4 Tips for Saving Money While Working Remotely, From Real Telecommuters

Remote workers already do their wallets a favor by eliminating the costs of commuting to and from their job. But beyond saving on gas, parking, car wear and tear, and public transportation passes, savvy remote workers find other ways to keep more of their hard-earned bucks.

Here’s a look at four ways actual remote workers are saving money while working remotely:

1. Wear what you own.

Fido doesn’t care what you wear, so why dress to impress? While staying in pajamas usually isn’t the best idea (you may feel more like reclining in front of the TV than finishing a report), comfortable duds from your closet work just fine and eliminate the need to purchase and maintain “office appropriate” attire. As freelance writer Jen Hubley Luckwaldt notes, “My wardrobe is primarily athleisure. I go to the dry cleaners about twice a year.”

As a bonus, you can cut down on heating and cooling costs by throwing on an extra sweater in winter or donning shorts in summer instead of tinkering with the thermostat.

2. Utilize your kitchen.

“I eat at home for lunch nearly every day, whereas when I was in a traditional office setting, I’d go out to lunch on a fairly regular basis. That’s definitely a big savings,” says Chris Schain, project manager for Appirio (now part of Wipro).

In addition to warming up leftovers and stocking your fridge with easy-to-grab (and, hopefully, healthy) lunch/snack items, consider setting up a coffee station.

“My Keurig has saved me so much money from my daily Starbucks trips,” notes Andrea Bing, a full-time, remote project manager at Cigna.

3. Buy in bulk.

“Things like paper and toner should be purchased by the case when possible,” says Massachusetts-based programmer Christine Bielak. “I use generic toner cartridges from Amazon.com that cost under $2 each for my HP printer. It’s only for me and saves a ton of money as I tend to like to print documents to mark up.”

Another great option for remote workers: stock up on supplies during back-to-school season when deals abound.

4. Let someone else foot the bill.

No, we’re not suggesting you steal your neighbor’s Internet access. Rather, think about how legitimately available resources may save money.

“Utilize libraries and coffee shops as they’ll cut down on your utility bills,” says Taryn Barnes, a freelance writer and digital nomad.

If you work for a specific company, inquire about things your employer may pay. You’re a valuable part of the team, and helping you maintain peak performance is in the business’ best interests.

“For a lot of the bigger expenses like coworking rent, a computer, Wi-Fi, travel, etc., it’s likely your company will chip in,” says Randle Browning, head of content at Skillcrush.

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