4 Ways to Keep Your Costs Down When Returning to the Office

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Whether you work in a digital advertising agency, or you’re freelancing and working out of a coworking space, there are quite a few ways you can keep your costs down when returning to the office. Many of us have enjoyed an extended work from home situation due to the pandemic, but with life returning to normal the majority of us are finding our ways back to our normal routines and back to the office. While it’s great to get back to it, it actually can have a pretty dramatic impact on your expenses. From transport expenses, to lunch and then even updating your work attire, here are my top 4 ways to keep your costs down when returning to the office.

1. Pack Your Own Lunch
One of the biggest expenses when returning to the office is figuring out what you’ll eat when you’re there. If you fail to prepare, then you can easily be spending twenty to thirty dollars a day on lunches. That adds up quickly, and while it’s a lovely treat eating out here and there, spending that kind of money every day quickly digs into your savings and your other financial goals. When packing your own lunch, you don’t need much. Just a good container that you can reuse, such as one of these from Hempak.com. There are plenty of blogs you can follow for lunch box ideas to keep things fresh and exciting.

2. Change Your Commute

If you’re driving to work each day and paying for parking, this can quickly add up fast. You have a few options but they very much depend on where you live and what’s available to you. Could you carpool with a friend? Splitting gas, parking costs and whatever else. Can you lean on public transport? While not as comfortable as driving yourself, sometimes the public transport fare is considerably less than the parking costs alone. Is commuting by bike, walking or even electric scooter an option for you? Have a think about ways you can change this up to save money on your commute.

3. Buy Second Hand
If you’re in need of a new work wardrobe, this can quickly get expensive. One of the best ways to get around this in my experience is to pick up some pieces second hand. Whether you head to the thrift shop or look around on Facebook Marketplace, there are plenty of ways to buy new clothes that have been lightly loved and won’t break the bank. It’s also a great way to minimize your impact on the environment as you’re reusing someone else’s unwanted purchases.

4. Bring Your Own Coffee
One of my biggest expenses when working in an office environment is my coffee bill. I love a daily latte or two, and that can get really expensive fast especially if you’re buying multiple lattes and a sweet snack to go along with them too. One of the best ways to cut down is by making one or a few days a week where you can treat yourself to an expensive coffee, and the rest of the day you instead lean on coffee made at home. You can buy things like a milk frother and warmer to make your home coffees feel more like a barista experience. 

Returning to the office shouldn’t feel like a financial burden. I hope these four tips inspire you to keep costs low so you can boost your savings and reach your other financial goals this year.