program (EAP) we do and it provides free financial counselling as well as 5 free personal counselling sessions. i think that you might benefit from that. If not can you talk to a social worker at the facility, they may be able to give you some reources you can access.
Honestly nurses do make a decent living--sounds like to me you have miscalculated your monthly spendings..I come from a state that pays their new grads 30 bucks per hours (that is in the city) The cost of living is not cheap but it is also not extreme high comparing to other states..In my state new grad can bring home every two weeks at least 1500 dollars (of course working 36 hours and with shift differential,but no OT included) To me that is a whole lot of money.Add to this a job on the side,OT and you can bring home 4000 each month..I did my calculations and if I was to work in my state (which I wont haha BTW) after paying for food,rent (lets say a studio-550,gas bill,phone bill,fuel for my car,car payment,and car insurace I would still be left with 1500 every month to save or spend on cloths ect.Not to mention I would have four days off so I could pick up a extra shift..now the scene changes dramastically..since the economy is in a bad shape now days I couldnt find a new grad position in my home state and ironically I moving to one of the states where the pay is very low for nurses (I will working part-time (promised more hours though,the same health benefits),3-11 shift with 3 dollar shift diff..so basically I will be making from 3pm to 6 pm 20.77 per hour and after 6 23.77. Suprisingly my studio wont be so so cheap but also not so extremely expensive 550 with everything included but of course I will still have to pay for my phone.I'm taking a huge pay cut by moving but obviously I was left with no choice if I wanted to work in this field (have been actively looking for a new grad position for the past 6 months) and although I will be living frugaly I'm grateful for getting a job and being able to finally be getting some work experience.
My advice to you suck it up for another 6 months then move to a better paying state.Also have you considered moving to a cheaper apartment,also what about your kids father,does he pay child support?
I feel your pain, I really do. There have been weeks we have had to pinch pennies and eat pasta a lot. My husband lost his job, I am the sole source of income. I have 3 kids, a mortgage, car payment, and significant debt that we are paying $700 a month to pay off. It sucks.
I sucked it up and got another job. I work over 50 hours a week. Thankfully my husband is home to do the house stuff so I can work and when I do have a day off we can relax as a family.
Set goals. Focus on them. Short term and long term.
Make a budget and stick to it.
Be honest with your kids. My kids know money is tight. When they ask for things we can't afford I tell them honestly why I can't buy it. I don't make them feel guilty, but I do let them know we are on a budget and we will be sticking to it.
Pay off everything you can. Credit cards, car payments, etc.
This organization offers services in my area, which is not urban and has limited resources for everything, so I'm hoping they have something in your area. http://www.angelfoodministries.com/
Angelfood Ministries is a wonderful organization that started in 1994 in an economically depressed area after several factories had closed and families were trying to figure out how to survive. They have grown from 34 families in one small region to more than 500,000 families in 35 states. There is no paperwork to fill out, no restrictions on who can place an order. It's all top quality food from the best suppliers. They rival Wal-Mart in the amount of chicken ordered from Tyson in any given month. Nothing is day-old or second best. Fresh produce is available.
The boxes cost $30 for $60-$70 worth of good food, enough to take care of a family of four for a week.
You place your order by a specific date (different for each area) and then pick it up a week to ten days later. This is a great resource for anyone trying to save money.
I hope all those nurse wanabees that post they are going to become nurses so they can make the BIG bucks are reading this.
I actually do make kinda big bucks. In fact, if I continue to work both jobs at the hours I'm working I will make 6 figures next year. But my cost of living is high and I'm screwed with debt. There's money to be made in nursing, for sure, but it doesn't come easy.
I know how you feel. I went to school for 4 years to be a teacher. I racked up $30,000 worth of student loans and I don't even want to think about how much credit card debt. I did these things because we had to in order to survive, while thinking all the while that once I graduated, I could get a teaching job and we'd get things straightened out. I could not have been more wrong. I have applied for teaching jobs across the state and especially in my area. Nothing. In this area, you must have "connections" to get a job. I was an outstanding student teacher but none of that matters around here. So, now, I am going back to nursing school starting in August. I can't get any kind of financial aid since I already have a (useless) bachelor's degree. My school doesn't participate in student loans and even if they did, I probably wouldn't be eligible due to my outstanding balance already. My husband's entire pay goes to bills and we have 2 children who need things. I recently stopped paying my bills (my credit is destroyed) and we focus on paying my husbands so that, if nothing else, his credit will still be good. So, I understand what you are going through. Times are hard but when you're broke, times get even harder and sometimes it seems like no one else understands how you feel. Good luck and keep your head up!
I just wanted to provide a few general resources that may be of some help to you. I used to be a mental health case manager and through linking my clients to community resources I found that there were some local churches that were often willing to help with rent (on a short-term basis). This may buy some time for you while you search for a 2nd job.
Also, there are churches that operate as Food Pantries (these churches provided food to families regardless of income). I've found that as the economy has grown more and more sour, people from all walks of life have needed this type of assistance.
Your local YWCA may be able to provide some helpful resources for you, as well. Generally, every metropolitan area has a general resource line that you can call. This resource line can provide contact numbers to various community agencies/buisnesses--This is a valuable resource because this hotline can provide links to everything from food pantries, agencies that assist with rent/utilities, to affordable mental health services (if one doesn't have insurance).
I hope that you're able to find the support that you and your family need. Take care of yourself.
So sorry to hear that you are having such troubles. I've been there and done that and I truly feel for you. I remember months of hiding my car every night from the repo man and so many meals of mac & cheese. I am so thankful now that we are in a better position. A few thoughts to add to the already great suggestions:
Are you a single parent? If so, do you have an active child support order? I know from experience how difficult it is to get it honored, but that may be a small help.
Are your children school-age or in daycare? One thing that saved me is Head Start. If you don't have a Head Start in your area, try applying for state-paid daycare. Ditto with food stamps and other available state aid.
Please remember that in another six months, you won't be considered a new grad anymore. If you can do a few PRN gigs here and there, you will have even more to add to your resume which will make you more marketable.
Wow. I also am sending hugs your way. I'm sorry that you have to go through this. First off I want to say that I was once told (and surely live by this) that If you do your part, God will take care of the rest. So if you must, look for that 2nd job and continue doing what you do. No one said that once you graduate your debt will magically disappear. You have to work hard but it will pay off (I suppose, literally). Taking some of the advice stated in this forum wouldn't hurt either.
Another thing is, I, too, thought that becoming a nurse would be like the answer to all of my problems. No more living paycheck to paycheck. No more living in the ghetto. No more barely running cars. But I do suppose I thought that with my first check as a nurse I would get rid of all of my problems and the more I read these forums and the more I think about it I may be a nurse taking the bus to work and living in the same ghetto until my debt has been cleared. I know that one must not live above their means and that's why I live the way I do and until I can make more money and still have the same things (car, housing, food, etc) then I can move up to higher quality. I hope that makes sense...if it doesn't...well at least I got it off my chest.
Specializes in ED. ICU, PICU, infection prevention, aeromedical e.
I grew up with a single mom who always struggled. We didn't have great vacations or eat out. We played board games and went to parks and ate noodles. I had a great childhood with my mom.
You are doing your best in a tough situation. You are teaching your kids work ethic and your strength. Kids don't need McDonald's, just need you.
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Celia M, ASN, RN
212 Posts
I'm so sorry you are going through this. I do not know if your employer has an employee assistance program (EAP) we do and it provides free financial counselling as well as 5 free personal counselling sessions. i think that you might benefit from that. If not can you talk to a social worker at the facility, they may be able to give you some reources you can access.
Thinking of you,
Celia