i was just wondering, what did you guys do with your first check?? and how did it feel when you received it?? was it like.."oh yes sooo worth it!!!":lol2: or was it more..."blaaahhhhh":crying2:...
i wanted to know because throughout nursing school i've been working as a medical receptionist and making $17/hr pays the bills but its pretty "blah":yawn:...if/when i get hired at my facility as a rn (when i get my licsence)...the starting range is between $32-$34....
when i get my 1st check as an rn i want a new wardrobe:monkeydance:...no more sweats and tees for me!!!! then of course save to buy a house since i'm sure taxes are going to rape me since i have no kids, i own nothing, and i'm 23 years old.....
so.....what did you guys do with your hefty or non hefty check???? :hpygrp:
The luck runs out as soon as you see their average rent. New Jersey has become a glorified suburb of NYC and the rent and housing market reflect that.
$32 an hour will probably barely keep you out of a tenement in that part of the world.....and will probably put you in something only slightly larger than a shoebox.
I love threads like this. High hourly rates with huge costs of living to justify that rate. For everyone thinking making $30-$40/hr is something great, you're not seeing the whole picture.
Very, very interesting thread! Where you live has such a huge impact on your pay... I'm in NY, so the hourly rates are pretty high, but so are taxes, houses, and everything else. *sigh*
I start as a RN for a Hospice on Monday. I'll be salaried, but it equals out to $31.50/hr. I think for my first check I'm definitely getting my hair done!
Moving to Holland, MI. Is anyone familiar with the job situation and RN pay scales there? Also considering Grand Rapids, MI. Desparate for information.
For me.....I will probably cry when I get mine.....
I currently make $37/hr so my first RN will be ~57% of what I have been earning each yr for the past 18 yrs! Preparing for it now by putting myself on a self imposed austerity program and paying off all debt outside the mtg. I should have it all paid off by Sept......and I get pinned Aug 23!
I ended up with about a 30% pay raise. Starting is now about 28/hr at my VA in MN. I am up over 30 for base. Differential adds 10% for evenings, 25% for weekends, 35% for evening weekends. I have been able to put my student loans in repayment, fund my tsp for a second retirement account, refinance my house and still have some left over for me.
Middle class incomes in MPLS are 58 k/year so I am comfortably middle class...
My thoughts try to be 15% below your income in lifestyle...
With all the bills, and loans I have mine was more a "meh"...I was excited to get it after looking for a job for over a year, but the cost of living is high in Pacific North west so my 24/hr won't go far.
carolinapooh, BSN, RN
3,577 Posts
The luck runs out as soon as you see their average rent. New Jersey has become a glorified suburb of NYC and the rent and housing market reflect that.
$32 an hour will probably barely keep you out of a tenement in that part of the world.....and will probably put you in something only slightly larger than a shoebox.