Nursing Shortage my ...

I know I have only been aggressively seeking employment as a nurse for about 2 weeks, but seriously?!? Not 1 call back?!? What in the world is going on here? I could have sworn that all my professors and people I ran into and chatted with about nursing said "ooohhhh nursing...you will never have a problem finding a job!" Well they were all wrong, with at least 5 hospitals closing in Northern New Jersey and the dismal economy I guess no one is really hiring right now... let alone hiring a brand new graduate nurse. I have applied to 7 different hospitals and have yet to hear anything back from any. Well actually I have heard back from 1 saying they are not hiring any new graduates right now.... a whole entire hospital and not 1 spot open for a new grad? I find it hard to believe but okay... crossed that place off the list and added another. **shrugs** I'm hoping I find something soon because my pockets are quickly deflating.

Playing Catch up

I have not posted on here in forever. But I passed the NCLEX! I had a major delay in getting my ATT number so I had to wait longer than I expect but I passed! I'm super excited and so ready to embark on a new chapter in my life. Here is a quick update since the last time I posted. I was seriously broke... still! :-( I did not expect that I would just be taking and passing the boards, in fact I though I would be employed by now. So the money I had saved and the loan money is completely gone.... long gone. So I took a part-time job at Macy's just to get by. Now I am aggressively looking for a nursing job and I am hoping to be employed by Thanksgiving or mid-December at the latest. The job at Macy's is not cutting it at all, but I'm hoping that things will turn around for me financially now that I am officially a nurse.

My 23rd Birthday

Birthdays always make me reflect on my life, I'm another year older and not a penny richer. In my eyes, there is something terribly wrong with that, so I'm setting a personal goal to have at least 50% of my entire debt total paid off (including student loans) and at least $5,000 just sitting in a high interest savings account for whatever I choose to do with it by my next birthday.

My life has not been a total flop though, within the past year I've done some things that I am proud of. For example, I received a second bachelor's degree, refinanced my car to save some money, started my very own blog that's doing well (well I started two, but this one is not nearly as popular as the other), and learned so much more about myself. I've made great new friends and overall I'm happy. So Happy Birthday to me!

Snowflakes: Amazon

I recently sold 4 old nursing textbooks on Amazon for a total of about $117, minus shipping I probably banked about $105. I then made a payment to Geico (my car insurance) for the amount I had made. It did not fully cover the expenses, but it certainly took a chunk out of the amount that actually came out of my pocket. I have a few more books left on Amazon to be purchased, I'm hoping the sell soon since back to school is finally here.

I wish I had more textbooks to sell, but I finally think I've cleaned out most of the books I do not wish to keep.

What is WRONG with me?!?

I have a serious problem with spending money. I know my money is limited, yet I still find ways to spend it on nonsense! I just spend, spur of the moment, just buy it/pay for it. Then later, I get upset with myself. I have a serious problem with self control when it comes to money. I mean it's not like I'm buying $1,500 shoes or $5,000 purses but still $20 here and there all adds up when you have no money coming in. I don't know what to do with myself, I'm seriously considering only putting a $20 in my wallet at the beginning of the week and leaving my debit card home. If I spend the $20 in one day, too bad! Tough love, right?!? I really need to get a handle on my spending.

Shrinking Funds

The summer is officially over and I do not have a job lined up yet, actually I still don't even have my test date yet. I'm waiting to get my fingerprints done and a background check first, then I get the test date. I applied to a few hospitals online and went to one open interview type of thing, I haven't heard anything yet. I could have sworn we were in a nursing shortage! Only one of the 23 students graduating with me has a job lined up so I don't feel too bad. I'm enjoying not having a job, but my funds are quickly depleting. I'm thinking about getting a part-time job just to hold me over, but I really don't want to have to do it. I'm really enjoying the time off and just hanging with my friends, lounging around the house, and just doing nothing. Plus, if I had a job I would not be able to go to Fashion Week! After Fashion Week maybe I'll look for a part-time job, doing something really really easy. I don't want to have to think! I feel like I've been in school forever....thinking and working forever. It's nice to have a break.

Snowflake Funds

This is a list of a few different survey sites that I use and any income from them will be considered snowflakes and applied to the bills.



ThisSiteisforreal.com

Cashcrate.com

Opinion Outpost

Mysurvey.com

SurveySavvy.com