Being a nurse isn’t easy. It’s a difficult job, especially if you are on the road. Unfortunately, nurses are severely underpaid.
It can be hard for most nurses to make a living. Travel nurses have it even harder. Being a traveling nurse can be rewarding, but it does require planning.
There are ways you can make ends meet as a nurse. If you plan well, you can even start to save and come out on top. Here are some strategies to keep you financially afloat as a traveling nurse.
- Gathering Points
Don’t say no to rewards programs and free points.
Saying no to rewards points is just saying no to free money.
If you travel, you will have expenses that are frequently repeated. You will, for example, have to fly frequently. Or, if you’re on the road a lot, you’ll need to buy gas or train tickets.
Sign up for rewards programs with airlines, car rental services, and even gas stations. Most major hotel chains have rewards programs, too.
Choose a credit card that has good perks. Many airlines and hotels have credit card rewards deals. With credit card rewards, you’ll earn points with everyday purchases, too.
Just make sure not to get swept away with the offers.
- Booking Deals
You can find great deals when it comes to hotel bookings.
Using a traveling booking service can help you reduce costs. Here is a good resource designed for travel nurses.
You might not have realized it, but travel nursing counts as business travel! Business travelers always get extra rewards and perks.
Take advantage of these benefits. Tell people that you’re traveling for work. Even if you are staying somewhere for an extended period of time, you are traveling for professional purposes.
While traveling, you want to focus on your job. And you want to have leftover time for yourself. Or maybe you want to make sure you have time to call your family and friends back home.
Using a booking service allows you to sit back and relax. They will take care of all the messy details for you. And they will step up when things go wrong.
Things do go wrong during travel. Being a nurse is stressful enough. You shouldn’t have to deal with travel plans gone wrong on top of your job.
- Saving
When it comes to budgeting, saving is huge.
Saving is a luxury that most people dream about. If you plan well, you can be one of those lucky people who can put away some extra dollars in the bank.
Create long-term goals for yourself. Think about where you see your career later down the line. Do you want to stay in travel nursing forever?
If you plan on staying on the road for a while, your budgeting will look different from other people’s. You’re less likely to invest money in a house.
That leaves you extra money to save for later.
- Reducing Costs
Most people don’t think about reducing costs.
Budgeting is often focused on saving and not on cutting down the costs you already have. And there are always ways to save a few dollars here and there.
Here are some ideas on how to cut costs in little ways.
It might be cliché, but every cup of coffee counts. If you cut out simple things from your life, you’ll see huge differences later. Even if you switch to a cheaper option, your savings will start to add up.
Keep track of what you spend and see what you can cut back on or eliminate altogether. You’re bound to find something.
- Using Discounts
Take advantage of coupons and discounts.
Many restaurants and shops close to hospitals have discounts for health professionals. Just ask at the cash register. You’ll be surprised.
Gather coupons and save them up. Many apps have good deals for restaurants and other activities.
Just make sure you don’t buy things that you wouldn’t otherwise. Saving money is great, but if you use every coupon you get, you won’t be saving any money. You’ll just be spending more.
Ask friends if you can use coupons that they aren’t planning on using.
Conclusion
Saving money is important for travel nurses. It is difficult, but it’s not impossible.