Homeworking is surprisingly cost-effective. Emma Lunn reveals why.
When I tell people I work at home the reactions are varied: some are jealous, some assume I am somehow incapable of functioning in an office environment. Others ask if I'm free for tennis on Thursday morning. One reaction I never get is "Gosh, that must be really cost-effective" - but homeworking can save you money on all kinds of things.
Travel
The most obvious money-saver is travel. Instead of spending a couple of hours a day squashed on a packed train I simply stagger out of bed and wander into my other bedroom, aka "the office".
Living in South London, if I had a "proper job" instead of this freelancing lark, chances are I'd have to travel into Central London every day. If I bought a monthly travelcard this would set me back £116 a month or £1,208 if I bought an annual travelcard. Cost aside, I'd have to brave the weather, suffer the daily trauma of London Transport and be constantly late home due to leaves on the line or the wrong kind of snow.
Before you judge, I've done my fair share of commuting. As well as numerous jobs in London I once commuted out of London in the car to Tunbridge Wells where I started my journalism career on the Kent & Sussex Courier. My trainee reporter's wage barely covered by petrol bill of around £35 a week, let alone the wear and tear on my car.
Clothes
Another expense homeworkers are generally spared is clothes. Obviously I still need clothing of some sort but the days of needing a wardrobe full of office attire are over for the time being.
Contrary to popular belief I don't spend all day slobbing around in my pyjamas but my work wardrobe generally consists for jeans and t-shirts. There's no need to constantly update these either or worry about the social ramifications of wearing the same outfit two days running. There's little need for putting my face on every day either or heating up the hair straightners too often.
Food and drink
One of the best things about homeworking is not having to fork out for lunch from a shop/ café every day.
Obviously office workers can take in their own sandwiches but how long does that particular resolution ever last? Whenever I've worked in an office I've always become a regular at Pret / Starbucks/ Eat and spent most of my lunch break debating whether to have a panini / bagel / ciabatta and choosing from 100 varieties of rocket, mozzarella etc.
The cost can quickly add up: £5 on lunch everyday adds up to £25 a week, £100 a month or £1,200 a year.
Doing a decent supermarket shop each week and stocking up on sandwich fillings, soup, salad etc to have at home is much cheaper, and probably healthier, too.
Working at home also means I don't have a Starbucks habit which can often equal the cost of commuting. A latte at £3 a day adds up to £15 a week, £60 a month or £720 a year. Add on a "second breakfast" (in case I've got hungry between breakfast at home and arriving at work) and the cost can double.
Convenience
In general working at home is so damn convenient.
Got toothache? There's no need to try and get a dentist's appointment first or last thing in the day. You can go whenever the dentist is free.
Need a plumber? No problem - I'm in all day, come whenever you want.
Although this kind of convenience doesn't actually save you money, it's a lot less hassle than trying to fit appointments and chores around work and office hours.
Potential pitfalls
Home working sounds great doesn't it? However there are a few downsides to consider, both financial and personal. As a freelancer I obviously have to pay my own broadband, phone and mobile bills although these are, of course, tax deductable. Heating is another expense I can partially claim on my tax return - but at the temperature I've had the thermostat turned up to over the past fortnight I'm dreading the bill. And if my PC malfunctions I'm in big trouble - there's no IT department to call so I'm at the mercy of The Geek Squad and similar services.
Homeworking can be pretty lonely too. Only last week when Ed the Editor emailed to commission this article, he mentioned he was off to the office party. How lovely I thought, as a tear sprung to my eye, and I pictured all the full-time employed Fools partying the night away together. I could have by own party I suppose but getting drunk on cheap champagne and photocopying your bum just isn't the same on your own.
If you're considering working from home, bear in mind that any crises are multiplied tenfold by the solitude. A few cross words with your other half in the morning can result in eight hours solid mental analysis of what he said, what you said and what it all means.
Homeworkers are often picked on by their friends, too. Many assume that because you work at home, you don't actually work at all. The irony is that - despite the common perception is that you are constantly sunning yourself in the garden or glued to 'Trisha' - in reality you might spend all day trying to drag yourself away from your desk and into the outside world.