What about money?  Of course you’ll save on your commuting costs, unless you pay a toll to climb the stairs to or from your home office.  You may even notice your stash of “pocket money” growing larger (or at least not getting smaller) as you eat lunch and snacks at home.

But what about your electric, your gas, your water, phone, fax, internet, office supplies, and other bills generated or made more expensive by the use of a home office?  Depending on your agreement with your employer, these expenses may not be reimbursed – so be sure to save your receipts so that you can claim these and related items on your taxes later.

In the interest of helping you to keep those new or unplanned expenses telecommuting expenses down, here are a few money-saving tips:

1. Eat simply. Lunchtime is not the right time to be creative.  Just because you’re working from home doesn’t mean you need to whip up a fabulous meal or go out and enjoy spectacular variety at lunch.  Fight the temptation to pick up salmon and sushi or cook special meals.  Make a sandwich or heat up soup, like everybody else.  You’ll enjoy more relaxation time and will save cash.

2. Don’t drive.  You work from home – so why aren’t you saving money on gas?  Could it be that because every day you drive to the store, the gym, the coffee shop?  Plan your trips and consolidate them into just a few for the week.   If you need to get out of the house everyday, get out in the fresh air by walking or riding your bike.

3. Say “no” to impulse shopping.  You don’t need more gadgets; but it’s so easy to surf the ‘net and find great deals.  And it’s so easy to look around your humble home office and think of more things you could have that would make your life easier and better.  Like an external microphone.  Or a special keyboard.  How about that fancy all-in-one printer to replace your old faithful?  Don’t do it.  You have a working microphone, keyboard, and printer.  Resist the urge to splurge!

4.  Conserve electricity and other resources.  Avoid using an electric heater near your desk, or running the air-conditioner on high; try not to fuss with your thermostat during the day.  Maybe you won’t be as comfortable during the blistery winter months or sticky summer ones as your corporate office counterparts, but neither will you go broke due to high energy-consumption costs.  And you can always pile on the sweaters or strip bare – while working in your home office, you don’t have to worry about getting strange looks because of your wardrobe choices.