How to Build a Home Office on a Budget

Some of the links in this post are from our sponsors. We provide you with accurate, reliable information. Learn more about how we make money and select our advertising partners.

It’s December 2020. You’ve been in denial about returning to the office for nine months. And while you keep promising yourself you’ll start yoga to fix the back pain your kitchen chair is causing, you, well, haven’t.

Tell yourself this now: 2021 will be different! You know you’re going to be home, but you’ve worked from the couch for long enough. It’s time to treat yourself to a comfortable chair, a sturdy desk and maybe even a light-therapy lamp to last you the winter.

If your employer doesn’t offer a home office set up or a stipend, you have to take matters into your own hands — but you shouldn’t have to drop a few grand to get a quality work station. Here are some tips on how to get a nice home office, without the price tag.

1. Find Extra Cash in Your Budget

First things first — alway make sure you have enough money in your budget before you buy anything. Going overboard and ending up with credit card debt (and the insane interest rates they’ll charge you) is not worth an ergonomic chair or electric standing desk.

If your budget is tight, try making a few tweaks to free up some money. For example, you’re likely overpaying for car insurance and could get the same coverage for cheaper elsewhere.

That being said, shopping for car insurance is a pain, which is why we like using a free website called Savvy. It helps you find the best rates — in just 30 seconds. In fact, it saves people an average of $826/year.

All you have to do is connect your current insurance, then Savvy will search hundreds of insurers for a better price on the same coverage. It’ll even help you cancel your old policy and get you a refund from your current insurer. Best yet: This is totally free.

If you find a better deal, you can switch right away and don’t have to wait for your next renewal or even your next payment.

2. Go to Estate Sales and Thrift Shops

One of the best ways to get high quality furniture, art and lighting for your office upgrade is to get them second hand (or third or forth).

Estate sales usually go above and beyond a standard yard sale, meaning you can buy a piece of art straight off of someone’s wall or snag a solid wood desk for next to nothing. A quick Google search will show you where local estate sales are happening, plus online bidding options.

Thrift stores can be hit or miss, but one tip is to seek out stores in wealthier ZIP codes. You could find higher quality items for sale for cheap just by driving a couple more miles.

3. Build Your Own Desk

You don’t have to be a master woodworker to build a desk from scratch. There are tons of simple, yet sturdy, desk plans on the internet for free — all you have to do is buy the materials.

Here’s another hack: when you buy the wood, have the store cut it to your exact specifications before you leave (for free!). This way you don’t have to buy a saw or risk slicing off any of your appendages.

4. Snag Free Stuff on Facebook

Join a no-sell group on Facebook or check the free section on Craigslist. Sometimes people just need to get rid of stuff and don’t have the time or patience for a garage sale, which can work to your advantage. Look for fun art, cool lighting, and unique storage ideas to add character to your space.

Another option if you’re clearing out a dedicated space for your office is to barter. Just like in the old days, you can swap something you don’t need with someone who could use it. That’s a win-win.

5. Get Crafty

Hanging a painting on your wall or placing a sculpture on your desk can give your office space a relaxing and inspirational vibe. Making that art yourself can provide you with an extra outlet for stress-relief, plus it won’t break the bank. And it’s not like you don’t have the time these days.

You don’t need to be Picasso to create something beautiful — a few swipes of paint on a canvas can give you a minimalist look while a splattering of vibrant colors could have your Zoom meeting attendees confusing you for Jackson Pollack.

This was originally published on The Penny Hoarder, which helps millions of readers worldwide earn and save money by sharing unique job opportunities, personal stories, freebies and more. The Inc. 5000 ranked The Penny Hoarder as the fastest-growing private media company in the U.S. in 2017.



source https://www.thepennyhoarder.com/insurance/home-office-2021/?aff_id=178&aff_sub3=MainFeed__insurance/home-office-2021/

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

These Coconut Oil Uses Are for the Kitchen, Bathroom and Beyond

Image
I first discovered coconut oil several years ago when a health-focused grocery store opened in my neighborhood.  While I originally bought it for cooking, I quickly found many ways I could use it around the house. Now, I use so much that I invest in giant vats from Costco to save money; an 84-ounce tub costs $15.99 and typically lasts me four to six months. If you’re new to coconut oil, you’ll be surprised at just how adaptable this once-unknown ingredient can be. Ways to Use Coconut Oil That You Probably Haven’t Thought Of In the Kitchen The first use you probably think of for coconut oil is cooking. I most often find Indian recipes that call for this oil, but I’ve used it in a variety of dishes ranging from curries and stir-fries to granola and muffins. There’s some controversy surrounding the consumption of coconut oil because of its high saturated fat content. According to Harvard Medical School , coconut oil has more saturated fat than butter or lard — about 90%. Satu...
Read more

29 Road Trip Tips for a Fun and Frugal Vacation

Image
Cruising down the open road is a great way to get away from it all. Planning a road trip can be a cost-effective way to travel too — that is, if you do it right. The costs you’ll encounter on a road trip tend to sneak up on you, unlike the upfront sticker shock of a plane ticket. But no worries — there’s a lot you can do to save money on a road trip. 29 Cost-Saving Road Trip Tips 1. Consider Road Tripping With a Friend or Two Traveling solo has its benefits, like not putting up with someone else’s music for hours on end. But taking a road trip with others means you’ll have someone to split the costs of expenses like gas and lodging. You can literally cut your costs in half by road tripping with a friend. It’ll also make the long distance driving more bearable. Just make sure it’s someone you can tolerate being cooped up with for a long period of time. Also, discuss expectations for the road trip ahead of time so you’re both on the same page. You don’t want to wait until you’re o...
Read more

Credit Sesame Can Help Homebuyers Fix This Problem Before It Happens

Some of the links in this post are from our sponsors. We provide you with accurate, reliable information. Learn more about how we make money and select our advertising partners . If you’ve ever searched for a home to buy, you know the first step is mortgage pre-approval — and in today’s competitive market, you likely need to have it before you even put in an offer. But if you’re like one-fifth of Americans, an error on your credit report could mean banks could be scared of lending to you and won’t give you a pre-approval. And even if they do, it could be for an absurd loan rate that can cost you tens of thousands of dollars or more by the time you pay off the house — yikes. So if you didn’t see that roadblock coming, your dream house could be someone else’s before you have a chance to fix it. That’s why you need to make sure your credit report card is free of errors and your score is in tip-top shape before you even start Zillow-ing. A free website called Credit Sesame makes it s...
Read more