Should I get a nice car as a new LPN/LVN?

Nurses LPN/LVN

Published

I have a long story but I will cut it short. I have been a web designer/programmer since I was 14. I am 30 years old now. I have been saving my money for a very long time.

Now over 15 years later I am driving a cheap car. I have money saved up to buy a new bmw and it wont really hurt me economically at all. Would it look bad as a newly graduate LPN?

Should buy the new bmw f30

I couldnt find an f30 option. This is the 335:

8480094377_067ea3d360.jpg

2013 335i xDrive Sedan

M Sport package

Estoril Blue

Venetian Beige Dakota Leather

Premium Package

Driver Assistance Package

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Psych, LTC/SNF, Rehab, Corrections.
Thanks. The reason I ask is it might make young people believe that being a new grad lvn will let you make enough to easily buy a new loaded bmw. Now that I think about it like the poster above said. Apart from my friends nobody will really know my profession. If I have scrubs on I could be a RN, NP or so many options...

Just because you're an LVN means nothing. You could just be that good with money. You could be a trust-funder for all they know. I don't look at things like that, personally. "Oh, they have this car...but how can they afford it?" Not my business.

To each according to their own abilities.

I always have my check card and cash on hand. Even the other nurses look at me with a raised brow. They say that I'm 'ballin'. LOL SMH I go in there with my $100/mth smart phone. My $300 electronic Littman steth. My fancy $200 temporal thermometer. My snazzy embroidered nursing bag. My fresh 'do'. LOL

We're not even RNs yet...but it's because of people like me and you, OP, (with your shiny Beamer) that others tend to think that we nurses 'have a lot of money'. LOL

No, I don't make 'good money'. In fact, I won't make 'good money' unless I get a 2nd job or get my RN. No, if I have money it's because I save more than I spend. I have money because I OWN my car. I have money because I'm childless. LOL

When you're good with your money? You can afford the nice, luxury items.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I've never considered what strangers may think when making decisions about my life.

I second this. Make the decision based on what YOU want. You will be happier for it.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Peds/outpatient FP,derm,allergy/private duty.

Personally, I'm so over nurses with boring cars - it seems like every homecare nurse I know drives a Toyota Corolla! Don't hate on me please, I know they are sensible. One of my first nursing school classmates drove a big white Cadillac sedan - on non-clinical days he wore diamond rings on 4 fingers and would wave as he roared out of the parking lot. He had no nursing license at all. Nobody cared.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Pedi.
Personally, I'm so over nurses with boring cars - it seems like every homecare nurse I know drives a Toyota Corolla! Don't hate on me please, I know they are sensible. One of my first nursing school classmates drove a big white Cadillac sedan - on non-clinical days he wore diamond rings on 4 fingers and would wave as he roared out of the parking lot. He had no nursing license at all. Nobody cared.

Home care nurse here who drives a Toyota Corolla. :) I drove Chevys for 12 years and then 2 months after I switched to home care, I bought a Corolla.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Case mgmt., rehab, (CRRN), LTC & psych.

To the OP: if you really want the shiny BMW, go ahead and get it.

Although I have enough money saved to buy perhaps five new BMW 300 series cars with cash, I choose to drive two used vehicles that are paid for. It's a personal decision that translates into more freedom for me.

Your previous posts indicate that you dislike your job as an LVN. If I disliked my job, the last thing I would do is keep myself trapped by plunking a boatload of money into a luxury car that will depreciate in value. I choose to drive cheap vehicles and invest my money into things that will appreciate in value in the long run: real estate, stocks, etc.

My freedom is more important than a fancy car, or expensive jewelry, or designer duds. Without debt such as a car payment, I feel free. I am free to quit any job I dislike. I am free to cut back to one shift per week if I am feeling burnout. I am free to be me because, without the ball and chain of consumer debt, a weight has been lifted.

People are trapped into staying at their crappy jobs due to financial obligations. Many of these obligations arise because of consumerism. The less you consume, the more free you'll be. If the cheap car you currently have gets you from point A to point B, why not keep it?

Up Vote Up Vote ×
To the OP: if you really want the shiny BMW, go ahead and get it.

Although I have enough money saved to buy perhaps five new BMW 300 series cars with cash, I choose to drive two used vehicles that are paid for. It's a personal decision that translates into more freedom for me.

Your previous posts indicate that you dislike your job as an LVN. If I disliked my job, the last thing I would do is keep myself trapped by plunking a boatload of money into a luxury car that will depreciate in value. I choose to drive cheap vehicles and invest my money into things that will appreciate in value in the long run: real estate, stocks, etc.

