When you are on a travel assignment, you may want to budget your money. Rather you are saving up or wanting to make the most of being in a new city, here are some helpful tips to budget your money wisely!

Set Financial Goals

Rather you are saving up for a new house, a vacation, or just want to save up, it is always a good idea to set financial goals for yourself. Make sure to pay attention to the cost of living in the area you are moving to before picking a travel assignment. Creating a budget for yourself can be a great idea to make sure you stick to your financial goals. After your first paycheck, budget out your expenses, money for savings, and whatever else you plan to do with your earnings.

Utilize Coupons

Coupons are a great way to make sure you stick to a budget, and it can also be a fun hobby to get into! There are many ways to get access to coupons – in the mail, from your local store, or even digitally. Check your local grocery store’s app for digital deals you can clip – this will add up and help you save money! Additionally, you can sign up for rewards programs for stores or restaurants to receive discounts.

Search Inexpensive Travel Destinations

When in a city for your new assignment, you probably will want to go on some trips on your time off. Utilize your online resources to find easy road-trips, or places you can take a quick train or plane ride to. There are many discount trip sites you can use to search for inexpensive trips. If you are in a particular area, you could also consider taking a day-trip to a new city!

Meal Prep to Save Money

Meal prepping is not only cost-effective, but also saves you time and is a great way to stay on track with healthy eating! Consider prepping your lunches or dinners, and even breakfast if you are up for it! Another benefit of meal prepping is having meals ready to go for shifts and after, so you are less likely to spend money eating out. It is important to fuel your body with nutritious foods while working in healthcare!

Take Advantage of Voca Benefits

Voca provides a wide range of benefits for all of our nurses. We offer health insurance, dental insurance, accident insurance, 401k plan options, and a stipend for your travel assignment. These are great benefits and should be taken advantage of to help budget your money more wisely. Additionally, we have weekly direct deposits for your earnings!

Find Affordable Housing

Finding housing can be tricky for 13-week assignments, so we suggest you look at AIRBNB, apartments for sublease, or condos for sublease if you are going with family. It is important to search for housing during your research for a new assignment. If you are having trouble too, one of our recruiters would be happy to help you find housing!

Use Travel Nurse Discounts if Possible

As a travel nurse, you can get many different discounts, and these are great to utilize! Some of these discounts can be on hotels, flights, clothing, dining options, and more. A handful of companies that also give discounts are AT&T (25% off phone plans), Target, Sephora, Asics, Brooks, and Levi’s.

 Pick One Thing to Splurge On

Depending on your financial goals, you may have some leftover money to splurge on. Even if you don’t, it is important to treat yourself to something every now and then. Rather this is getting coffee on the weekend, going shopping for a new pair of shoes, or planning a trip, make sure to treat yourself for your hard work!

About Voca: The Spirit of Work

Voca is a relationship organization focused on uniting talented healthcare professionals across nursing and allied, as well as travel and local with exceptional companies. Headquartered in Blue Ash, OH, Voca works coast-to-coast supporting national, regional, and local healthcare companies. Voca is proud to be certified by The Joint Commission, which evaluates and accredits healthcare staffing agency organizations and programs in the United States. We are committed to creating and maintaining a workplace in which all employees have an opportunity to participate and contribute to our mutual successes and are valued for their skills, experience, and unique perspective. For more information, visit https://myvoca.com/