5 Top Tips to Save you Money when you Work from Home
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How to pinch pennies on your gas and electricity when the office is the room next door
There’s nothing like rolling straight out of bed and into the office. And when ‘the office’ is actually just a bedroom away, it’s easy to get to work in your favourite dressing gown with a cup of tea in hand.
While working from home has its obvious advantages, there are disadvantages too: any house that doubles as an office can end up costing you more than you bargained for. That’s if you want to stay warm anyway!
So how can you save on your gas and electricity bills while working from home?
1. Get a tax break
If you regularly work from home, you’re entitled to tax breaks that can help you recoup some of the costs incurred by having your home double as an office.
A guideline rate, set up by HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC), allows employees a £3 per week payment for gas and electricity costs.
This rate is only a guideline and doesn’t require you to keep tabs on additional expenditure. If your costs are more than £3 a week, you’re entitled to ask for more. For more info, take a look at the HMRC website.
2. Change your energy provider
You could save up to £252* just by changing your gas and electricity provider, so it’s worth taking a look at what suppliers are in your area. Remember, some of the best deals can be found over the internet, so compare gas and electricity online.
3. Look into Economy 7
Economy 7 is an electricity tariff that uses cheaper overnight electricity to heat your boiler and charge up storage heaters. They are then used to heat your home and provide hot running water during the day when energy is more expensive.
All UK energy companies have off-peak hours during which time their electricity is cheaper to use. The exact hours vary but an Economy 7 tariff will run for a seven-hour period (hence the name) sometime between midnight and 8.00am.
Economy 7 is a savings solution for people that are home during the day (home workers, pensioners etc.), and who therefore need daytime hot water and heating. The main drawback is that the stored energy will slowly run out as the day rolls on, and could all be gone before nightfall. If this happens, you’ll have to tap into expensive, peak time energy if you want your heat/hot water back – until the Economy 7 hours kick in again.
4. Turn your thermos down
Try not to heat up the house like it’s Bermuda. The Energy Saving Trust’s website reports that turning your thermostat down by just 1° C could save you 10% on your heating bills. If this leaves you cold, try putting a jumper on – a much cheaper option.
5. Follow the light
The beauty of a laptop is that you can move it around where the light is – sunlight, that is! Following the sun’s movements throughout your house will keep your household lighting bills down and give you a bit of exercise. That way you’ll help your savings and earn those chocolate biscuits with your cuppa!
For more tips on cutting the cost of your gas and electricity, read our guide, reduce energy use and fuel bills.
*Customers who switched gas and electricity (dual fuel) with Confused.com between 1st January 2008 and 31st December 2008 saved on average £252.37.
There’s nothing like rolling straight out of bed and into the office. And when ‘the office’ is actually just a bedroom away, it’s easy to get to work in your favourite dressing gown with a cup of tea in hand.
While working from home has its obvious advantages, there are disadvantages too: any house that doubles as an office can end up costing you more than you bargained for. That’s if you want to stay warm anyway!
So how can you save on your gas and electricity bills while working from home?
1. Get a tax break
If you regularly work from home, you’re entitled to tax breaks that can help you recoup some of the costs incurred by having your home double as an office.
A guideline rate, set up by HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC), allows employees a £3 per week payment for gas and electricity costs.
This rate is only a guideline and doesn’t require you to keep tabs on additional expenditure. If your costs are more than £3 a week, you’re entitled to ask for more. For more info, take a look at the HMRC website.
2. Change your energy provider
You could save up to £252* just by changing your gas and electricity provider, so it’s worth taking a look at what suppliers are in your area. Remember, some of the best deals can be found over the internet, so compare gas and electricity online.
3. Look into Economy 7
Economy 7 is an electricity tariff that uses cheaper overnight electricity to heat your boiler and charge up storage heaters. They are then used to heat your home and provide hot running water during the day when energy is more expensive.
All UK energy companies have off-peak hours during which time their electricity is cheaper to use. The exact hours vary but an Economy 7 tariff will run for a seven-hour period (hence the name) sometime between midnight and 8.00am.
Economy 7 is a savings solution for people that are home during the day (home workers, pensioners etc.), and who therefore need daytime hot water and heating. The main drawback is that the stored energy will slowly run out as the day rolls on, and could all be gone before nightfall. If this happens, you’ll have to tap into expensive, peak time energy if you want your heat/hot water back – until the Economy 7 hours kick in again.
4. Turn your thermos down
Try not to heat up the house like it’s Bermuda. The Energy Saving Trust’s website reports that turning your thermostat down by just 1° C could save you 10% on your heating bills. If this leaves you cold, try putting a jumper on – a much cheaper option.
5. Follow the light
The beauty of a laptop is that you can move it around where the light is – sunlight, that is! Following the sun’s movements throughout your house will keep your household lighting bills down and give you a bit of exercise. That way you’ll help your savings and earn those chocolate biscuits with your cuppa!
For more tips on cutting the cost of your gas and electricity, read our guide, reduce energy use and fuel bills.
*Customers who switched gas and electricity (dual fuel) with Confused.com between 1st January 2008 and 31st December 2008 saved on average £252.37.
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