Cutting Back can be as Simple as Watching Office Supply Waste

With a tough economy comes tightening of the belt in areas that may have been previously overlooked.  If you’ve got the job of cutting down on office expenses, you’ve got quite a challenge!  But you need not despair – remember, even the smallest of [...]]]>

With a tough economy comes tightening of the belt in areas that may have been previously overlooked.  If you’ve got the job of cutting down on office expenses, you’ve got quite a challenge!  But you need not despair – remember, even the smallest of cutbacks can add up to more significant savings.  Following are 10 money-saving tips for cinching the office budget.

1.  Save on Electricity – Install timers on office lighting so lights automatically shut off when no one is in the room.

2.  Coffee Caddy – Most employees have no idea how much coffee an office can go through.  Encourage everyone to contribute to a coffee fund by putting a collection can in the break room, and label it with the current monthly average of money spent on coffee, filters, cream and sugar so everyone is aware of the money needed to keep the coffee brewing.  Ask employees to be on the lookout for cheaper supplies when shopping.

3.  Cool Down – Rooms that aren’t in use can be left unheated during winter months.  Shut vents in unused areas of the building.

4.  Take it Down a Notch - For the rest of the building, try turning the heat down one or two degrees.  Yes it’s true, this will be one of the less popular decisions, but kindly explain to all that it’s necessary to keep the costs down.  Just make sure you don’t knock the heat down too far in money-saving exuberance, however, or you’ll end up with chilled and unhappy workers!  That’s not so hot either.

5.  Printing Techniques – Print on both sides of the paper whenever possible.  And when it’s not necessary to print, don’t.  Encourage everyone to refrain from printing for personal use too.  You’ll save on paper, toner, and electricity, not to mention wear and tear on the printer.  When you’d normally print reports, etc., for clients and customers, try sending it electronically.  Let your customers know it’s the more environmentally friendly choice.  Most people will know – and understand – that it’s both an environmental and an economic choice.

6.  Reign in on Incidentals – Most of us have gotten accustomed to Sticky Note usage, but remember there once was a time when they didn’t even exist!  Try saving scrap papers and cutting them into quarters to be used for note taking.  Paper clips are reusable and in the long run will be a cheaper solution.

7.  Cleaning Up – Cleaning supplies can be a huge drag on the office budget.  Thinking of the price tag attached to the mounds of paper towel, glass cleaner, and other cleaning products can make one’s head spin.  Try purchasing a few spray bottles and filling them with water and vinegar.  Or purchase something like the ActiveIon (pricey at the get-go but well worth it) to avoid regular replacement of cleaners.  Buying reusable cotton cleaning cloths instead of disposable paper towels will cut down on expenses, not to mention all the extra garbage.

8.  Dry Out - For bathrooms and break room areas, replace paper towel dispensers with reusable cotton cloth hand dryers or air dryers.  The initial investment means never having to dole out for disposable paper towels again.

9.  Break Room Cut-Backs – along with the reduction of paper towels, cleaners, and coffee expenses, make sure the break room is supplied with reusable dishes and silverware instead of disposable.  Again, you’ll be cutting back on trash volume.  Encourage everyone to wash dishes immediately after usage.  By mixing 1/4 cup of dish soap (or less) in an old bottle mixed with water, you’ll hardly ever have to replace that soap!  Most are highly concentrated and can handle being greatly watered down without losing their potency.

10.  Ask for Employee Input – Holding a meeting, or simply going around the office and asking for ideas, is a great way to get everyone in on the spirit of cutting back.  Ask people what they’ve done in their own homes to decrease expenses, and see how you can implement those at work.  Most people will be more than happy to share their ideas, and when they see them put to use in the office, they’ll be glad they were able to contribute in any way possible.

It’s the small expenses that often sneak by us, adding up to a big problem.  But by taking a closer look at the little money leaks, you’ll make quite a savings in the long run.  Be sure to calculate the expenses before and after, and share them openly with everyone.  Explain it’s for the benefit of all, not just the company’s bottom line.  Sure, cutting back can be hard and it does mean sacrifice on everyone’s part, but being open and honest with employees when it comes to trimming the fat by cutting down on office expenses will ensure you have not only  everyone’s participation, but their enthusiasm as well.