{"id":13627,"date":"2025-04-16T17:42:20","date_gmt":"2025-04-16T17:42:20","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/finderica.com\/?p=13627"},"modified":"2025-04-16T17:42:20","modified_gmt":"2025-04-16T17:42:20","slug":"easy-money-saving-hacks-for-working-from-home","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/finderica.com\/?p=13627","title":{"rendered":"Easy Money-Saving Hacks for Working From Home"},"content":{"rendered":"
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\t\t\t<\/p>\n

\t\tAnnie<\/small><\/p>\n

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\n\t\t<\/i> 15th Apr 2025<\/small>
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\t\t\t\t\t\tReading Time:<\/span> 5<\/span> minutes<\/span><\/span>\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n

More of us than ever are working from home instead of going to the office every day. Did you know that you can claim tax back on some things \u2013 and a home working allowance, too? As an employee, if you use things for work purposes at home, you could claim some allowances.<\/p>\n

<\/a>Claim for Office Equipment<\/h2>\n

Your employer might not pay for you to buy a new desk, chair, or lamp \u2013 but you can claim tax relief on ones you buy yourself. You can also claim relief on expenses used solely for business purposes, such as business phone calls, and business portions of gas and electricity. You can either work out the exact cost, or claim a flat \u00a36 a week (which results in \u00a31.20 a week relief for basic rate tax payers).<\/p>\n

The P87 form<\/a> allows PAYE workers who work remotely to claim tax relief at their rate on home office essentials, up to the total of \u00a32,500 a year. So, if you pay 20% tax, you\u2019ll get that much relief \u2013 while higher-rate payers will receive 40% relief.<\/p>\n

If you use your own vehicle for work, and your employer doesn\u2019t pay expenses, you can claim for that, too. This doesn\u2019t include commuting to and from your regular place of work (i.e., the office), but if you have to travel for work that is included.<\/p>\n

Find out how to claim on the Gov.uk website here<\/a>.<\/p>\n

<\/a>Request a Home Working Allowance<\/h2>\n

\"Home\"Home<\/p>\n

Employees who are working from home can request an extra weekly allowance from their employer. This is to cover the rise in utilities bills, as working remotely means you\u2019re using more electricity, gas, and water.<\/p>\n

The allowance for 2025\/26 is \u00a36 per week and is paid tax-free. If you\u2019re claiming for these expenses via a P87 form, you can\u2019t also request this home working allowance.<\/p>\n

You\u2019ll need to ask your employer to arrange this allowance for you. They can refuse, but it is unlikely (and if they do, you can use the P87 form to claim tax relief for yourself).<\/p>\n

Note that the gross figure on your payslip won\u2019t change. Instead, you\u2019ll pay \u00a36 a week less tax.<\/p>\n

<\/a>Check what you can expense<\/h2>\n

Do you need to print things out? Post things? Any costs involved in normal office activities should be covered by your employer.<\/p>\n

Speak to your boss to find out what you can expense each month. Whatever you buy must be exclusively for business use, but if you\u2019re using materials or \u2013 for example \u2013 a work mobile phone, this should be paid by the company.<\/p>\n

Keep all your receipts \u2013 and if you\u2019re paid hourly, remember to include the time spent shopping for supplies and posting items.<\/p>\n

If you regularly need to order and use items for business purposes, such as stationery, it could be worth asking for access to a business account to purchase directly from and have sent to your home, rather than buying yourself and waiting to reclaim expenses.<\/p>\n

<\/a>Save on bills<\/h2>\n

\"Working\"Working<\/p>\n

As well as claiming working from home allowances and expenses, you can always do more to save money while remote working.<\/p>\n

Switching energy suppliers, for example, could save you hundreds of pounds each year. Remember to also consider switching other suppliers, such as broadband and home insurance, to keep premiums down and long-term savings up!<\/p>\n

