See our top tips for cutting down on the money you spend at work. Did you know the average person spends over £1,890 just on food and drink alone while at work!
There is no doubt about it; going to work can cost you a lot of money. It can feel like you are spending a fortune on getting to and from work, splashing out on food and drink for each day as well as purchasing the office uniform. In a recent article, The Daily Mail reported that studies have shown that
[quote style=”boxed”]The average worker spends almost a sixth of his wages on commuting, lunches and office birthdays. [/quote]
It goes without saying then; it costs a lot more than you might think just having a job! But you can cut down on what you are spending whilst you are at work and have a lot more money left over to spend on the fun things in life. Here are our top tips to cutting down on what you spend whilst at work.
Commuting
By far, one of the biggest expenses you are going to face is commuting to your workplace. And yet it may surprise you that this is one of the biggest areas in which you can save money. Try our following suggestions and see how much money you could save:
- Lift-share – It could be that you live close by to one of your colleagues so why not pick them up on the way. You could take it in turns to drive or at least share the cost. You don’t need to limit yourself to people you work with. If your friends work in the same town as you consider sharing a ride with them.
- Change your mode of transport – Many of us jump in the car to work as a course of habit. But you could save an absolute fortune if you consider cycling or walking to work. As well as the obvious financial benefits, this is also fantastic for your health.
- Buy seasonal tickets – If you have to catch the bus or train to work then consider buying a seasonal pass instead of daily or weekly tickets. Of course this will only save you money if you will be working frequently during that period. Be mindful of buying a seasonal pass if you will be taking a long holiday.
- Save on fuel – There are many ways to save on fuel and one of them is by keeping your speed steady. Avoid rapid accelerating and harsh breaking. Keep your tires correctly inflated and avoid using your Air Conditioning if at all possible.
Lunch Breaks
Buying your lunch, snacks and drinks during your break, either from the work canteen or from shops nearby, can work out very expensive over time. The Daily Express revealed that:
[quote style=”boxed”]the average office worker could put aside £1,890 a year by making sandwiches and ditching the canteen.[/quote]
One of the biggest expenses is coffee, with some Brits spending thousands of pounds a year in takeaway coffees.
Instead of spending all this money at work, get a kettle and make your own coffee. Make it routine to bring in a packed lunch everyday, you could even bring in leftovers from the night before saving you even more money.
A great tip is to try this with a friend at work. You could take it in turns to make lunch and by helping each other you are more likely to stick to your resolve.
Office Clothes
You can save money on your office uniform and still look good at work. One of the best things to remember is that quality lasts. It can be false economy buying very cheap clothing for everyday use as you are likely to need to replace it after a few washes.
Instead, try buying your clothes in the sale and if you do find something that you wear regularly at a discounted price then stock up on it. You could even look through your local second hand store as many of these contain good quality, hardly worn clothing at very reasonable prices.
In a recent article Sayvrs suggested many ways to save money during the recession including taking advantage of online voucher deals which you can use on clothing.
Make Sure You Put Your Claims in!
A recent study showed that every year workers lose out on average over £80 of claims that they forgot to put in or were denied. To prevent this from happening make a record of what you have spent for work and keep all your receipts safe. Check beforehand what expenses will and will not be covered to save you from any nasty surprises later on.
Birthdays and Leaving Collections
It has been estimated that monthly whip-round’s for office birthdays and leaving dos cost each employee over £70 a year. It can be difficult but if you are really struggling for cash then consider putting in less money, if any at all, to save yourself cash over the year.
Many people unnecessarily spend a large percentage of their wages whilst they are at work. Making a few small changes to your routine such as bringing in your own lunch and cycling to walk could save you hundreds of pounds a year.
- Save money in all areas of your life.
- Free up your time by being more productive.
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