It’s true to say that most people would regard working from home as the most cost-effective means of working in general. This goes double if you’re a full-time salaried employee given this option, as opposed to an independent contractor who has to fund everything themselves.

Yet it’s also true that while this can be more cost-effective (for instance, eschewing the morning and evening commute can save on fuel costs and long-term car maintenance), rising energy bills, inflation, and the sheer startup cost of designing a home office can be a big ask.

As such, you may ask, how can I cut costs when working from home, and still have the opportunity to deliver my professional capacity via this format? It could be that as you turn to independent contracting, or you focus on structuring a home office for all of your future independent endeavors, this question is on your mind.

In this post, we’ll discuss what may seem like a strange but necessary focus - trying to save money despite already working in a capacity that was once a cost-saving approach.

Consider Your Energy Costs

It’s important to consider how to reduce our energy costs when working from home, especially now that electricity costs are rising similar to gas. Firstly, turning off all of the ‘standby modes’ on your devices and switching them off when not in use is important.

You may also be able to limit certain unnecessary electricity usages like having your television on in the background all day. Another good way to save money, especially if at home, is to meal prep on a Sunday, cooking a few batches of large meals, and then freezing those in small Tupperware boxes so you can heat them up. This saves potentially hours of oven time during the week.

In some cases, investing in lighter and less intensive devices can be a good idea. Instead of working from a major desktop PC, a lighter Chromebook could be cheaper to run. While we’re on the topic of computers, you may find that with HP refurbished items you can replace home servers or constituent PC components, saving you the cost of a full refurb or replacement.

Second Hand Desks & Furniture

Structuring a home office can seem expensive, as ergonomic chairs and standing desks are often priced more highly than simple chairs you may just use for a general purpose. Yet it’s also true that many cost-effective means of acquisition are available.

To use example, second-hand desks and chairs can often be found at office sale events, where companies need to move premises or might wish to auction off some of their old belongings to free up some liquidity or to replace these items with better models.

You may also be able to purchase a job lot of ergonomic items, or refurbished furnishings, from auction sites like eBay. At the very least, buying second-hand will help you gain a worthwhile product, perhaps with less warranty support, but at a much cheaper startup cost.

A Few Cheap Shirts

One benefit of working from home is that you don’t have to keep up on your professional wardrobe as well as you would in a corporate office job. With a few cheap but clean and well-ironed shirts in your size, you’ll still look professional no matter how many video conferences you have to attend.

After all, no one can see what’s under your waistline on a general conference call, and so you may just have on your pyjama trousers and house shoes under there all day. This might sound silly, but why would you need to invest in a full fitted smart casual outfit if you’re not going to be seen in it? This saves you money for your focused wardrobe.

Regulate Your Snacking

One setback of the work-from-home lifestyle is that it’s tremendously easy to fall into eating everything at home before we even pack it in our refrigerators. Snacking can become more of a habitual tendency than a means of satisfying hunger.

As such, we’d recommend you save your money by cutting back on the constant intake of snacks or flavored drinks - or to save money on them if you can. Instead of chocolates or sweets you might go for something simple such as sunflower seeds, and instead of sugar-free soda cans you might invest in herbal or fruit teas that taste great and offer dozens of teabags per pack.

Or, perhaps you could follow a healthy fasting regime such as the 16/8 program espoused by intermittent fasters, where you eat all your calories for the day in eight hours and then won’t eat for sixteen. At your regular calorie intake, this might mean skipping breakfast, still eating healthily, and then allowing yourself that time for gut rest. The benefit of this is that your snacking needs are totally upended and made easier to deal with. The longer you get into this habit, the better off you’ll feel.

Cutting On Gym Costs

If you work from home all day, then you may not have to go to the gym, and can save membership and fuel money in one fell swoop. Instead or running on a treadmill before work, for example, you might walk your dog and then buy a skipping rope you can use for cardio in your garden, before showering and then sitting at your desk.

Alternatively, cutting on gym costs can inspire an investment that may help you in the long term, such as purchasing a set of weights and a bench for your garage, or even a cheaper exercise bike you can use while watching a TV show during your lunch hour.

This way, you can make use of the space you own and the fact that few people reside in your home during the day, while your partner and children may be out at school or work. Here, you’ll also feel your best self, and perhaps even further save on eschewed costs such as making your dog walking service newly irrelevant to your household.

Bulk Buy Coffee

If you’re working from home, then the odds are that coffee is always in the necessary supply. If you’re going to drink it, and you know the brand or beans you like, it may be that purchasing the much larger bags meant for long-term use can save you money, sometimes even the cost of a full replacement over a year.

Of course, you can switch this up with other beverages you find most appealing. As we mentioned before, teas can be a cheaper and healthier alternative to sodas. On top of that, purchasing a great water filter you can keep in your refrigerator is sure to provide you the great taste you’ve been looking for, saving you money in the long term from your constant purchase of water bottles.

Make Your Hours Known

Time is money, and so it’s important to agree on the hours you’ll work when at home and what your availability is, so that your boss doesn’t pester you simply because your office is in your house when you have days off, and certainly not when you’re independently contracting.

Talking to clients appropriately and tracking your hours worked will ensure that your hours can be billable and that your free time is scared, just as it deserves to be. This approach will help you avoid unnecessarily volunteering your free time and as such, losing money in the process.

With this advice, you’re certain to cut costs when working from home in the best possible light.  We’re certain this will help you thrive.