by Silva Payne

Created on: February 06, 2011

Working from home has been a way for millions of women to earn an income while successfully raising their children. While the benefits for family life are often promoted as the best reason for working at home, there are key financial benefits as well. These can be grouped into 5 main money-saving reasons why women should consider working from home.

Lower childcare costs

Childcare can often take a large percentage of a woman's income when she has a family to support. In many cases, the cost of childcare to fit around the working hours makes it financially impossible for a woman to return to work.

When working from home, you can often fit your work around your children, rather than trying to fit them around your work. Making use of school and pre-school provision, and possibly sharing the school run with one or two other mothers can give you valuable hours of free or almost free childcare.

Being at home also means you can still work if your children are ill and cannot go to school. You will not lose a day's pay because you cannot make it in to the office, or have to leave early.

Lower transportation costs

While you may still need to keep and run your car, working from home usually means you do not have to commute to the office every week day. You will also not have to pay parking fees, and the wear and tear on your vehicle will be reduced, meaning less maintenance costs overall.

Even if you usually take public transport to your workplace, the cost of a season pass or daily bus fares soon adds up. Working from home may mean just one trip in to the office each week, rather than every day. Reducing the number of vehicles on the roads is also better for the environment, and can save money for the whole neighbourhood by reducing the amount of wear on the roads and the need for extra parking provision. This could result in lower local taxes overall.

No need for a large “work wear” wardrobe

Many people have several outfits that they wear to work but not at home. Working from home eliminates this need. You can work in your every day clothes, or even in your pyjamas if you really want to.

Some people find that they feel more motivated to work at home if they still dress the way they would if they were heading to the office. However, it is possible to have fewer work outfits if you save them for the times when you have a business meeting to attend. This could in turn save you money on your dry cleaning bills, as you will not be wearing those clothes

• 1
• 2
• Next Page >>