Working from home is a blessing in itself! Many people (including myself) enjoy the comfort that comes along with a home-based job. I started working from home 10 years ago, and I have truly enjoyed the experience thus far. In fact, I have no regrets at all! So, what's the big deal about working from home anyway? Well, let's take a closer look at the whole work from home phenomena.
What are the advantages of working from home?
One of the main advantages of working from home is the flexibility and comfort of not having to leave your home. Generally speaking, when you work from home, that's exactly what you do...You complete your job requirements and duties at your place of residence. Sounds cool huh? You bet! Here are a few other benefits of working from home:
- You will save an abundance of money on transportation costs and travel expenses
- You'll save money on food--Since you're working from home, you can simply eat at home during your lunch break
- You'll save money on clothes/uniforms - That' right! You can even work in your pajamas if you choose to do so.
- You can even save money on other important things such as daycare expenses (since you will be at home with your children)
- You might even qualify for big tax breaks (or credits) from the IRS
- Some companies will even provide you with the necessary office equipment to perform your job duties -- or they might simply reimburse you for certain office related expenses (e.g. phone or Internet expenses)
- And last but not least, you will have the opportunity to spend more time at home...You won't have to worry about being away from home all day or night--and you can spend more time with your family.
What are the disadvantages of working from home?
Although there are many benefits of working from home, there are a few cons, too. However, the benefits of working from home definitely outweigh the disadvantages. Let's take a quick look at a few of the cons:
- Lack of communication with others - If you enjoy being around people, or love having co-workers sitting next to you in a cubicle, then working from home might be a challenge. However, quite often you will still have co-workers (even when you work from home); and it's possible that you will interact with them sometimes via phone, chat, and/or e-mail.
- Office expenses- If you choose to work from home be prepared to spend money on work-related items, such as a computer, desk, office chair, printer, Internet service, etc.
- Lack of privacy- You must set boundaries with your family and friends when you work from home. If not, you will have to deal with unexpected interruptions from them. Be sure to inform your family and friends of your work schedule in advance.
- Technical issues- It happens to all of us at some point. The Internet suddenly goes down, or your computer becomes infected with a nasty virus. Unfortunately, when things like that happen, the burden normally falls on you (not the company you work for). So, always be prepared, and have at least two reliable computers at home (and a back-up Internet connection available).
As you can see, there are pros and cons of working from home. But as I stated earlier, the pros definitely outweigh the cons on any given day. So, if you are considering working from home, I say go for it! With a little patience, time, and effort, you are bound to find the right home-based job with the right company.