You could also:<\/p>\n

Put on extra layers<\/h4>\n

A jumper could be all you need \u2013 instead of turning the thermostat up! Before you turn your heating up, take a look at what you\u2019re wearing. If you could add socks, a jumper, or an extra layer, this could save you a lot over the course of a month or year.<\/p>\n

Consider a heated blanket<\/strong><\/p>\n

In colder months, if you\u2019re the only person working from home during the day, consider getting a heated throw or heated hoodie. These will keep you toasty warm without the running costs of central heating all day.<\/p>\n

Only boil what you need<\/h4>\n

Working from home means the kettle becomes a welcome distraction. Tea breaks can shake up the monotony of Zoom calls and spreadsheets! Instead of boiling a full kettle each time, only boil the water you need. It saves significant energy over time.<\/p>\n

Switch off at the wall<\/h4>\n

When you\u2019re done for the working day, shut your computer down \u2013 and then switch it off at the wall. The same goes for any appliances you\u2019re not using \u2013 it saves a lot of energy over a short space of time!<\/p>\n

Consider a water meter<\/h4>\n

If you live alone or with a partner, you could also consider requesting a water meter. These aren\u2019t suitable for larger properties or families, as it works out expensive \u2013 but for couples and single people, it saves hundreds of pounds per year. (A real-life example: this writer paid \u00a342 a month for a non-metered supply \u2013 and now pays \u00a338 a quarter, saving \u00a3352 a year!).<\/p>\n

<\/a>Buy wholesale and batch cook<\/h2>\n

Pasta, potatoes, even flour \u2013 it\u2019s much cheaper to buy these in bulk where you can.<\/p>\n

If you don\u2019t have the space for sacks of potatoes, don\u2019t fret. Work out what you use the most in your cooking and find the largest packets or buy-one-get-one-free deals. It could also be worth getting a wholesaler or trade membership to a shop like Costco \u2013 even better if you can share with a friend or family member to make the most of bulk buy discounts together.<\/p>\n

Once you\u2019ve done your weekly shop, make the most of these bulk ingredients \u2013 and batch cook. Even if you\u2019ve got a tiny (or no) freezer, batch cooking means you can prepare 4 or 5 portions at the same time and pop them in your fridge for the next few days.<\/p>\n

Batch cooking saves a lot of time \u2013 and a LOT of money. Every time you\u2019re tempted to call for a takeaway dinner because you\u2019re tired, stop! Think of the frozen healthy dinners you\u2019ve already got at home. In the time it takes to defrost and cook one, your takeaway meal would be getting cold on its way to you.<\/p>\n

<\/a>Try free exercise videos<\/h2>\n

\"Work\"Work<\/p>\n

Many of us with gym memberships choose one near work, so we can go before or after the working day, or even in our lunch break. When you work from home, you might not have one in walking distance \u2013 and getting in the car or the bus to go the gym is one more obstacle (and cost) to overcome to persuade yourself to exercise.<\/p>\n

You don\u2019t have to stump up extra costs to get fit at home, though! There are tons of free exercise videos online that you can follow without the need for lots of equipment, either.<\/p>\n

You\u2019ll get fit together, expend excess stressful energy, and not spend any extra cash either!<\/p>\n

<\/a>Save your fuel costs<\/h2>\n

What else are you saving on while you\u2019re working from home? If you commute by car, your fuel expenses will drop. Train commuters won\u2019t have to pay for their fare, either.<\/p>\n

You might also save on things like clothes, if your office has a strict dress code. You\u2019re not wearing suits and shirts at home \u2013 we all know you\u2019re in your favourite three sets of joggers and sweatshirts (because we do that, too!).<\/p>\n

You\u2019re also not buying a coffee on your way to work each morning, or paying for a Meal Deal every day at lunch.<\/p>\n

Consider how much you\u2019re saving each week by not going to work. Tuck the equivalent away in a savings account, instead. This\u2019ll quickly build an emergency savings buffer without you feeling the pinch!<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n