Gray Matter

Mmmmmaybe. Depends. Depends a lot.

This site obtained from a random Google says the median expected salary for a certified nursing assistant in Raleigh is $24k. Yeah, okay, if you become a nurse practitioner for an emergency room, you can make $79k
a year in Raleigh, but that ain't now. Later, though, maybe you can work near Ninth Street. Nice thing about health care is that jobs aren't that hard to find.

You could find a house in Raleigh for $50k that can fit just the two of you, but you know how a bad neighborhood wears one out, and if you have dogs or kids you might wish to move to the $150K range. So you need to pay somewhere from $900-1300/ month in mortgage, taxes and insurance, more if you can't get a VA loan and don't have twenty percent down. You already know how much it costs to rent there--about the same, really, but in that case the rent never goes down and never goes away, and when you move you're guaranteed to get nothing out of it.

I don't know if the "one third of your salary goes to rent" thing still works, but if it is that means a take home of at least $36K--but you need new stuff, like reliable cars, building up an emergency fund, and all that.

Working at a restaurant takes a lot of energy--and doing that and going to school is hard to do and not renumerative. It might be a worst case, but think of the long term and you might wish to avoid the heart attacks.

Take some time and think through this. I agree with the basic thrust of the concept, but the devil's in the details.
 

Well, with the sheer amount of hospitals around there, I should be able to find a job in one, instead of going back to the kitchen. That said, the wife now has a job with a nice food store, and is getting decent pay.

We are having to get a car soon, as the one I had finally gave its last breath. We know what to get, and what NOT to get, the rub being getting it. (thats about a month down the pipe)

We're also looking at any and all rent-to-own type housing deals, and trying to find something that meets our asethetic needs and budgetary requirements. We aren't moving so that we can spend $1000 on rent, so we're playing this as smartly as possible now.

CNA's probably make closer to $30,000 - especially one who has experience- but that's just after the 1st semester. After the first full year, I can test for the LPN (good practice for RN), and they make quite a bit more. Nurses, depending on training- and I am meaning RN's here- can absolutely make $75,000 a year. If a Nurse Practitioner only makes $79K, they didn't get their money's worth, as they are equal to a Physicians Assistant. A good NP can make $150,000 easy in a hospital, less in private practice (fewer restrictions, poorer pay).

Sure, we will probably be closer to 25% of our income going to rent, because of WHERE we move, so we will be able to do things like emergency funds, etc....
 

Ah, the adventure continues, eh?
 

Now, if it's a CAR you're lookin' for.....
I kinda know someone to talk to about that. Funny thing. He's got some experience too, for that matter. About 23 worth now I think?
; )
You've made the move now, and you're roughing it- but I think you're going to be just fine. The only thing I'd caution on - living in Chapel Hill is nearly impossible because of cost- and I don't think it's smart to get to a smaller town because I think you'd get very, very bored with that fast. Kinda like you're getting now with Sanford? Does this mean I'm pushing for Raleigh? Yes. But not as hard as before because there may be other options. But yes- your neice and nephews would REALLY like having more access to you-
Either way- we love you and GOOD LUCK!!!!
 

Who knows where to download XRumer 5.0 Palladium?
Help, please. All recommend this program to effectively advertise on the Internet, this is the best program!