Travel nursing can be an extremely demanding yet rewarding profession. While you may spend a few months on one assignment, before you know it, it’s time to move on to the next one. Staying within budget is extremely important to ensure you have the funds to get you from one assignment to another.
Our recruiters put together a few tips and tricks to help you save money!
Groupon for discounts.
While they often are not huge amounts, they add up. Discounts are offered on food, entertainment, etc. The nice thing about Groupon is that they provide reviews on everything, which can be helpful when traveling to an unfamiliar city.
Hit up the local Dollar store.
You can find everything you need (and more) and in smaller sizes! Dollar stores are great because they offer all of the essentials at discounted prices.
Budget, Budget, Budget.
Put as much as you can away in savings. Not only will it ensure you have what you need for your next assignment, but it will create a buffer if, for some reason, you are out of work for any amount of time.
Pack strategically.
Pack plenty of scrubs (neutral colors will stretch your wardrobe) and avoid the cost of doing laundry. Bring two pairs of shoes, medications, an extra pair of glasses, or contact lenses. If you lose those, you’ll have to replace them at full price. If you are staying a long time, shipping items ahead of time will lighten your load and help save on gas.
Gas saving tips.
The best gas prices are slightly outside any city limits. GasBuddy.com is an excellent resource for price comparison. Use current award cards with gas chains, i.e., Kroger with Shell, Safeway with Sunoco, etc.
Get the most of your meals.
Order an appetizer instead of a full meal or order a full-size meal and take the other half to go. Check restaurant apps for deals and coupons. Groupon.com and Restaurant.com are sites where you can buy discount vouchers for up to 50% off meals.
Use credit cards.
They can be a great resource, and, in an emergency/accident, they can be a godsend. The majority of them offer highly competitive rewards, and cashback offers related to travel, hotels, gas, and restaurants. Slickdeals.net and CompareCards.com let you measure the differences between the credit card companies.
Whether you are a seasoned traveler or it’s your first time taking an assignment, knowing how to budget wisely will save you money in the long run. Now that you’ve read up on how to save money as a traveler, it’s time to conquer your next assignment!
If you have any questions about travel nursing, send our recruiters a chat below!
