Work at Home and Save Money

Working from Home Decreases Expenses

Laurie Childree
Working from home has a number of benefits. You don't have anyone looking over your shoulder. You can set your own hours and don't have to worry about losing time or money by leaving early to get to an appointment. The fact that you can save money when you work from home is often overlooked but it's one of the major perks.

Leaving the house to go to work costs you money. There is the cost of getting to work, what you wear to work, eating and child care. All of these items add up over time. When you stay at home and work there are several things that you can save money on.

Transportation

The cost of commuting can add up over time. This is one cost that you won't have if you work from home. Bus or cab fair adds up, so does the cost of gasoline even if you split it with a car pool. If you spend $40 a week to fill your tank, not including the oil, tires and other upkeep it'll add up overtime. One tank of gasoline a week at $40 is $160 a month. Staying home can cut out at least one of those tanks of gasoline each month saving you $40. If you cut out more than one tank a month it'll save you even more.

Clothing/Makeup

You don't need as much makeup or as many clothes when you work from home. If you go to work outside the home you have to look a certain way and the costs can add up over time especially if you can't find anything second hand to meet the dress code. Working from home ladies don't feel obligated to put on their makeup or dress up as much.

When you work from home you can buy fewer clothes off of the clearance rack or at second hand stores. You can also reserve the makeup and jewelry for nights out. Gentlemen can wear jeans instead of dress pants and there isn't any need for a tie at home.

Childcare

When you have small children you pay for childcare so that you can work. Finding a job that allows you to work from home can save you this expense. The kids can stay home with you during the day. Once the kids start school you'll be there to get them off the bus and won't have to pay someone for those few hours until you would normally get home. That's a couple hundred dollars a month you saved.

Meals

It cost money to eat while you are at work, especially if you eat out. Even if you packed a lunch for work it costs money even if it's just a small amount. The amount spend on packing a lunch is usually just the cost of the containers; hopefully these can be reused. When you're home you can eat the leftovers from last nights dinner and simply use your regular dishes. When you took your lunch you probably had one or two disposable items that added up. If you went out to eat you'll save anywhere from $40 to $100 a week easily.

You can also spend a little bit of time in the evenings to help make dinner for your family. This will save you money since you will be less likely to order a pizza or stop and grab something frozen on the way home. You also have the advantage of drinking your coffee at home which will save you at least $5 to $10 a week and you can actually drink more than if you were in a coffee shop watching the clock.

There are tons of ways working at home can save you money. You just have to look at them and figure it out. Examining each aspect of your life individually will give you an idea of how much money you could be saving.

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Increasing Productivity when Working from Home

Published by Laurie Childree

Laurie has been actively working as a freelance writer since 2007 and works strictly online. Two daughters ages eleven and four make life interesting. Even more interesting is that fact that the youngest is...  View profile

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