Samantha “Sam” Duckworth is a 20-something college graduate with an emerging interest in all things financial. By day, Sam works in technology plugging away at databases and report building. In her spare time, her interest in the world of finance has culminated in her blog, Ducks and Dollars which was started in November, 2009. Sam is motivated to show others that it’s not impossible to set financial goals and to actually meet those goals.
For a couple years now, I’ve had the privilege of working from home. I work with a large company doing a job I’ve been in for years, but I get to do it in the comfort of my own home! And often, in the comfort of my pajamas!
I haven’t always been in a work from home position. When my husband and I moved to North Carolina, I approached my boss to see if there was any chance I could work remotely (from home) in North Carolina. To my surprise, he was willing to let me do this. It was a huge help in our move to North Carolina, as it relieved a lot of financial pressure associated with the move. But more than that, I’ve saved a lot of money during this time.
I have saved money in basically three areas – food, transportation and clothing. To start with, I have no commute and therefore, my car is driven very little. It requires little gas and less maintenance (fewer oil changes, etc). At one point, I considered selling my car because it gets driven so little. But, I know I won’t be in this job forever, and financially it doesn’t make much sense to sell it right now.
Additionally, I rarely spend money on lunch. When I get ready to have some lunch, I walk into my kitchen and pop something in the oven (this also helps me eat healthier)! The same goes for dinner. I often get dinner started while I’m finishing up my work day. We rarely go out to eat dinner since I’m already home and willing to cook a meal.
It’s assumable that I’ve saved money on clothes. For the past two years, all clothing purchases have been casual clothes (with a few exceptions). My professional attire tends to be more expensive and needs more care – dry cleaning, alterations, etc. Having no need for this over the past couple of years, has passively saved me money.
In addition to clothing, I’ve saved money in other areas that complete my professional image. Most work days I don’t bother to put on any makeup (scary, I know). As a result, I haven’t had to make as many makeup purchases. Although, I probably haven’t saved a ton of money here because I’m a make-up geek and buy new stuff all the time. It’s my guilty pleasure…at least I’m buying E.L.F. and not Mac! 
Lastly, there’s an opportunity cost (savings) with working from home. Being at home and not having a commute gives me more time. This has given me the power to spend more time looking for ways to save money. I create a meal plan each week and often look for deals on the items I need to buy. When my Husband and I are planning a large purchase, I have more time available to comparison shop and find the best deal.
I’m forever grateful to my boss for giving me the opportunity to work from home. It’s taught me so much about communication and I’ve really learned how to depend on myself when it comes to work problems. Perhaps most importantly, my time spent as a remote employee has provided me with additional penny-pinching skills. I know that when I return to a job in a physical office, I’ll take some skills with me that will help me to continue to save money!
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