Comments on: Going Green…Saving Green! http://travelnursingblogs.com/travel-nursing-life/travel-nurse-housing/going-green%e2%80%a6saving-green/ Tips for your travel nursing life Wed, 08 Feb 2012 15:56:35 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Jaylee Gruner http://travelnursingblogs.com/travel-nursing-life/travel-nurse-housing/going-green%e2%80%a6saving-green/comment-page-1/#comment-212 Jaylee Gruner Tue, 10 Feb 2009 21:23:14 +0000 http://www.travelnursingblogs.com/?p=697#comment-212 Jake, It is true that actual housing costs are sometimes less than what the IRS allows for tax free stipends. However, “corporate” housing is usually more expensive than doing all the work yourself. There are premiums that travel nursing companies pay because of the short leases that accompany the 13 week-travel nursing assignment length. Travel nursing companies that set up utilities, phone, cable, etc. also often pay business rates, which are higher than residential rates, because these items are in the company name and not in the name of the travel nurse, so that is a definite area you can save money by handling yourself. If the travel nurse company you are working with allows customized pay packages then you and your recruiter can work on a pay package gives you stipends, based on the allowable amounts in that geographic area. You just need to be specific about your needs and desires and let the travel nursing recruiter know up front. For many travel nursing companies it is better if you take the stipend instead of their housing. Travel nursing companies carry all of the responsibility and liability of costs, leases, deposits, and other items. And because of timing and response from vendors, if there is an issue, a travel nursing company may not have the opportunity to recover any costs that may be at the fault of a travel nurse. And if for some reason the travel nursing assignment ends early or the travel nurse has an issue with the housing, the travel nursing companies are the ones that take the hit. I hope this sheds some light on your concerns. Jake,
It is true that actual housing costs are sometimes less than what the IRS allows for tax free stipends. However, “corporate” housing is usually more expensive than doing all the work yourself. There are premiums that travel nursing companies pay because of the short leases that accompany the 13 week-travel nursing assignment length. Travel nursing companies that set up utilities, phone, cable, etc. also often pay business rates, which are higher than residential rates, because these items are in the company name and not in the name of the travel nurse, so that is a definite area you can save money by handling yourself.

If the travel nurse company you are working with allows customized pay packages then you and your recruiter can work on a pay package gives you stipends, based on the allowable amounts in that geographic area. You just need to be specific about your needs and desires and let the travel nursing recruiter know up front. For many travel nursing companies it is better if you take the stipend instead of their housing. Travel nursing companies carry all of the responsibility and liability of costs, leases, deposits, and other items. And because of timing and response from vendors, if there is an issue, a travel nursing company may not have the opportunity to recover any costs that may be at the fault of a travel nurse. And if for some reason the travel nursing assignment ends early or the travel nurse has an issue with the housing, the travel nursing companies are the ones that take the hit. I hope this sheds some light on your concerns.

]]> By: jake http://travelnursingblogs.com/travel-nursing-life/travel-nurse-housing/going-green%e2%80%a6saving-green/comment-page-1/#comment-211 jake Tue, 10 Feb 2009 21:21:10 +0000 http://www.travelnursingblogs.com/?p=697#comment-211 I really feel that we don't make more money because the travel agencies have whats called corporate housing where they pay less monthly than if you would actually take that housing stipened. Plus, what they give you as a housing stipened only covers possibly what the apartment may cost. In some places you do actually make a little more, however in most of them you only get what they would pay for corporate housing. Just my opinion and observation. Jake I really feel that we don’t make more money because the travel agencies have whats called corporate housing where they pay less monthly than if you would actually take that housing stipened. Plus, what they give you as a housing stipened only covers possibly what the apartment may cost. In some places you do actually make a little more, however in most of them you only get what they would pay for corporate housing. Just my opinion and observation. Jake

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