Estimated reading time: 2 mins
Nowadays, an increasing number of people are working from home. If this applies to you, it is important to have a dedicated office space if you are to maintain high levels of productivity. While working from the comfort of your bed or sofa may be tempting, you will never get your tasks completed on time. Instead, use the tips below to create an efficient home office on a budget.
- Prioritise – There is only one place to begin, and this is with prioritising. It is important to decide what you need to have, and what things would be nice to have. You can’t have it all in the beginning, but once you start earning, you can start working down your nice to have list.
- Purchase second-hand furniture – Furniture can cost a small fortune when you purchase quality pieces brand new. The alternative is to opt for cheaper, poor quality furniture, which is not advised for a number of reasons. Not only will this type of furniture not last very long, resulting in you spending more in the long run, but your posture could suffer too. The best option is to purchase used office desks and other furniture pieces. This is a great way to benefit from quality without spending a lot.
- Avoid landlines – Do you really need to have a landline? Landlines can be expensive. It is likely that you already have a mobile phone, which you can use for communications. Moreover, a lot of homeworkers use Skype and other online calling platforms, as this presents a free way to communicate with clients. You can also use instant messaging, as this can be more efficient in a lot of cases.
- Decorate your office yourself – You don’t need to call in the professionals to decorate your office, nor do you need to spend a large sum of money on artwork and other finishing touches. You can easily decorate your office yourself. Why not adorn it with family photographs or pictures that your children have drawn? The options are endless, and you don’t need to spend a lot.
- Use what you already have – Have a look around the house to see what office items you already have. You will probably find that you have a spare lamp, which you can use, and you will probably also have stationary items dotted around the house too, from notebooks to staplers. These items may sound minuscule, but it all adds up and will save you a lot in the long run.
- Go green – Look into phone chargers, electrical outlets, and smaller computers that will save energy. Don’t forget to unplug chargers when they are not in use, and make sure you turn off lights too. Recycling paper is also recommended. Not only will you be able to cut costs, but also you will do your bit for the environment.
- Avoid big, chain office store for supplies – There are plenty of budget stores available today where you will be able to pick up bulletin boards, filing cabinets, pens, and paper for a fraction of the cost.
