Working from home, use office/PC and electricity. How do I cut some costs?

[Deactivated] on 15/10/2017 - 19:34
Last edited 15/10/2017 - 19:35

HI guys,

Started working a full time job from home, every expense I think of is gone since I get to work from home, but I'm just wondering if there's any way that I can cut some costs for things like electricity, heating/cooling, etc.

I know I can, but the question lies in whether it's worth it or not and I'm not sure how difficult the process is. I used the calculator and after ages, it gave me one figure of around $800, not sure how reliable that was, but I think it was for 4 months work. So not a bad cut.

I am really just asking for experiences here, and whether anyone can vouch on a simple way to go about this? I've never had to deal with taxes in Australia until now.

BTW: I use the PC for the entire time from 9 to about 6, the PC isn't a weak one and my screens are high usage. It's required by the job. So pretty electricity hungry.

Financial

Comments

    • MondaySleeper on 16/10/2017 - 16:42

      LOL :)

    • [Deactivated] on 16/10/2017 - 18:58
      +3

      They don't have enough sockets. I checked.

      • superm86 on 16/10/2017 - 21:19

        gift them..

      • [Deactivated] on 16/10/2017 - 21:19
        +1

        powerboard and 4 double adapters should do the trick…. the jokes on them when you melt their outlet.

  • lostn on 16/10/2017 - 23:04

    Go to a public place with power points, bring a laptop and use their power and internet.

    • [Deactivated] on 16/10/2017 - 23:14
      -4

      I think my post said, but I need powerful computer and screens.

      • kenunderscore on 16/10/2017 - 23:26

        Define "powerful computer and screens". Your standard power outlet can power multiple state-of-the-art 4K monitors and a server PC setup. Not having a go at your reply to the suggestion but just curious.

        • [Deactivated] on 17/10/2017 - 00:11
          -6

          That doesn't fit into a laptop though haha.

        • lostn on 17/10/2017 - 13:40

          @StoneSin: You still haven't defined it.

          What kind of work are you doing? Do you need a GTX Titan XP?

        • [Deactivated] on 17/10/2017 - 14:42

          @lostn: No, but to run multiple large screens at 4k as well as virtual machines.. it's not possible with a laptop.

        • lostn on 17/10/2017 - 14:55

          @StoneSin: k I'm not sure what kind of work you do and it doesn't look like you're going to divulge that.

          I'd shop around and find the cheapest power company, and use some pensioner's name for the bill to get a concession. Many of them give you a bonus $50 or $100 when you switch over to them. Every year keep switching out and collecting the bonus from different providers. Haggle with them, or haggle with your current provider by telling them you'll leave if they can't beat the competition.

          If you can afford the kind of equipment you're running with multiple large 4K screens and a beefy enough processor and GPU to power it, I'd have assumed you can also afford the power bills. I haven't read through all the comments. Are you an independent contractor?

          Maybe start out by working for someone else. They will pay for everything, and when you have years of experience and saved up some money, that's when you branch out and do your own thing.

        • kenunderscore on 17/10/2017 - 18:20

          @StoneSin: Again, this isn't a stab at you but just trying to make sense of your situation.

          There are not many jobs/work that require multiple large 4K screens. Work similar to Graphic or Architectural design can be managed with just one screen alone, albeit not as efficiently. I work with computers and can tell you that a basic laptop can run multiple virtual machines via Oracle VM or Azure. Any other jobs that require a heavier workload that you seem to need would pay so well that you wouldn't even have to worry about power costs. - This is all based on assumption & it would help us make better sense of your situation if you told us what you did for work.

        • [Deactivated] on 17/10/2017 - 18:59
          -3

          @kenunderscore: There aren't many. But my job is one of them. There isn't a need for 4K res, but it helps significantly and that's what I am given.

          I understand that most people don't need much power, and I don't need that much power, but I need a setup that isn't found in laptops, that is all.

          I don't see a need to divulge any other information other than, laptops will not work.

        • lostn on 18/10/2017 - 18:33

          @StoneSin:

          Is it safe to assume your job doesn't pay well?

          If so, may I suggest get a better paying job, or get a job that doesn't require insane equipment and running costs?

          That's as much as I can advise with the information you've chosen to provide.

          I would have suggested a 2-in-1 PC (a monitor with built in PC) and lug that around with you but you'll probably say it's not enough for your needs.

          It seems you want a magic bullet way to reduce your bills and continue working from home. The only way I know of is to shop around and find the cheapest provider. That only gets you so far though.

          You've attracted a lot of downvotes. I suspect it's due to you being extremely fussy or not providing the info people want in order to be able to help you. If you provide more info, people may find other solutions from a different angle. How you define a problem influences the solution. And maybe your problem can be redefined (better) if you provided more info.

        • [Deactivated] on 05/11/2017 - 14:06

          @lostn: Sorry, didn't see this.

          My job pays extremely well.

          or get a job that doesn't require insane equipment and running costs?

          These aren't insane equipment and running costs. Not sure where you're pulling that from.

          I would have suggested a 2-in-1 PC (a monitor with built in PC) and lug that around with you but you'll probably say it's not enough for your needs.

