Five Money Saving Methods of Working From Home

Finding new ways to save money is never easy, but working from home can make it easier to build up that savings account. It is necessary to spend money to have even a slight chance of making money and this is even true when it comes to getting a regular job. A regular job will cost much more than working from home through a few basic measures.

Reduced Transportation Cost:

Going to a regular job requires driving, taking a bus, riding a train or taking a subway. Regardless of the mode of transportation, most jobs away from home will require spending some money to reach the office space.

Working from home has a key benefit in saving cash via transportation. It is not necessary to spend a single penny getting from one room to the other. That benefit of reduced transportation can add up quickly by the end of the year.

Depending on the distance to the office and the mode of transportation, it can save as much as $100 or more per month in transportation costs. Even jobs close by that take 5 minutes to drive to, will cost you roughly $30 or more per month.

Lower Food Costs:

Going to a regular job opens a number of doors to the temptation to spend. While it is possible to pack a lunch and avoid coffee, it is always tempting to buy lunch at least once or twice a week. In some cases, running out the door might require buying lunch rather than packing lunch.

Staying at home has the benefit of saving on the cost of buying food outside. Not only it is less costly to make a meal and a pot of coffee at home, it is also much healthier than most restaurants and cafeterias available around a regular job.

Lower Clothing Costs:

Working at home offers the benefit of wearing comfortable clothes and avoiding expensive suits or work attire. Since the job will not entail face to face conversations with clients, going out to an office or making an impression with the outfit, the expense of clothing becomes much less.

The uniform of choice for working in the home is anything that feels comfortable and does not reduce motivation. That can range from casual outfits to semi-nice clothes, based on personal preferences.

It is not necessary to hide away from the world, but the freedom of wardrobe choice while working at home is a key reduction in necessary expenditures.

Tax Deductions:

As an individual who works from home, tax benefits are available. Self-employed individuals can cut taxes by making use of deductions. The home office space, gas used while working, any equipment necessary to perform job tasks, office supplies and even utilities will all provide a discount.

It is not possible to claim tax deductions on your return when working at a regular w2 job that relate to home expenses such as mortgage interest. Only those who work at home can add the expense of personal computers and a percentage of utilities to the tax deductions.

Making More Money:

Working from home wastes much less time. Even a half hour commute to work will result in five hours or more per week in just transportation. Working from home clears up those five hours so that more time is spent making money.

Working from home has clear benefits when it comes to saving more cash. Instead of wasting a few hundred dollars in transportation, clothing and other expenses necessary to work in a regular job, it is possible to save that cash by working at home. Saving money at home starts with determining the cost of going to a regular job.

Jeff is an Internet marketing consultant and content distributor for NY divorce lawyers, and He is also a passionate blogger who often writes about money saving, sharing his knowledge and experience in that field.

Home Business, Yay or Nay?

While the old American dream was once to land a steady job with good benefits and an early retirement, the updated version often entails becoming an entrepreneur and being your own boss. There are many challenges in steering your own ship, and yep many rewards as well. One advantage to working for yourself is that you know that you’ve got at least one person on board that really genuinely cares. As your own boss you can also guarantee that your opinions will be heard. But before making that big jump, you should really make sure you know what you’re getting into.

Here are some often overlooked changes you will experience…

Taxes

If you once were able to file a 1040EZ those days will soon be ones of the past. Taxes for your business will be involved, to say the least. And your personal taxes will doubtless be affected as well. Then you’ve got the cross-over items and the difficulty of trying to decide what can legitimately be itemized and for which. As an entrepreneur you will want to keep an eye on mileage costs and keep receipts for any business-related transactions.

Also be sure to check into any specific licensing or certifications you may require for your business and keep up to date on any registration renewals, if any.

Home Office?

A home office can obviously cut down on fuel costs and time spent going to and fro. Working from home can also keep you more connected with loved ones and may even get you tax breaks, if set up correctly. Though if you business is customer or client-based you may be required to have specific permits for such and to also carry extra liability insurance, should anything happen to someone on your property.

Another thing to consider is if you feel you can truly be productive while working at home. The Internet is distracting enough, what happens when you’re groggy all day and the bed is just a few feet away? Do you actually have enough space to specifically dedicate to an office? Will you and your family be able to agree on some kind of ground rules for specific hours of operation? These things and more should be considered before taking the plunge.

Insurance

As mentioned, if you have a home office you’ll most likely need extra insurance but don’t forget medical insurance and disability as well. An old 9 to 5 might have taken care of that for you but now that you’re the boss you do have to have a backup plan, should anything go wrong.

These are just a few of the I’s to dot and T’s to cross, there’s so much more. However, it’s a pretty terrific time to go into business for yourself – provided you think ahead, plan accordingly, and prepare yourself for the worst so that the worst never comes to call.

Written by Erin Nolan. Hurt yourself at someone’s business? Make a claim: www.accidentclaims.org