Working from Home doesn’t mean you actually have to be at home and with the cost-of-living crisis set to deepen as we move into the colder, darker months, we explore why co-working could be the cheaper option.
1. Energy use is communal
Home offices (whether that’s in the garden or on a desk in the corner of the bedroom) can be particularly expensive in winter – not just in terms or heating, but also in terms of lighting. According to analysis by price comparison site Uswitch, remote workers typically use 75% more gas per day over the winter months and 25% more electricity than those who spend five days a week in the office.
Not only do people from home use more energy to keep themselves warm, they also use more in terms of powering laptops and screens, making lunch and hot drinks – even charging phones. With prices set to rise even further, energy bills could soon become astronomical.
That’s why it makes sense to co-work. Not only are energy bills included in the price, but as there will be more people using the space, it’s a much more economical – and sustainable use of energy.
2. Free refreshments
If, like us, you’re a bit of a coffee snob and like to treat yourself to a barista-made coffee during your working day, you’ll have noticed the increase in price. Unlimited, freshly-ground coffee from a proper machine is one of the many benefits of co-working membership. Your wallet will definitely thank you for it – just make sure you switch to decaf occasionally or you’ll be bouncing round the workspace.
3. Save on gym membership
Access to wellbeing activities is something we pride ourselves at Square Works and we offer weekly pilates, meditation and yoga sessions for our members, for free! Meaning you can cancel your yoga classes and save yourself upwards of £30 per month. Pair that with an active commute to work by bike or foot and you can probably lose the gym membership too, saving in excess of £700* per year! You could also benefit from partnerships with local gyms by getting access to discounted memberships.
4. Work productively in luxury
We’re not saying you live in a hovel – but it’s unlikely that your home office set-up is going to be quite as enjoyable as a professionally designed workspace with ergonomic furniture, reprographics equipment and easy access to state-of-the-art meeting rooms.
*Based on an average monthly membership of £30 per month.
