School nurse sallary when you have a family?

[Avill, BSN, RN]

Hi all, my husband and I are expecting our first baby in February, and I'm a little nervous as far as finances go. Right now with combined salaries (my husband does not have a degree) we are pretty tight, I mean, we pay all the bills and have some left over, but not much after. We just bought a house and have a little less than 3 years to pay on the car. I also see home health patients to make a little extra.

I'm finally starting to get used to being a school nurse (I started early this year) and like the fact that I will be able to have the summer off with our little baby, but I'm scared that this job is just not paying enough,especially when others pay more.

I was recently looking into another non-hospital job that would pay more, no weekends or holidays either, but no summers.

Working moms, any options?

[Eleven011]

What I do is work a little bit in the summer - no more than once a week - and that helps pay for summer vacations, kids activities, ect. You could also put it away in savings, as having just one little one, you might not have those expenses. You could also pick up a weekend a month or shifts over long weekends to get a little more money.

[kidzcare]

A lot of this will depend on your lifestyle expectations.

I am a single mom of 3 and the only financial support to my children. I live frugally and am very good at budgeting. I pay all my bills on time and in full, rent a 4 bedroom house, and have money left over to have fun. (I also work a part time position at an SNF). I have friends who make similar to what I make and say they can't move out of their parents' house to rent a one bedroom apartment.

[KKEGS, MSN, RN]

I work both at school full time and for a staffing agency to pick up hospital shifts. The pay from the agency is more than I was making as a hospital employee and I am not bound by any monthly minimums nor am I required to work holidays. I'm guessing the pay is also more than home health and just as flexible. I plan on picking up a shift a month as well as the few days that I have off and my girls still have school (different districts) starting this month in order to build up our savings and pay for summer vacation and a couple of weeks of summer camp for my daughters.

BTW, congratulations on your baby!!!

[nursetlm, ADN]

Alot of nurses work a week or two at a summer camp to try and make extra money as well.

[OldDude]

Since I work with mostly moms I think I'm qualified to have an opinion as a working mom. With very few exceptions, you're never gonna be satisfied, long term, with whatever income you have. What's important is if you are happy with what you do. There will be plenty of opportunity for you to generate extra income this summer while giving dad the opportunity to have quality bonding time with the baby. Happy mommy=happy baby. Stressed/unhappy mommy=unhappy baby, unhappy daddy, and the downward spiraling affect of that.

Stay where you are.

[meanmaryjean, DNP, RN]

1) Buy a copy of Dave Ramsey's excellent book Financial Peace

2) Cut your lifestyle back*

3) Keep the job you apparently like with the great schedule

4) Pick up a peds home care gig for the summers

*MOST important thing you can do

[nyy2]

What's important is if you are happy with what you do. There will be plenty of opportunity for you to generate extra income this summer while giving dad the opportunity to have quality bonding time with the baby. Happy mommy=happy baby. Stressed/unhappy mommy=unhappy baby, unhappy daddy, and the downward spiraling affect of that.

Stay where you are.

I completely agree! If you have another job that makes more money, you may have more disposable income, but if you aren't happy, it isn't worth it. I'm expecting #2 in February. My husband and I are pretty tight money wise, which is why I waited until my first was in kindergarten before having another.

I'm getting a little nervous about the $900/month daycare payment, but I know one way or another we will figure things out. There is always something to cut back on. I think things always work out one way or another. And as others said, a per diem job is also a possibility if things are too tight financially.

And Congrats!!!!!

[lvnforschool]

My first 2 years, I took the deferred pay out of my check for summers. But I began to notice that in August and Sept my deferred pay was not enough to cover bills. So I stopped having them take it out, more monthly income, and what I did to make up for summer was set aside my income tax refund. It comes around end of March- April and it was much easier to save it that close to summer. I had to budget how much my bills-food and gas were going to cost for those months.

[guest83140]

A few younger nurses here work every other weekend at a hospital they are familiar with. I have been here longer and don't need to work extra but I cut coupons, do surveys,, shop thrift or ebay and use my crockpot, lol.