Nurses as sole breadwinners

[jessiern]

Are any of you RN's the sole breadwinner in your family. I am just curious, and wonder how manageable it is. Currently, my husband is a physical therapist and makes double my salary. He has always wanted to go to med school, but has never thought it was possible. Recently my parents made a very generous offer to let us stay in there old house that is paid off while he attends school, which would really help. And we are trying to practice "skimming down" and pay off credit cards and small bills. Want to get some money in savings.

I'm just really nervous about living off of my paycheck. We're not wealthy by any means, but we are very comfortable with our combined income. Guess basically, I'm just looking for some reassurance that it can be done. Most of the RN's I work with are in the same position as I, and they are a supplemental income.

BTY, yes I have discussed my concerns with him. We talk very openly about our feelings with each other.

[Diary/Dairy, RN]

I tried to be the sole provider for my ex husband and myself, but it did not work because he could not/would not curb his spending. If you have a partner who will help you out and a little discipline, I think it can be made to work.

Good luck to you.

[RN BSN 2009]

yes it can very well be done and it will be a better outcome for your family in the long term!

[Diary/Dairy, RN]

Jessie, I just wanted to add that I worked part time at one job to keep my benefits and worked agancy for the other 12 hours a week and it really increased my income.....that might help if you and your hubby continue with this venture.

[beender]

We created our budget from my income. My hubby is self-employed : his income was next to nil while he was building his client base up (when we were new to this area). Since then, his income has grown, but we have stuck with using my salary for the budget and are using his for extras (vacation, special savings - college account for kids, emergency "just in case" fund, etc.) It's working for us. We could be livin' higher up on the hog, but it just seemed wiser to try this.

[husker_rn, RN]

I am the main wage earner in this house but my husband is on SSD so he has some income. We live comfortably but do have a mortgage as well as 2 vehicles to pay for. We also have a teenage grandson we are raising. It can be done if you watch your spending. Just keep one eye focused on the future and know it won't be forever. Good luck to you both.

[Ruby Vee, BSN]

i've been single most of my adult life -- and before that, i supported a cheating then-husband. and his dates. it can be done. it's only since i've remarried 9 years ago that i can afford luxuries like cable, cellular service, and enough clothes to go more than a week without doing laundry. but i always drove a dependable (if not luxurious) car, and i bought my first home on a nurse's salary. it can be done, especially if you're vigilent about watching where your pennies are going. and it's easier if you're doing it for a goal to which you are both committed!

[whipping girl in 07, RN]

We moved back closer to home almost 5 years ago with the intention of cutting our bills enough to live on one salary. Good thing we did, because right after we moved, my husband lost the job he was planning to telecommute to and I got pregnant with our second child. And two years later we had our third child. Since I finished my education and my husband didn't, my earning potential is much higher than his (unless he goes back out on the road leaving me essentially a single mom) and so I work full-time as an RN with a little PRN side job at the other hospital in town to cover those extras.

He went back to work for a few months but he barely made enough to cover gas and the childcare, so he's home with them again until at least one of them goes to school.

It's not been easy...we've had to cut a lot. Back in Louisiana when we were both working full time, we had a huge mortgage and two huge car payments...and we never even balanced our checkbook unless we were planning to spend more than $500 on something. Now I check the bank almost every day and really have to plan my spending. I can't drop $200 at Wal-mart unless it's for groceries the week I get paid from my primary job. I rarely buy new clothes for me or the kids and if we eat out it's never anything expensive. Some friends went to a fancy Japanese steakhouse for a birthday recently and wanted us to go but we just flat couldn't afford it. So I cooked dinner for us and the other "poor" couple in the group and then we met them afterward for the party. Fortunately our cars are paid for and in pretty good shape and the mortgage and other bills are manageable on my income.