Working from home is now an option, if not an obligation, for many employees and entrepreneurs. While working from home can save you lots of time and money in car & fuel costs, the initial outlay for hardware and software can set you back quite a bit of money. In these somewhat uncertain times, a significant expense of any kind is not ideal.
We look at how it is possible to create a high tech home office, for maximum productivity and comfort, without spending a huge amount. If you are setting up a business from home, take a look at the grants & funding available to see if you can secure some funds to help pay for the startup costs in general.
Computer Hardware
Previously, working from home would be a one-off situation, and you could throw your laptop on a desk somewhere and get working. This setup is fine on occasion, but if you were to work from a cramped corner of your kitchen in a hunched over posture on a daily basis, your health and productivity could end up suffering.
The first thing to consider buying, or asking for if you are an employee, is a monitor. It is tough to maintain good posture while typing on a laptop and looking at the screen – they are too close together.
The This Does Not Compute YouTube channel recommends the Dell U2415 monitor. The 24-inch monitor is big enough to work from comfortably and is height adjustable, allowing you to tailor it to your specific posture and preferred seating position.
If you only want a basic monitor, you can pick up an inexpensive but ‘named-brand’ monitor for under $100 online. For example, the Acer 21.5 inch Full HD monitor is listed at $89.99 on Amazon at the time of writing.
In addition to a monitor, it’s also a good idea to invest in a mouse and a keyboard. You can find keyboards online for less than $10, so unless you want a more fashionable – mechanical keyboard, it shouldn’t blow your whole budget.
Again, you can inexpensively pick up a mouse, but many tech Youtubers recommend a Logitech mouse, such as the MX mobile 2.
Buying Used Computer Equipment
To save money, it is worth considering the option of buying second-hand computers and computer equipment.
While you will likely saving money going down this route, you would be wise to invest more time and research. For example, when looking to buy a used computer, you should ask to use the computer for at least 20 minutes or ask if you can bring it back within 48 hours if you’re not satisfied.
Buying second-hand like this may take some negotiation, but it’s certainly worth asking before shelling out any money.
It would help if you also listened to the hard drive for any unusual noises, check for noises too from the cooling fans, and open the Task Manager / performance monitor to see the percentage of CPU being utilized.
Build Your Computer – An Easy Way
If you want to learn a new skill and save money, you may want to consider building your pc.
Before you do anything, or buy anything for a new PC, consider what you will use it for – will it be just for work and essential MS Office work, or will it double as a gaming computer or handle large amounts of data?
Remember, too, that not all components will be compatible with each other. For example, not all motherboards will fit or plug into all CPUs and vice versa.
If you are not sure if parts are compatible, then fear not, pcpartpicker.com has a guide, and there is even a forum (or subreddit) on Reddit.com that is frequented by helpful users who will ‘design’ a PC for you based on your specifications.
Before posting on Reddit, read the guidelines and take a look at some of the previous posts. This research will help you to get a feel for the standard format of requesting a design.
The “easy way” to build your computer is to buy one that has been pre-designed for you. All the parts have been selected for you, so you just need to get a tower/case and put them all together. In the US, you can buy a prebuild from PCPartpicker.com or newegg.com; in the UK, you can also buy from PCpartpicker, or there are a number of prebuilds available on Amazon.
If you want to build your PC step by step, there are many great videos on YouTube to help guide you through the process. Websites such as Reddit or also great for asking for help along the way.
Furniture
If you are converting an existing room into an office, then in order to be comfortable and productive, you will want to invest in office furniture.
Furniture can be very expensive, but if you are willing to buy used items, the cost can be cut down by as much as 80% – as a rough estimate. Compare, for example, the cost of a new leather sofa, compared to one found on Facebook Marketplace.
In addition to Facebook Marketplace, you may also want to browse websites including Gumtree, AptDeco, and apartment therapy.
You can also look to repurpose furniture or items from elsewhere in your house. For example, some people have used a core stability or exercise ball instead of a chair. Although it is not recommended that everyone does this – obviously, there is a danger of falling off half way through a video call!
Gadgets & Apps
You can use gadgets and apps to make your life a lot easier when working from home, especially if you are a business owner. For example, you probably don’t have room for a full-time receptionist at home but don’t want to be interrupted every half an hour by phone calls. Using a phone answering service or telephone app such as “Moneypenny” can help you to focus on your work and be more productive. With an option to have a dedicated receptionist answer your calls 24/7 – you can also make a clear distinction between work and home life by literally switching off at the end of a hard days’ work.
Clockify is another great app to consider installing on your phone or tablet, especially if you own a business and have employees working remotely. You can track your own time and your employees’ to ensure that everyone is working efficiently and that clients are being charged and invoiced correctly.
There are also lots of apps or add-ons available for Google Chrome. Focus To-Do is a helpful app for organizing your schedule. It helps you to focus on the specific tasks you have to do on a given day, and you can choose to work in 25-minute “sprints.” At the end of each sprint, you can get up, have a stretch and get some fresh air.
You can make your office look smart and high tech, with inexpensive items such as a tablet stand, a white-board clock, and a monitor-stand that doubles as an organizer.
Comments