If you’re looking to cut costs in your home, it could come from just staying home. While you work, that is. You can even save money working at home, which is just one more reason to get out of the cube and click your heels together.

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We work for money, but if it is costing us money to work… then wtf? There is a better way to work, and we spend most of our “office time” on a computer anyway. We can do that at home, but you already know that. Here is some additional pressure to find your way home (at least some of the time).

the 5 easy ways to save money working at home:

No Commute

You can cancel your premium train or metro pass. You can get out of sitting in traffic, wearing out your car, or blowing too much money on gas. Since I quit my job to blog, I cut my gas in half. Wait! More than that! I now spend less than ⅓ of what I was spending on gas. And my commute was very short at only 15 minutes each way.
Saving the commute time is also a huge opportunity for valuable work to be done. I don’t want to upset you, but think about it: You get all dressed up and ready to go, just to sit in a car/train/automobile and wait. And wait. And get to where you are able to be productive.
Those precious minutes (or hours) are better spent at work! Your time is valuable. You bring a lot to the table, and it shouldn’t be wasted in on transportation.

my average savings = $45/month

Less Laundry

I’m not saying you don’t need to get stuff done, but dry cleaning? Taking the [valuable] time to hand wash and hang dry special items? Totally avoidable.
You can work from home in sweats, or something less than presentable for the office environment. No need to iron or run to the cleaners. Just throw on your fave wrinkle-free oxford for a conference call and save the hassle.

my average savings = $10/month

RELATED READING:

• How to Minimize Housework and Maximize Family Time
• Solving The Common Career Problems Faced By Modern Women
• Where to Find the BEST Work from Home Jobs for Moms
• Easy at-home Side Hustles

 

Less Maintenance

Keeping up with presentations is important. Particularly in the office. But working from home means no one will have to see your split ends and stained pants.
You can still be brilliant without impressing anyone with your appearance. That means fewer $50 haircuts and more time to get value out of.

I also gained the TIME to do my own nails, facials, and general self-care.

my average savings = $60/month

Lunch! And Dinner…

Ever been to work and realized there is nothing you want more than the Cuban sandwich across the street? I have.
It’s hard to resist. And it’s right across the street. Every. Day. Those trips add up, but being at home encourages you to eat what you have, and this only catapults your meal planning ideas. There are so many [cheap] lunch options available in your own kitchen.
Being home has helped me reduce food waste just because I can actually SEE the food that needs to be eaten ASAP. No more wondering what’s at home, giving up, and buying take-out on the way home either.

my average savings = $120/month

Fewer Sick Days

I saved this for last because it is the BEST (and you normally save those for last, I guess). Working from home means you don’t have to “call in sick” when you’re too unwell to bring your germs to the workplace. Running out of paid sick time is no longer an issue. You can be a coughing, sneezing, mess and still get your work done. We do it as moms! So if you’re up for work, you don’t have to worry about losing pay or paying for a backup sitter.

average savings = $100/month

If you’re worried about pursuing more flexible, maybe lower paying job opportunities, consider these practical ways to lower the costs of a job. Working from home can actually save you money in the long run, and buy you more time to take care of what needs to be done at home. So tell me, how much could you save?