How Working From Home Saves Me Money

According to FlexJobs, you can save $4,000 per year by switching from an in-person job to a remote position. When you telecommute, you don’t have to pay for an office-appropriate wardrobe or gas to get to work. You probably won’t eat out for lunch because your kitchen is just steps away, and you may even be able to live without a car. All of these lifestyle shifts can save you thousands of dollars per year. 

I work from home as a freelance writer, which allows me to cut lots of expenses from my budget. Here are all the ways working from home saves me money versus commuting to an office. 

I Get to Work In My Pajamas 

I have an unprofessional confession to make—most days, I work in my pajamas. Since my only in-person coworker is my dog, I don’t feel the need to get dressed up, unless I have a video call with a client. Those days are few and far between though, so I usually write in my PJs. 

This saves me money because I don’t have to buy or maintain a work wardrobe. The average American household spends nearly $2,000 per year on clothing and related services like dry-cleaning. I spend less than half that because I don’t need to buy professional suit sets or pay to have them cleaned. 

I Have Time to Make My Own Lunch 

According to Business Insider, the average American eats out nearly 6 times per week. I only go to restaurants once or twice a week, and I think working from home has a lot to do with it. 

My office is a few steps from my kitchen, which makes it easy to grab a snack whenever I need it. If an office worker forgets their lunch at home, they have to go to a restaurant or convenience store to get food. 

I also have enough time and flexibility in my schedule to make a healthy, homemade lunch and dinner. Since I don’t have to commute, I have enough hours in the day to devote to cooking. 

I don’t usually have to drive anywhere during the workday, so I don’t pass by any tempting restaurants. Office workers drive by tons of restaurants on their commute, which makes it harder to resist stopping for takeout. 

Overall, working from home enables me to make better, healthier food choices, which helps me reduce my grocery and eating out budget. 

I Don’t Need a Car 

Another big reason working from home saves me money is because I don’t need a car. My partner works in sales and has to drive to see clients. But I can complete all my work in the comfort of my own home. 

Since I don’t have to commute to an office or visit customers, I don’t need a car. I live in Michigan, which is one of the most expensive states to own a car. The average resident spends about $9,300 on vehicle costs such as gas, car payments, and insurance per year. So my partner and I are saving hundreds of dollars per month by sharing a car, which is only possible because I work from home. 

Do you work from home or commute to an office? How does your work situation affect your budget? Let me know in the comments section below! 

Read More 

10 Ways Depression Impacted My Finances

10 Mental Health Benefits of Saving Money

How To Mentally Commit to Saving Money

Come back to what you love! Dollardig.com is the most reliable cash-back site on the web.  Just sign up, click, shop, and get full cashback!

Vicky Monroe

Vicky Monroe is a freelance personal finance and lifestyle writer. When she’s not busy writing about her favorite money saving hacks or tinkering with her budget spreadsheets, she likes to travel, garden, and cook healthy vegetarian meals.