How to Maximize your Housing Stipend

Five Creative Ways to Stretch Your Housing Budget

1. Leverage vacation rental sites

If you are looking for the comforts of home with amenities and space, most opt for an apartment, condo or rental house. How do you stretch your budget when looking for a rental or sublet? Try websites like:

VRBO	AirBNB	HomeAway	WIMDU

This can be a tedious process, but the most effective way to get a great place at an affordable price. Where do you start? Once you have a location and budget, look at every property reasonably close to your budget and location. Once you have selected 5 or so properties will want to look at the reviews. Lastly, most of these sites have an “Owners” section where you can either call or email. Ask questions relating to your circumstances. (ie Do you have a pet policy? Do you allow smoking? What is the parking situation? How close to shopping, highways, and med

2. Look at Extended Stay Hotels

If you’re good with a smaller space, extended stay hotels can be a good option. These are most commonly use by Healthcare Staffing Agencies. These types of hotels are typically loaded with amenities. Take a look at a few of these:

Extended Stay America	Staybridge Suites	Candlewood Suites	Hawthorn Suites by Wyndham

This is just as easy as looking for a hotel. Once you have a location and budget, look at every property reasonably close to your budget and location. Once you have found the locations that you like near your assignment look at the reviews and pictures of the property. Even extended stay hotels in the same chain can very different. Another trick nurses do is call the front desk and ask them some general questions. Their tone will tell you a great deal about the property.

3. Cruise America in an RV

A very popular option among traveling nurses is living in an RV. The great thing about the RV is that even if you are making payments on it, you will eventually own it, so you can look at it as the agency/hospitals paying for you to own an RV. There is also the option of renting an RV for the duration of your assignment. This maybe a great way to see if this option is for you. Take a look at these:

Cruise America (www.cruiseamerica.com/rent/)
RV Share (https://rvshare.com/rv/monthly-rv-rental)
USA RV Rental (www.usarvrentals.com)

You will need to store your RV somewhere when you are not at work, I’m confident that the hospital is not one of the places, so you will need to find a camp site or RV park. Camp sites and RV payments combined are almost always much cheaper than what you can rent an apartment. And the great thing about the RV is once you get started you never have to do the move-in/move-out every 13 weeks. When an assignment is done you secure your belongings and drive on to the next destination. Much simpler process and can save a ton of money.

4. Nurse Roommate(s) Wanted

Another great way to stretch your housing stipend is to travel with another nurse and room together. You will have two stipends to apply to one place to live. We have met sisters, friends, and spouses traveling together and doing this. Having a roommate is a great way to maximize your housing stipend! Your recruiter or Healthcare staffing agency can usually link you up with other travelers they have working on assignment.

5. Use a Corporate Housing Agent

Yes, there is a site out there that is called www.TravelingNurseCorporateHousing.com. No, it isn’t strictly devoted to travel healthcare professionals. The website is owned by CHBO, Corporate Housing By Owner. “Corporate Housing” is a term that is commonly used to refer to housing options that will accommodate the longer term stays typically required by professionals traveling away from home to complete contract work.

The advantage of this service is that it should display only properties that are willing to accept month-to-month lease agreements. Furthermore, most of the options are already furnished. Also, many of the options include the cost of utilities and have all the basic services, such as cable and internet, already set up.

Fusion HCR Healthcare Travel Nursing

We hope this helps give some insights into creative ways to stretch your housing per-diem. If you are interested in learning more or have questions about housing, please call us at 937-572-7902. We are happy to help.