My freedom is more important than a fancy car, or expensive jewelry, or designer duds. Without debt such as a car payment, I feel free. I am free to quit any job I dislike. I am free to cut back to one shift per week if I am feeling burnout. I am free to be me because, without the ball and chain of consumer debt, a weight has been lifted.

People are trapped into staying at their crappy jobs due to financial obligations. Many of these obligations arise because of consumerism. The less you consume, the more free you'll be. If the cheap car you currently have gets you from point A to point B, why not keep it?

:yes:

I am in a similar financial situation. I drive a 2008, bought it brand new Kia RIO I purchased for 8k cash.

I am not a huge consumer of luxury items, although my house is paid for, I am 100% debt free, and could afford a lot if luxuries. I donate to charity, I take nice vacations, eat good food, and have fewer material possessions than most. Heck, I do not own an I-anything. I do have my vices though, as mentioned above.

I guess that anyone elses opinion has never affected my personal purchases.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Peds/outpatient FP,derm,allergy/private duty.
Home care nurse here who drives a Toyota Corolla. :) I drove Chevys for 12 years and then 2 months after I switched to home care, I bought a Corolla.

Yeeeahh. . .I wasn't entirely serious there :) My current car is a Nissan Sentra - a real joy not to drive kid-chauffeuring mini-vans anymore as the mileage on those isn't so good . . .

Up Vote Up Vote ×

This strikes me as a post simply to brag about buying a new BMW - hence the pictures.

Honest advice - don't buy it. BMWs are douche cars, and the 300 series is the entry level that people who can't really afford luxury cars buy, despite it not really being much of a luxury car. I test drove one and was very underwhelmed by it. I also think buying a car outright is a poor investment, especially if it takes a huge chunk of your savings.

I would recommend leasing a luxury car if that's what you want. The Infiniti G37x (which is what I drive, and it is miles ahead of the BMW 300 series) is currently being phased out for the new Infiniti Q50. Because of this, dealers are practically throwing them at people. You can pretty much lease one with an MSRP of 47-50K for about $260 per month at this point. Do that for 2-3 years, save up more money and see if you are comfortable in your job, and then if you want you can lease another or buy something, then do it. I wouldn't waste that much money now as a new grad LPN though - you have no idea what may happen (you quit, fired, etc). You might need that money.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Pediatrics, Emergency, Trauma.
To the OP: if you really want the shiny BMW, go ahead and get it.

Although I have enough money saved to buy perhaps five new BMW 300 series cars with cash, I choose to drive two used vehicles that are paid for. It's a personal decision that translates into more freedom for me.

Your previous posts indicate that you dislike your job as an LVN. If I disliked my job, the last thing I would do is keep myself trapped by plunking a boatload of money into a luxury car that will depreciate in value. I choose to drive cheap vehicles and invest my money into things that will appreciate in value in the long run: real estate, stocks, etc.

My freedom is more important than a fancy car, or expensive jewelry, or designer duds. Without debt such as a car payment, I feel free. I am free to quit any job I dislike. I am free to cut back to one shift per week if I am feeling burnout. I am free to be me because, without the ball and chain of consumer debt, a weight has been lifted.

People are trapped into staying at their crappy jobs due to financial obligations. Many of these obligations arise because of consumerism. The less you consume, the more free you'll be. If the cheap car you currently have gets you from point A to point B, why not keep it?

This.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I will have to think hard. Maybe I should buy a small house instead and keep my current car.

I will think about it lol

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Pediatrics, Emergency, Trauma.

:yes:

I am in a similar financial situation. I drive a 2008, bought it brand new Kia RIO I purchased for 8k cash.

I am not a huge consumer of luxury items, although my house is paid for, I am 100% debt free, and could afford a lot if luxuries. I donate to charity, I take nice vacations, eat good food, and have fewer material possessions than most. Heck, I do not own an I-anything. I do have my vices though, as mentioned above.

I guess that anyone elses opinion has never affected my personal purchases.

THIS...again... ;)

I'm sooo not concerned with people's opinion on what I have. I know what I have, and the ONLY thing that matters to me is items that I invest in increasing value and will position me to live comfortably for the rest of my days, which I have done successfully to the point when a medical emergency arose, I was able to still live, dust myself off, and do it all over again. I will continue to live in such a fashion; it's not a no brainer for ME; however, to each it's own.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Add a Comment