Working Remotely Can Help You Save and Even Earn More

Some industries like tech are uniquely suited to working remotely. This new normal can help you save and advance your career.

Now with the COVID-19 pandemic, many people have been forced to work from home, especially in the tech industry, where many of the responsibilities can be met through a computer.  Plus, there are lots of remote job positions that pay the same salary as in-office positions. So if you are worried this situation will hinder your income, think again.

Many of the people who have been working remotely for years know what I’m going to talk about here. But, for those of you who were forced into this working modality or are thinking of changing their working life, these are the ways that working from home will help you save and eventually start earning more. 

No more commuting

Commuting is a big part of Americans’ working life. Americans spend on average $2,600 per year on commuting to work. In some cities, it can go up to over $10,000 per year. Plus, people not only spend money but precious time, too. They can spend 20 minutes to two hours commuting to and from work.

If you have a vehicle, you will also be saving money on parking spots that in some cities can be expensive. The maintenance of your car will be less frequent because you won’t use it as much. So, by working remotely you will still have an awesome salary of a tech career plus save time and money.

Save money by eating in

Let’s face it, most of us are tired and stressed after a long day at work and the last thing we want is to arrive home and start preparing meals. That’s why most people eat out when they are at work. Some even eat out for three meals per day, which can be expensive. By working remotely, you can save money by cooking at home rather than eating at a restaurant.

Daycare

This applies only to parents and to people who are able to work and watch their children at the same time. If you have children big enough that they don’t need constant attention but young enough that can’t be left alone, then working remotely is a good option. You will be close enough to keep an eye on your children and save money on daycare when they aren’t at school.

Working clothes

Let’s not forget about the money spent on working clothes. Although many companies in the tech industry do not enforce formal clothing policies, employees still want to look nice at work. This means spending money at your favorite retailer.

Working remotely will allow you to reduce costs while saving money for clothes for a special occasion.

More time to learn

As mentioned before, working remotely will give you more free time that you would otherwise have to spend commuting. You can use this free time to further your career by learning a new skill. In technology, there are many affordable online and in-person coding boot camps that can give your career a big push. You can even end up with a whole new profession to enter the tech industry. So, you will have more time to invest in your career which eventually will lead to a better-paid position.

About the Author:

Artur Meyster is the CTO of Career Karma (YC W19), an online marketplace that matches career switchers with coding bootcamps. He is also the host of the Breaking Into Startups podcast, which features people with non-traditional backgrounds who broke into tech.
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