          Nope. Working from a laptop/notebook is not an option, like I've said many times.

          It seems you want a magic bullet way to reduce your bills and continue working from home.

          Wrong again. I just want to cut costs where applicable.

          You've attracted a lot of downvotes. I suspect it's due to you being extremely fussy or not providing the info people want in order to be able to help you.

          You suspect wrong. It's because I'm just obtusely honest and people don't like hearing the truth so bluntly.

  • bargainbargain on 17/10/2017 - 07:41
    +1

    You will be saving on transport costs plus eating out / coffee that’s typical during work hours. So probably same same on expenses front or better off !

  • Donaldhump on 17/10/2017 - 07:58
    +4

    You also save on shampoo, and deodorant, washing of clothes

    • [Deactivated] on 17/10/2017 - 14:42

      Hilarious but it's funny how much I save on stuff like clothing, washing and general cosmetics.

  • owli on 17/10/2017 - 14:45
    +1

    Tell your car insurance you will not be driving as often, I pay 35% less now.

  • IdBuyThat4aDollar on 17/10/2017 - 16:05
    +1

    I generally work at home twice a week. I think there's a fixed hourly rate you can claim as a deduction in your tax return however not entirely sure the exact details as my accountant does this. On ATO site it mentions 45 cents per hour, but not sure if my accountant uses that figure or something else.
    https://www.ato.gov.au/Individuals/Tax-Return/2017/Tax-retur…

    • plowry1977 on 21/10/2017 - 08:04

      Thanks I just done this and got extra $$$ in TRC return

  • Dont Care on 17/10/2017 - 18:47
    +4

    sub-let rooms to hookers.

    • jellykingdom on 18/10/2017 - 11:56

      I'm not sure you can tax deduct "pimping"

      • Dont Care on 18/10/2017 - 20:02

        yes but noone pays tax on revenue from sub-letting either.

  • stumo on 17/10/2017 - 22:14

    I work from home fulltime too. I have claimed the expenses via e-tax before, its pretty easy to do if you chose the percentage of the house method. I had a look at the new online etax thingo and I couldn't find it, but then can't claim expenses anymore because my taxable income is below the threshold.

  • Tasmaniac on 18/10/2017 - 06:37
    +4

    And the award for the most accumulated negs in a single thread goes to…. stonesin.

    • Hirolol on 18/10/2017 - 10:24
      +1

      I was thinking the same thing.
      Even when he's just joking about something he's still getting multiple downvotes.

    • [Deactivated] on 18/10/2017 - 10:49
      -3

      I'm used to forum users getting upset at me. There's something about the blunt hard facts that make people enraged.

      I thrive off negative votes.

      • John Kimble on 18/10/2017 - 11:00

        Are you just jv?

      • John Kimble on 18/10/2017 - 11:00

        Yet you withhold "blunt hard facts" like your occupation.

        • [Deactivated] on 18/10/2017 - 14:06
          +1

          Yes. That is irrelevant. If you want to learn about my personal life, you can take me out to dinner first. Til then, a guide on what I do at work and with what equipment should suffice dear.

      • Drifter on 18/10/2017 - 11:55
        +1

        I'm used to forum users getting upset at me. There's something about the blunt hard facts that make people enraged.

        Ozbargainers post facts all the time but they don't get downvoted like you. You're getting downvoted because you're arrogant and you think your opinions are facts.

        • [Deactivated] on 18/10/2017 - 14:06
          -5

          Then they don't post the truly obtuse ones.

          I'm not arrogant, I just know the truth and speak it.

  • freemoneyhunter on 18/10/2017 - 14:13

    If you rent in an apartment complex, connect a generator to the facet to generate electricity, the water bill goes to the strata.

  • Kelalako on 18/10/2017 - 14:15

    Pack your own lunch

  • gozyla86 on 18/10/2017 - 18:05

    Since I started working from home together with my wife (and a newborn as well), we decided to invest for a solar system. And yes, it cost us 110$ every 2 weeks for credit company but we get it all back plus free to use heating and cooling as well. The only thing not using electricity in my house now is the cooktop.

  • kaleidoscope on 18/10/2017 - 19:28

    Honestly the first time i’m learning that people go to workplaces so can save on electricity 🤷🏽‍♂️🤷🏽‍♂️🤷🏽‍♂️. Full time work from home means definitely save quite alot on transportation, eating outside as well as car insurance. You can even deduct part of your rent, internet and electricity cost on taxreturn as others suggested. You may get a power meter and measure how much power is used on average per working day by your setup but i doubt this will be anything too big.

    • ExpressCoffee on 18/10/2017 - 22:25

      This.

      I don't know why OP is being very.. thrifty. I mean I understand this is OzBargain but some people take things to new levels..

      You're working from home saving on transportation costs, potential lunch out, and most importantly time. Suck it up and realise that there has to be some costs associated to working from home.

      • [Deactivated] on 05/11/2017 - 14:09

        So you'd not look for a $2 sandwich because you got a deal that reduced it to $3 from $5? Okay. I'll go next door and enjoy my $2 sandwich :)

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