For many people, their daily routine has significantly changed this past year, especially when working from home. You wake up, pour yourself a cup of coffee, and get your day going. Even though working from home can be overwhelming at times, it is also very beneficial. Not only have people been able to gain more time, but also gain more finances. If you are working from home or will be soon, here is how the shift can save you money.
Travel: Travel time has been greatly minimized because people no longer have to make the journey to work (if going from their bedroom to their couch doesn’t count). Because of this, planes, trains, and automobiles are no longer needed as much as they were before.
If you typically drive to work but now work from home, you will save a lot of money on car maintenance. First, you will save on gas. Research shows that 90 percent of U.S. households spend an average of $3,000 on gas per year. Putting fewer miles on your car also means fewer trips to the mechanics. Depending on your home dynamic, a car may not even be necessary, meaning you won’t have to make car payments or pay for monthly insurance.
As for public transportation, Americans are said to have spent an average of $708.50 each year. Bus and train tickets don’t seem pricey, but if you rely on public transportation every day, the fees can quickly add up. Plane tickets are on the higher end of public transportation prices, so you will definitely see a change in the amount of change you have leftover.
Good Eats: It seems as if people spend a good chunk of their paychecks on food. Not staple groceries for their home, but meals they get throughout the workday.
On the way to work, someone may start their day off with a cup of coffee from a fast food place. While there, they may also add a breakfast sandwich. This stop can easily cost someone at least $7, which means $35 a week and $1,820 a year.
Restaurants often surround office buildings and workplaces. When lunchtime comes around, this is a great setup because of all of the choices. But not if you are trying to save money.
A restaurant’s proximity and hungry coworkers will influence you to eat out more than you should. And opting for delivery is just as expensive as going out. Except for packing your own, eating lunch at work can cost you plenty. A 2015 survey found that Americans spend an average of $20 per week eating out for lunch, or $2,746 per year.
After an 8-hour shift, you may choose to pick dinner up on the way home because you are too tired to cook. More money spent.
Working from home will probably cut these costs in half. If you shop strategically, you won’t have to leave your house for breakfast, lunch, or dinner.
As a plus, working from home gives you the chance to brush up on your cooking skills and try new recipes.
Dress to Impress: Whether you work somewhere with a formal dress code or a set uniform, maintaining an appropriate look can get expensive. But if you work from home, you may only need to dress to impress from head to torso. You tech will cover the rest for you.
Even though you should not join your Zoom call pantless, you do not need to spend so much time or money finding the right pair of pants. Going out of dress code from the waist down is not the end of the world because no one else but you will see. And would you rather spend $50+ on black slacks or $20 on black leggings?
Cheap Talks: When you work from home, it is a great opportunity to fix your phone bill.
Compared to working somewhere with a lackluster wifi connection, you do not need to use your phone’s data, or as much of it, when working from home. Your phone will not connect to 4G, 5G, or any other wireless network if connected to your WiFi. Depending on your data plan, you can subtract $20 from your monthly phone bill because of this change.
Overall, the way you spend your day and money will change when working from home. The cost of travel, food, clothing, and data can easily add up, especially when once used daily.