How I’m Saving $100 A Month Now That I’m Working From Home

I’ve been fortunate enough to work from home during COVID-19, and while I’d certainly rather the world not be suffering from a pandemic, I’ve found a few silver linings in my own situation. Working from home has many obvious perks (like a nonexistent commute and close proximity to your beloved pets) and one study from FlexJobs found that remote workers can save as much as $4,000annually. I’m not sure that I’ll hit that hefty of a savings rate, but I certainly have found a few tips and tricks for saving more as I work from home.

1. Limited my wardrobe updates

While I typically would have bought a summer blazer or dress for work by now, I’m thankful to say I haven’t needed to. Since I’m able to stay at home all day as I work, I can happily wear any professional looking top (which I almost always pair with legging on the bottom–no one needs to know!) for conference calls. Of course, I should give the disclaimer that I did buy an additional pair of leggings for my remote life, but overall, I’m definitely at a net-positive when it comes to typical summer wardrobe costs.

Monthly savings:$30

2. Reduced my car insurance

I called Geico to let their team know that I would be working remotely until the end of the year. It took about ten minutes to get through to a representative, and once I did, the call itself lasted about two minutes. While my insurance only went down about $12, you may be able to save even more depending on your car, commute, and record. And hey–even saving $12 over a few months makes a difference.

Monthly savings:$12

3. Made lunches at home

This one is perhaps the easiest to say but the hardest to stick to. At the beginning of quarantine, I felt much more adventurous about making new recipes. Now, the thought is a bit overwhelming, as I’ve gotten in the bad habit of giving myself only 15-minute lunches. However, I’ve made a point toneverorder takeout for lunch out of convenience. If I’m spending money on food, I want to be intentional so that I can really savor the moment. While it would be easy to justify ordering in food on Mondays (which was when I used to eat out while working in an office), I’ve decided I’d rather save the money and cook at home. I’ve been meal prepping burrito bowls that I can easily heat up on days I’m feeling lazy, and on days when I’m ready to put in just a bit more work, I’ll make avocado toast with an egg. By doing so, I’m saving the $10-20 I used to spend weekly on eating out for lunch at the office.

Monthly savings: $60

4. Maximized my newfound time

I have 40 minutes of my morningand40 minutes of my evening back in my day now. With that extra time, I’ve been reading and exercising, but I’ve also been doing a great financial form of self-care: more regular budget tracking. Three times a week I look at my spending to see how it aligns with the plan I set for myself for the month. Am I close to reaching my savings goal? Am I close to being out of my food budget? By checking in on my spending so often, I always have an idea of how much money I have left to spend, so I can limit and adjust myself accordingly.

Monthly savings:Priceless

While working from home certainly has its frustrations, I’m grateful that I have the opportunity to be just a little more intentional with my spending and work towards my savings and debt payoff goals. An extra $102 a month means well over a thousand additional dollars a year to put towards my financial priorities.

SimplicityBryanis deeply entrenched in the worlds of self-help, gratitude, personal finance, and organization. She’s happiest paddleboarding with her pup and storytelling with a purpose. You can follow herhere.

Image viaPexels

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