Working OT helped me to pay....

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Doing a few extra shifts in a pay period, I paid for our vacation coming up. What things did you pay off or pay for by just killing yourself for 2 weeks?

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Specializes in Med-Surg, NICU.

In my humble opinion, unless you are on the verge of homelessness or starvation, working extreme amounts of overtime just isn't worth it.

That being said, I limit myself to 4-8 hrs of overtime (or one additional eight or twelve-hour overtime shift) per week. Just picking up two eight hour shifts per pay period adds $600 per paycheck!

The money I make I plan to put in a Roth IRA or 403b. The rest will goes towards savings, bills and travel/vacation. :)

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Specializes in ICU.

Right there with the above poster - I have been working OT to start socking some stuff away into savings. I am intending to max a Roth for the first time this year (probably will do that by the end of September) and have 25% of my income going into a 401k. That pretty much means I have to work at least one extra shift a month to pay my bills after all the money goes into savings!

After the Roth gets funded I am going to save up a wad to refinance my car loan. Love my car, hate my ridiculous car payment...

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Specializes in Medical-Surgical/Float Pool/Stepdown.

Well, just this past week, my kids school clothes, gym clothes, and school supplies. :yawn:

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Specializes in Family Nurse Practitioner.

I am a OT hound. As long as I am physically and mentally able to work whatever is thrown my way especially if it includes weekends or holidays where I'm suddenly worth even more sign me up. I basically save, invest in real estate and am starting to take some nice vacations. The best thing my crazy work ethic has afforded me is to have paid off the mortgages on my primary residence and vacation home in full before I was 40 years old.

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For me, unless the need is dire (rent, school, loans) I do not work OT. It just isn't worth the hit in my sanity at the place I work at. Maybe at another job.

My first couple years of working I lived with my parents so I have a decent amount saved already. My car is average but reliable and my biggest expense is living arrangements and food. No need for OT at this point and I already get reamed in taxes even with 401k maxed.

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I am a OT hound. As long as I am physically and mentally able to work whatever is thrown my way especially if it includes weekends or holidays where I'm suddenly worth even more sign me up. I basically save, invest in real estate and am starting to take some nice vacations. The best thing my crazy work ethic has afforded me is to have paid off the mortgages on my primary residence and vacation home in full before I was 40 years old.

This is why I hound your posts all the time. I wish I knew you irl. You motivate me and no I am not a creep:)

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Specializes in Nursing Professional Development.
Right there with the above poster - I have been working OT to start socking some stuff away into savings. I am intending to max a Roth for the first time this year (probably will do that by the end of September) and have 25% of my income going into a 401k. That pretty much means I have to work at least one extra shift a month to pay my bills after all the money goes into savings!

After the Roth gets funded I am going to save up a wad to refinance my car loan. Love my car, hate my ridiculous car payment...

I like how you say that you have to work the extra hours to pay for stuff AFTER you have put money away into savings. That's the way my Dad taught me to do it -- "PAY YOURSELF FIRST by saving regularly. Then, you can buy stuff for yourself with the money you have left over. If you want more stuff, work more to pay for it -- rather than the other way around."

It has worked well for me over the years. I don't work a lot of overtime, but I have a little 2nd job on the side. I have used that money to "max out" both my 401K and my Roth -- and pay my mortgage off early. It feels great to have no debt and healthy retirement funds.

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Specializes in ICU.
I am a OT hound. As long as I am physically and mentally able to work whatever is thrown my way especially if it includes weekends or holidays where I'm suddenly worth even more sign me up. I basically save, invest in real estate and am starting to take some nice vacations. The best thing my crazy work ethic has afforded me is to have paid off the mortgages on my primary residence and vacation home in full before I was 40 years old.

I like how you say that you have to work the extra hours to pay for stuff AFTER you have put money away into savings. That's the way my Dad taught me to do it -- "PAY YOURSELF FIRST by saving regularly. Then, you can buy stuff for yourself with the money you have left over. If you want more stuff, work more to pay for it -- rather than the other way around."

It has worked well for me over the years. I don't work a lot of overtime, but I have a little 2nd job on the side. I have used that money to "max out" both my 401K and my Roth -- and pay my mortgage off early. It feels great to have no debt and healthy retirement funds.

You guys are both my role models right now. I can't wait until I'm as financially solvent as the two of you. :)

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Specializes in Rehab, pediatrics.

I'm a newer nurse so I don't have much put into my 401k yet, but I am saving towards it. I mainly work OT to save up for my first house and to pay off my student loans quicker. (:

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since I'm the only wage earner right now it means my bills get paid on time...savings LOL what's that?

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Specializes in geriatrics.

I paid 36,000 in student loans and saved enough to buy my first home within 3 years. The night differential really helped as well.

However, I had no life and the hours were exhausting. I am very pleased with the outcome but I won't ever work that much again.

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