Home Office Saving Tips

Working from home has become increasingly popular in recent years. But the home office setup poses some challenges to both employees and employers. This guide offers simple tips to help you reduce costs related to working remotely.

1. Use free collaboration tools

Task management and collaboration are key building blocks of most businesses. Large companies generally require – and can afford – costly paid tools. But there are plenty of free options which suit the needs of most small businesses just fine. Examples include the free basic versions of Trello, Slack (team collaboration) and Asana (task management).

2. Try free remote desktop access software

Remote desktop software provides a simple but effective way for you to access your company’s computers and data remotely. Free remote desktop applications include Windows Remote Desktop, screen sharing in Max OSX and Google’s Chrome Remote Desktop, to name just some. Note: Remote access is data intensive. You can compare high-speed Internet plans using the comprehensive Swiss Internet plan comparison on moneyland.ch.

3. Claim tax deductions for home offices

If you set aside a portion of your home strictly for use as a home office, you can claim a tax deduction for the cost of that space. The primary requirement for claiming this deduction is that your employer does not offer you an alternative workspace and does not cover the cost of your home office. The exact requirements and deductions vary between cantons.

As a general rule, you must complete at least 40 percent of your annual work hours from your home office in order to be eligible for this deduction. Whether you can deduct the costs in full, or only as part of the flat deduction for professional expenses, depends on which canton you live in.

It is also worth noting that if you have to pay for necessary purchases yourself, you can deduct the costs from your taxable income, within certain limits. The limits vary between cantons. The limits applicable to federal income tax are explained in the guide to widely-applicable Swiss tax deductions.

4. Get the right internet plan

High-speed Internet is a basic requirement for many employees. If your home Internet connection is not suitable, you can easily find the right Internet plan using the interactive Swiss broadband Internet plan comparison on moneyland.ch. The comparison makes it easy to find the cheapest Internet plan which matches your needs based on the plans which are available at your home address.

5. Use the best phone setup

If your job involves making a lot of phone calls, using the right phone plan at home can help you avoid high telephone bills. You can use the moneyland.ch landline phone plan comparison and the moneyland.ch mobile plan comparison to find the most affordable plans for the calls you make.

If you only expect to work from home temporarily, find out whether your company’s phone plan offers SIP-based calling. This allows you to place and receive calls through your standard business phone number right on your mobile phone using an SIP app.

6. Save on equipment purchases

Working from home often necessitates the purchase of professional equipment like computers, printers, phones, books, stationery, and specialized tools and machinery. Taking the time to compare prices can save you a lot of money because there are huge differences in prices charged by different merchants. Online price comparison platforms make comparing prices on many products simple and fast.

7. Invest the money you save

Working from home can greatly reduce your costs for eating out and commuting. It is advisable to invest these savings at the best possible conditions. Depending on your risk profile and your financial situation, the right solution for you may be a savings account, pillar 3a account, pillar 3a fund, stocks, ETFs, or other securities.

Regardless of which savings or investment solution you decide to use, it is important to compare offers. You can compare bank accounts, investment services, and retirement saving solutions on moneyland.ch. 

More on this topic:
Interactive broadband Internet plan comparison
Savings tips for small businesses
Widely-available Swiss tax deductions explained