With the onset of the first lockdown last year, the UK workforce, including myself, adjusted to a new way of working. Working from home on a full time basis.
As a working mum I was all ready working from home one day a week so it wasn’t a complete surprise to me. What was a complete surprise though was how quickly we all adjusted to this new way of working. Zoom calls instead of meetings and Google Hangouts instead of chats around the coffee machines.
Despite initial concerns from some companies, productivity didn’t decrease. If anything, working from home enables you to be more productive when you don’t have to factor in the commute to the office each day. So is it any surprise that more and more companies are allowing home working on a more permanent basis moving forward?
This is great news for many employees. There are lots of benefits to working from home. However, we also need to be aware of the hidden costs of working from home and how to keep expenses down.
Energy Bills
Who else has seen a massive rise in their energy bills? In the winter I now have the heating on all day. I have my laptop plugged in and only ever charge devices from home. In the summer my fan keeps me cool at my desk whilst using up energy and although I try to be careful, for the environment as well as my energy bill, it is sometimes unavoidable. Being at home more means we will be using energy more.
Disclaimer: This is a sponsored blog post
How to save money on Energy
- Use a smart metre to monitor where you are losing energy and where you can save.
- Always shut down your laptop when not using it.
- If you’re going out, turn the heating off in the winter before you leave.
- You may also be able to claim tax relief for additional household expenses if you have to work at home on a regular basis, either for all or part of the week. If you choose to work from home you won’t be able to, but if you have to work from home, i.e. because of covid-19, then you may well be eligible to claim. This equates to £6 a week from 6 April 2020 (for previous tax years the rate is £4 a week).
Broadband
If you’re working from home it’s really important to make sure you have fast and reliable broadband. But this can be expensive. You can save money by researching and shopping around to find the best broadband package for your needs. It can be a little overwhelming and confusing though. This guide from Choose on the UK’s cheapest broadband deals will help you find the cheapest broadband option for you to help save you money.
Tea and coffee lovers
One thing I know I miss about working from the office is the coffee machine. It made good coffee and I drank a lot of it! If you’re a tea and coffee drinker it’s actually quite surprising how much the cost of your daily beverages can add up. To help keep costs down, only ever boil what you need to in the kettle. Buy in bulk to save money in the long run. Also look for discounts or loyalty schemes as this may be a way to save some money.
I hope these top tips help you save some money if you’re working from home. If you have any top tips on how you’ve saved on the hidden costs of working from home please share them in the comments below.
