Remember your FIRST paycheck?!

Nurses General Nursing

Published

What did you do with your FIRST paycheck?? (spa, manicure, shopping, savings, kids..etc.)

How much was it?

How much did you work?

(I'm a broke student that needs motivation.)

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Specializes in ICU/Critical Care.

I'm currently thinking about this paycheck, it was 2500 bucks. That was a lot of freakin' OT worked.

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Specializes in psych. rehab nursing, float pool.

Wow, I think my first nursing paycheck for fulltime 40 hours was about 125=150 take home bi weekly,, me I paid the car payment for the used car I needed to work, and childcare which was 20.00 a week at that time. I figured I was just breaking even work expenses versus just staying at home, but it was worth it.

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Specializes in Breast Cancer, Arterial, General Surgery.

First paycheck? Or first nursing paycheck?

My first paycheck was at Woolworths, I was a Saturday girl and I was 15. I received 19s/11d and I bought a bedside lamp. (It was 1969)

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Specializes in ICU/ER.

I promised myself once I passed boards and got my 1st nursing paycheck I would get a pair of Nike Shox~~~I could never justify that expese before. Granted my 1st paycheck I did just end up paying some past due bills. But with in 6mos--I did get my 1st pair of shox and didnt feel guilty....they made me jump really high and run really fast!!!!LOL

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Specializes in school nursing, ortho, trauma.

my first nursing paycheck went mostly into savings - i was in the process of wanting to buy a house - though i did splurge on a water pick. Looking back i wish i bought something more fun.

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Specializes in OB/Neonatal, Med/Surg, Instructor.

During nursing school I thought I wouldn't have any money worries once I graduated because I would make so much more than I had before. A hard lesson was learned about the financial backlash of nursing school (when you keep robbing Peter to pay Paul, Peter eventually gets wise) so I spent the better part of the first year trying to get myself out of debt and put a little in savings. My first RN check was awesome though, it was 3 times what I had been used to making and the idea of being paid that well for doing what I loved was just the best feeling. For motivation I kept a copy of the house plans I intended to build after graduation in the front of my notebook and every time things got rough I would flip to it. Find your motivation, tough it out. God bless.:wink2:

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Specializes in Emergency Dept.

I did it a little backwards - I went to Hawaii for two weeks to reward myself for surviving nursing school - then I got back and started working to pay for it. A couple of months later though, I was able to buy a house and that has been great!

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Specializes in School Nursing.

i remember that it was spent before i got it ! haha

praiser :heartbeat

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Specializes in Pediatric Heme/Onc/BMT.

I've spent my first FIVE checks on bills. My splurges are a part of the Visa I'm paying off - my WONDERFUL bed and my laptop (I bought them after graduating school, before starting my job). Now I'm starting to pay off my crapload of loans. Being out of this hole of debt is my motivation :)

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Specializes in Nursing Professional Development.

My first paycheck as an RN went to pay the rent. About half of my take-home pay that first 2 years went towards rent and utilities for a 2-bedroom apartment I shared with another young woman who worked at the same hospital. My half of the rent was $112.50 per month and I was making $4.52 per hour.

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Specializes in Cardiac Tele, MICU RN.

My first paycheck as an RN was very disappointing! It was only 1250 after taxes which was close to what I made working as a nurse tech full-time on our summer breaks. :crying2:

But I will say this, I have bought a new house and a brand new car. So it actaully pays great.:wink2:

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