5 Money Habits of Remote Workers That Shrink Their Paychecks
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), more than one in five earners in the U.S. — 22.6% — work remotely. Financially and professionally, working from home has plenty to offer — no commute, greater scheduling flexibility and the comfort of home, sweet home.
However, the trappings of remote work can also be costly.
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The home office lifestyle opens the door to a handful of seemingly small money mistakes that leave telecommuters with less of the income they work so hard to earn, especially for those who succumb to more than one.
Eating Your Income With Food Deliveries
The 2020 COVID-19 pandemic was a watershed moment for remote work, and the impact on America’s culinary culture was swift. In the waning days of 2021, Restaurant Business reported that home workers were opting for food deliveries in such large numbers that traditional sit-down eateries had to adapt to survive by prioritizing the growing flood of Uber Eats, DoorDash and Grubhub orders, whose average order costs were $18.20, $14.87 and $12.88, respectively.
At the time, the publication called those prices a “major premium.” What a difference five years can make.
Many more recent reports show that the trend of remote workers gravitating toward food deliveries far more than traditional workers has held fast — but prices haven’t. Multi-location restaurant marketing agency Spice reports that the average per-order cost on the big three food delivery platforms grew to between $35 and $55 in 2026.
Overpaying for Car Insurance
The primary advantage of working from home is that you don’t have to drive to a jobsite or office. The obvious savings are on gas never pumped and wear and tear never endured — but many home office workers neglect to revisit their insurance policies, which might cost them even more.
According to Insurify, the average adult drives 13,500 miles per year, and those who drive fewer than 10,000 should consider pay-per-mile policies. Alternative providers such as Lemonade, formerly Metromile, start at a flat monthly rate of $30, plus a few cents per mile, but many major carriers now offer per-mile policies, too.
Those who drive fewer than 7,500 miles per year earn a “low-mileage” designation, where the savings can really add up with telematics programs — $231 less per year with Progressive Snapshot, for example, or 40% off the premium with Allstate Drivewise.
Subscribing More Than Average — and Average Is a Lot
A study from the membership and subscription tracking app Resubs found that the average person thinks they spend $86 per month on subscriptions, but actually spends $219 — that’s $2,228 per year.
Since remote workers typically spend more on streaming media, music and other subscriptions due to extended time at home, it’s likely they’re raising the average and spending more than even the typical user.
Inefficient Utility Usage
The U.S. Department of Energy estimates that you can save 10% on your utility bills simply by adjusting your thermostat by seven to 10 degrees for eight hours per day while you sleep at night and are away at work during the day. That second option isn’t available in the home office, and as Rythm Energy notes, greater daytime usage during peak hours jacks up utility bills, so remote workers should take steps to rein them in by:
Choosing time-of-day energy plans if you can control when you plug in the most.
Choosing fixed-rate plans if your schedule doesn’t allow much flexibility.
Considering renewable energy plans, if available.
Using smart power strips to cut power to devices when not in use.
Heating and cooling only the home office or other rooms used during the workday.
Overspending on Tech and Internet
USA Today notes that many remote workers spend between $80 and $120 per month for gigabit plans with 1,000 Mbps download speeds, or even up to $300 for multi-gigabit plans, because they overestimate their bandwidth needs.
However, Novos Fiber states that most telecommuters, including those with substantial file-sharing or video-call needs, can work efficiently and reliably with plans between 25 and 100 Mbps, which typically top out at $50 per month.
This article was provided by MoneyLion.com for informational purposes only and should not be construed as financial, legal or tax advice.
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