Cost of Living: How to Save Money at the Office

Wondering about ways to combat the rising cost of living? By making some simple switches when working in an office, you can make all the difference to your budget. Discover our tried-and-tested tips for managing your spending at work to help you save a few extra pounds in your 9-5. 

What is the Cost of Living?

The phrase ‘cost of living’ refers to the essential expenditures we regularly make. So, for many of us, that means food, energy, healthcare, rent or mortgage payments, and so on. 

In 2022, the cost of living crisis is a hot topic - not least because the vast majority of people are facing rapidly rising bills, without a corresponding pay rise. However, you can check to see if you’re entitled to some extra help, especially if you're currently in receipt of benefits or tax credits.

Ofgem’s energy price cap has soared from £1,971 to a whopping £3,549 from October 2022 - that’s an 80% increase, which will massively impact monthly bills. 

This has left many people looking to find the best ways to cut the cost of living. With ideas ranging from well-known tips, like switching off gadgets on standby and looking for cheaper commuting options to using energy-saving light bulbs.

We spoke with Unify Energy, a member of the Bruntwood Group who supply energy to commercial properties. When it comes to reducing the cost of living at home, the CEO of Unify Energy, Sarah Bateman, has advised consumers to turn down the temperature on boilers, reduce their heating level by 0.5 degrees and to speak to their energy supplier about a contract which spreads the cost of any short-term increases. 

Additionally, it’s worth speaking to your landlord about any sustainability initiatives in your building and considering renewable forms of energy, like solar, wind and generation co-ownership, which will allow you to protect yourself against future market instability. She also suggests installing smart meters, which allow you to see real-time usage in a visually impactful way. 

However, there is one change in particular that will help to lower your monthly expenditure. By working from the office during the week, you’ll likely see your household bills decrease. 

How to Cut the Cost of Living at the Office

There’s been plenty of talk about the benefits of working from home in recent years, but many office workers are actively enjoying being able to go back to their workspaces with their colleagues, especially after the isolation of the pandemic.

Given the well-founded concerns of much of Britain’s workforce about the skyrocketing cost of living, committing to working from the office could help boost your mental wellbeing, as well as helping to keep your heating bill under control. 

Many people may be looking for alternatives to working from home, which is where Bruntwood’s coworking and hot desking spaces really come into their own. Working from an office space could help to cut the cost of living, plus means you’ll be spending your days in offices specifically designed to ease your working life.

You’ll find that all of our offices are kept at a comfortable temperature, irrespective of the energy bill - so there’s absolutely no reason to worry about bringing a hot water bottle to work. They also boast free superfast Wi-Fi and access to technology like HD wireless presentation screens you might not have at home. There’s even a podcast studio available at Blackfriars House, which saves you spending a tonne on tech and worrying about where to store it during a cost of living crisis.

Our top tips will inspire you to save money at the office to help with the rising cost of living - just a few small changes make all the difference. 

How to Save Money on Lunch at Work

First and foremost, packed lunches are one of the best ways you can save money at the office. 

Not only do packed lunches taste better than the average supermarket offering, they also cost significantly less. Batch cooking meals to split up into individual, easy-to-grab portions throughout the week guarantees you’ll be saving yourself the cost of a meal deal every day, as well as lowering your carbon footprint. 

Making sure you avoid those mindless daily purchases really will make a big difference to your budget. A little extra effort preparing meals like pasta, veggie bakes and soups, means you can spend your money on the things that really matter. (Of course if you can’t resist the temptation of a mid-week treat, customers can download the Bruntwood app to find the latest hospitality offers.)

Make the Most of Office Amenities 

The perks of the office shouldn’t be underestimated. If you’re looking to cut your cost of living, you should take advantage of the amenities at your office. You can do basically everything you need at our offices - shower, eat, drink  and - most importantly - work. 

What you spend on train fare, petrol and parking is more than made up for in the varied ways our offices cater to your needs. With 24/7 access to all of our buildings, many of which have on-site gyms and changing facilities, fitness classes (including ‘Les Mills’), and cycle storage with lockers, you can say goodbye to your costly gym membership, which costs on average £40.53 per month.

There are other ways in which you can save money at the office too. You can take advantage of the amenities and opt to shower, blow dry and straighten your hair, make tea and coffee, charge your devices and heat your lunch in the microwave at the office, so you don’t have to do it at home. In fact, you could save up to £28.00 per week by integrating these habits into your office routine - which works out at £112.00 per month. 

Although it might initially feel like the safest option, working from home is about to come at a very high price. Get into the habit of going into the office now to start seeing your money go further - especially as the cooler weather sets in. Come together in dedicated workspaces to boost your mood and sense of community, all whilst you save money. You don’t have to - in fact, you shouldn’t - navigate the cost of living crisis alone. Book a workspace with Bruntwood today to get you out and about, without breaking the bank.