Going back to the office is costing hundreds a month. Here’s how to shift your mindset and save

Coffees. Lunch. Transit. Parking. Gas. New clothes and shoes. Extra child care — and less time for home life.

These days, many Canadian workers are facing the daily grind with less money in their pockets — returning to the office is costing them hundreds of dollars every month.

Hardest hit are Canadians with fixed incomes, long commutes and single parents with young children.

Experts agree that stress, especially financial stress, is a great enemy of workplace productivity and overall happiness.

So, if you’ve been asked to come back to the office, consider these ways to save before spending.

Negotiate a hybrid schedule

Even one less day per week in the office cuts commuting, food and wardrobe costs by 10 to 20 per cent. The way to approach this with your employer is to use business terms like “opportunities for white space at home” and “fewer interruptions allowing for more focused work.” You can pitch it as a trial period with specific KPIs (key performance indicators of success) and/or ask for team-based co-ordination like choosing “core days” to be there.

Optimize commuting

Carpool and rideshare when you’re in-office. Think about time-shifting your commute so you’re not travelling at peak times (super stressful), and consider what errands you can knock off your list near the office to save on time and travel later. Think about what’s possible being near the office; can you squeeze in your workout at the office’s gym for a fraction of the cost? If you can walk or cycle to the office, take advantage.

Plan those meals

Savvy meal and coffee planning/packing is the one of the biggest and most predictable ways to save $15 to $25 per day. If you have a dedicated workspace, keep non-perishable healthy snacks there to avoid impulse buying. Do some batch-cooking on the weekend for your in-office days, or put together a lunch the night before. Making lunch from the previous night’s leftovers is always a win.

Shop from your own closet first

Before replacing your work wardrobe, what do you already have that can be restyled, deep cleaned or mended? Though I’m 100 per cent work-from-home and have been for 11 years, I’m going through this exercise with the goal of curating a capsule wardrobe (fewer, interchangeable, high-quality pieces). Once you know what you’re missing and what would help elevate your look, pick those things up as they go on sale, using up store credits and gift cards. 

Ask about employer-supported offsets

Your employer might have commuter stipends, discounts on local food options, child-care subsidies, free subscriptions to audio books, wellness apps like Calm or Headspace, credits for cellphone data, free access to learning programs like LinkedIn Learning, even wellness funds that can be used for gym memberships.

Maximize the benefits of being in-office

It’s that lemons into lemonade thing, so try to use the in-office days strategically. Schedule high-impact meetings, collaboration sessions with your whole team, leader one-on-ones and skip all the creative deep dives that you need quiet space for.

Use the opportunity to increase visibility and boost social capital by having casual conversations with decision makers. This can lead to faster approvals, or you being top of mind for opportunities including promotions. Informal mentorship can naturally happen and you’ll probably learn something you didn’t know.

Most importantly, try reframing “this is soooo not worth it” to “what’s possible for me today because I’m at the office?” Is the commute itself much-needed peace and quiet from a busy home? Is social connection with colleagues and nearby friends a way to boost your mental health? Is the hiring manager for a role you’ve applied for in-office that day? Can you swing by their work station to properly introduce yourself? This shift in thinking will also help you make peace with the increase to your costs, too. 

For the employers out there, stats show that amidst high inflation and a shaky economy, right now cash is queen. Better pay, flexible hours and maybe even the occasional free lunch will go a long way to making your teams happier at work — not another bean bag chair, motivational speaker or foosball table.

This article was originally published in The Star. Lesley-Anne Scorgie is a Toronto-based personal finance columnist and a freelance contributing columnist for the Star.