As someone with a travel nursing career, you are certainly no stranger to life on the road. You likely travel across the country on a regular basis, whether for your job or personal life. Although transplanting yourself every 13 – 26 weeks may sometimes feel draining, it can actually prove quite beneficial if you approach it in the right way.
Each year, credit card offerings multiply, and the variety of perks available continues to grow. For most people, this is good news, but it is especially beneficial for people like travel nurses who travel frequently as part of their jobs. No matter how your travel expenses are covered, there are plenty of ways to make the most out of your regular excursions and benefit from them financially. However, it is important to remember that paying credit card bills on time is crucial for making use of any of the advantages they offer. Find a card with low interest rates and set up a schedule so that you can pay your bills on time if you want to get the most out of your credit card.
Of course, it's not always easy to wade through so many variables, so here are a few important tips to keep in mind when trying to benefit from your frequent travels.
Find the right card
Not all credit cards offer the same rewards programs, so it is important to do a little research when it comes time to pick your next card. There are many resources available to help you sort through the options, including U.S. News and World Report and MSN.
It is also important to think about your lifestyle. Do you travel mostly by plane? Do you spend a fair number of nights in hotels? Understanding where you are likely to use your credit card and thinking about which types of rewards you would benefit most from can help you find the perfect card for your lifestyle. Not all rewards programs are based around travel, so if saving money on everyday purchases like gas and groceries is important to you, look for a card that offers points that can be redeemed for these items
Talk to your employers
Once you have a good idea about how each card will work for you, you should discuss plans with your employer. Travel accommodations vary significantly in the healthcare industry, so it is wise to know how your employers handle expenses. It may be possible to pay for a plane ticket or hotel stay yourself and then receive compensation from your employer. This technique can help you maximize your rewards without much extra effort on your part.
Friends and family
If you are lucky enough to be visited regularly by friends and family while on assignment, you may want to consider using your credit card to cover their airfare. Simple steps like this can help you receive frequent flier miles, which you can later use for that much-needed beach vacation.