Creating a Home Office on a Budget

Working from home is becoming increasingly popular in this digital age. However, remote employees are often left without a space to do their jobs efficiently and without distraction. Here are a few things you can do to build your own home office without building up your credit card debt.

Buy Used or Clearance Items

Large items like printers, ergonomic chairs, desktop monitors, and laptops can quickly put a dent in your wallet and leave you with little spending for much else. Shopping in budget-friendly stores (think Wal-Mart or The Dollar Store) instead of big-name office supply shops can save you money on your pricier needs. Hitting up the clearance aisle or thrift stores for things like pre owned desks, older version laptops, and on-sale pens and paper can leave you with a larger budget for other office necessities

Optimize Space

Figuring out where to put your home office can be difficult. While you want somewhere you can focus, updating, organizing, and repurposing a whole room in your house can be costly and time-consuming. Consider sectioning off a corner dedicated to work using a stand-alone screen or hanging a curtain rod. If you are easily distracted, using a space that doesn’t already have a designated function, like an attic or basement can be a cheap way to keep you focused.

Decorate Yourself

Just because you are on a budget doesn’t mean you can’t make your workspace creative, inspiring, and comfortable. Grab your overalls and paintbrush and cover the walls with a relaxing color- doing it yourself instead of hiring outside help can not only save you money but can also help you hone your home improvement skills. Adorn your desk with pictures of family and friends or your kids' artwork for some personal flair.

Being a stay-at-home employee should be an easy way to earn income while saving on things like transportation costs and professional attire. Follow these simple steps so creating your home office won’t put you in debt.

Absolute Beginner’s Guide to Buying Antiques

So you’re ready to graduate from flat pack furniture to something a little classier. Maybe you’re thinking you’d like to add some quality antiques to your home inventory. If you're more used to furniture that needs to be assembled with an Allen wrench, there are a few things to keep in mind, when you’re looking for antiques.

Be Prepared to find it... or not

Whatever you're looking for, you might not find it right away. Antique stores can’t manufacture pieces to your specifications, after all. The hunt is part of the experience and part of the fun, but just as you must be prepared to keep looking, you should also be prepared to move fast when you do find what you’re looking for. If you wait and come back later, it might be gone. So be prepared with packers and movers St Louis MO or your area, so you can lay down your money and get that perfect piece home ASAP.

Do Your Research

The internet is an incredible resource. Most professional antique dealers use the internet to identify and price their antiques, and so can you. If you’re concerned about the quality, or simply wanting to know more, the internet is only a few clicks away — or you can ask the shop owner if they know any more about the piece you’re interested in, or the thing you’re looking for.

Cold Hard Cash

Antique dealers are generally small business owners. Some of them don’t even take credit cards, and most of them won’t have a system for layaway. On top of that, sometimes you might find that a better bargain is available if you’re willing to pay cash. If you can pay cash, make sure the dealer knows that. It doesn’t hurt to ask if there’s a discount for cash sales. Soon enough you’ll be antiquing like a pro!