Working from Home
Working from home can be a great way to save on overheads and travel costs. But at the same time, it can be incredibly boring!
On the plus side, there are no commuting costs; eating costs are kept to a minimum; and you often have the freedom to work flexible hours. The main drawback is the lack of human company. There are no ‘water cooler moments’; where amusing stories and observations are swapped in casual conversation in an office. Conversation is very much limited when you work from home, and often the only contact you will have is via internet chat clients such as MSN and AIM; or maybe the occasional telephone conversation.
If you’re thinking about running your business from home, there are a few things you will probably want. IT equipment is probably top of the list. To help save money if you’re starting up your business, you may want to buy pre-owned IT equipment, such as a second hand PC or a second hand macbook. You will also probably also need to set an area of your house to designate as your office. You’ll need a desk, and a comfortable chair – which is a necessity, as you will probably spend the best part of the day sitting in it. A printer and fax machine may also be a good idea.
Whatever your setup, you must make sure that you make the most of your social life, so you don’t turn into a hermit. You may also want to make sure that you get plenty of exercise, as it would be all too easy to spend all day in your office chair, drinking coffee and snacking, without taking any exercise.The financial rewards of working from home can be excellent. No more train fairs, no more expensive city centre lunches, and less temptation to go for that after-work beer!
