Nobody saw a global pandemic coming that would force thousands to work from home, but here we are in 2020. One of the challenges of working from home that many people are experiencing is creating a workspace without breaking the bank. Most people don’t have homes with offices, so you’re probably trying to work with whatever space you have, whether that’s the dining room table or a coffee table. We put together some tips for creating a home office on a budget during this time of working from home.
Look at Used Marketplaces or Shop the Sales for Supplies
Technology has made finding deals much easier in recent years. If you’re in need of a desk, chair, phone, computer, or basically anything else, try to buy things second-hand if you can––you’ll save a ton of money. Some great places to look include local garage sales, thrift stores, Facebook marketplace, OfferUp, and Craigslist. Alternatively, companies are offering a lot of deals right now because so many people are working from home, so be sure to look around at the sales.
Channel Your Inner DIYer
Every office needs a desk, whether it’s a standing or standard one. The problem is that desks are really expensive, and the affordable ones are out of stock because the demand is so high. One of the best ways to get a great desk that’s budget-friendly is by building your own. You could buy a kit that comes with everything you need or go to your local hardware store and buy some raw materials. Either way, if you’re willing to do some (or all) of the labor, you’re going to save more money on your supplies.
Use Technology To Your Advantage
Some companies are supplying their workers with the technology they need, but there are also companies that are still using landline phones. Well, a landline isn’t very helpful when you’re working from home, is it? To save yourself and the company money, consider using a service like RingCentral or Google Voice. Although our offices are at home for the time being, you’re not going to want to overload your home with a bunch of technology and office supplies, so it’s best to keep your setup simple.
It’s easy to go overboard when creating a home “office,” but you’ll be set for success as long as you have the key factors in your setup. We don’t know how long we’ll be working remotely from our new makeshift offices, but all we can do is make the most of it.
