Work could be costing you more than you think. As we head towards the era of the £5 cup of takeaway coffee – meaning just a couple of flat whites a day could cost you a staggering £2,300 a year – as well as the rising cost of travel, just being in the office could seriously damage your pay packet.
It isn't just coffee and commuting costs that are soaring: higher energy and food prices are adding pennies if not pounds to your lunchtime treats, so it's hardly surprising that we're feeling poorer than ever before, in spite of putting in a full week in the workplace.
If, like for most of us, money is tight or you’re trying to save, it could be worth rethinking your spending habits or at least considering alternatives. So if you’re looking to curb your outgoings, here are GH’s top ten easy ways to save a fortune at work...
Swap your coffee
If you buy a large cappuccino (which varies between £3.80 and £4.75 in the big coffee chains) on the way to work and then again at lunchtime, you’ve already managed to spend around £8 in one day, which works out at around £170 a month. This might put you off your frothy coffee for a while, but what if you can't do without your twice-daily caffeine hit?
Instead, you could take advantage of coffee and tea making facilities in the office (often free). If your employer doesn’t offer these, why not ask your company if they would invest in a coffee machine for staff – meaning less time spent out of the office in search of coffee – or set up a kitty for a kettle, tea bags and coffee so you can pool together, or even invest in a cafetière for your desk?
If you need your morning hit early, invest in a travel mug to take coffee in from home. If it's just not possible to live without your favourite coffee chain, then many will give a discount if you bring your own coffee cup – it's saving them money after all! Caffe Nero will give you double loyalty points for bringing your own cup as does Costa (you'll get an extra 'bean' to collect), while Starbucks customers get 25p off their drink if they bring a reusable cup and Pret customers get a more generous 50p discount.
For serious caffeine addicts, you could save money on your monthly coffee spend at Pret a Manger by joining Club Pret. For £30 a month, you get up to five drinks a day, as well as 20 per cent off the entire menu.
Breakfast on the go?
Grabbing breakfast to go from a coffee shop may save you time, but it certainly won’t save you any money! A few quid on your daily pain au raisins doesn’t seem like much, but over a year you’d be spending £782 (not to mention the calories). Try getting up a bit earlier to have something at home before you leave for the office, or you could make some pre-soaked oats overnight, or even keep a box of cereal and some milk in the office.
Make it a lighter lunch
Every time you pop out for a meal deal you’ll be spending around £3.50 - £5. It’s certainly convenient, but costly, too – adding up to £1,150 a year. Instead, take a packed lunch with you to work: with a good cool bag you could be having delicious, filling, and cost-effective lunches in no time. Not sure what to make? We’ve got lunchtime recipes covered.
Snack savvy
If you need an afternoon pick-me-up, opt for something you can bring in rather than expensive chocolate bars from the office vending machine or local shops. If you’re trying to be healthy, bring in your own dried fruit and nuts, cereal bars or even veggies. If you’re still hankering after something sweet and calorific, go for a multi-pack of your favourite chocolate bar, which is a cheaper way to buy (so long as you have the willpower to eke them out!). For example, a pack of four 33.5g Cadbury’s Dairy Milk bars costs £1.85 from Sainsbury’s (46p each), while a single 45g bar costs 75p.
Commute smarter
If you drive to work on your own, look for colleagues who live nearby that you could car-share with to cut petrol costs.
If one part of your journey is walkable but you're in the habit of taking a bus, the tube or tram for the short journey, then why not get into the habit of walking it instead? You'll not only save money but you'll get fitter and more toned and could even ditch an expensive gym membership as well – winner!
If your commute is a bit too far to be manageable by foot, you could always invest in an electric bike and reap the savings over the longer term.
Choose water
Instead of treating yourself to fizzy drinks or juices, opt for water instead. Fill up a reusable water bottle at home before work and top it up throughout the day, or keep a water bottle at work and top up there. Great for your skin, too!
Lunchtime browsing
It’s very tempting if you work anywhere near the shops to pop in for a bit of browsing. Make yourself busy by using your time productively – find out if there are any free lunchtime exercise classes in the area, a free art gallery or museum nearby, have a phone chat with friends or family, read a book or even learn a language. You’ll be surprised how many things you can do in that hour that don’t involve spending money!
Depending on where you work, you might find that dress codes are becoming more relaxed, especially during the summer months. Why not seek out office-appropriate clothes at your local charity shops, or bag yourself a bargain online at secondhand marketplaces such as eBay or Vinted? The average cost of a dress on eBay is just £10, so you can certainly add to your office clothing repertoire for far less than the cost of buying it new.
Smooth it over
If you’re hitting the smoothie counter every morning, you could be spending over £3 a day. Instead, opt for making your own with the help of a blender. This means you can choose what goes into your smoothie and you can make it cost effective by going for cheaper fruits and vegetables that are in season.
Slow cook
If you’re too busy or tired to cook in the evenings, don’t reach for the takeaway menu! Invest in a slow cooker. Prepare before you leave the house and switch it on to do its work while you’re out. You’ll come home to a home-cooked meal that’s cheaper and healthier than a last minute Deliveroo.
Do a book swap
Books are a wonderful way to relax on your commute to and from the office, but it can be expensive to buy them all the time. Set up a circle of friends and colleagues who love to read as much as you do so you can swap with each other when you’re done. If you’d rather read electronically, get yourself an e-reader – many of the books you can buy for these devices are free or under £1.
