GeneralHow to Save Money as a Nurse – Here’s What You Need to Know

Working as a nurse can be one of the most rewarding career choices out there. It can also be exhausting, and in some expensive locations like London, it can be quite difficult to make your salary go far enough, let alone be in a position to save some money. In this article, we take a look at some top money saving techniques, from moving cities to taking advantage of discount cards.

Blue Light Card

Since 2008, the Blue Light Card has been one of the main providers of NHS and Emergency Service discounts. The Blue Light Card is recognised by a wide variety of big and small companies, including Samsung, Apple, Cineworld, and Domino’s. All you need to apply for your card is an NHS email address.

Once you have the card, you can make significant savings on a wide variety of common expenses! If you’re not sure if somewhere accepts the card, it’s always worth asking, as the answer will very often be yes.

Cycle or walk to work

The commute can quickly become a significant expense, when you consider how the daily cost can build up over time. If you’re able, consider cycling to work. Not only will you save money over public transport or driving, you’ll also be contributing to a healthy lifestyle.

Of course, sometimes after a long shift, the last thing you’ll want to do is get on your bike, but you don’t need to cycle every day, just when you feel up to it. There are a number of ways of getting a great cycling setup for not too much money, notably the government run Cycle to Work scheme, which subsidises up to 42% of a new bike.

Change location

Most nurses will find that their biggest monthly outgoing is their rent. If you live in a city with a high cost of living, it will likely be possible to earn the same salary, but pay massively less in rent, by moving to a cheaper city.

In general, this will mean moving up north, as the most expensive cities for rent are all in the south. Paying less in rent could make a massive difference to how much you can save, potentially the difference between being able to save for a deposit on a house or not!

Holiday discounts

There are currently several holiday operators offering extra discounts for nurses, with the aim of providing a well-needed break after the unprecedented strain of the Covid pandemic on medical professionals.

One of these is the TUI NHS discount, which offers an extra £100 off of any holiday booking that’s over £1000, or £30 off from bookings under £1000. To redeem, you just need to book through the TUI website using a valid NHS email, and it should automatically apply the discount to your booking.

This post has been sponsored by Complete White Label