Today, we’re continuing our series on upgrading or moving your office.

When I was a kid, I watched the game show “The Price is Right” all the time. The show is still on today, although Bob Barker hasn’t been the host in quite a while.

The basic idea of “The Price is Right” is that contestants have to guess the correct price of an item in order to win.

The same is true when you’re considering the price of an office outside the home. If the price isn’t right, it’s not going to work. So, the first element I want you to think about for an office is whether you can afford it.

When I was looking for an office recently, my limit was $500/month. I was not willing to spend any more than that. Fortunately, my current office is $400/month because I signed up for a longer lease period.

Hang on, though. As they say on infomercials, “But wait, there’s more!”

I’ll admit my ignorance here. When I inquired about my current office, I didn’t realize there would be other costs. Let me break it down for you.

1. There is something called “triple net,” which I’d never heard of. It means that certain costs of building upkeep are split between renters. For me, that’s about $30/month.
2. I didn’t realize I needed renter’s insurance as well. Turns out, I do! That’s another $35/month.
3. Turns out the Wi-Fi in this building is pretty bad, so if I wanted good, solid internet, I needed to have it installed myself. That’s another $60/month. I mistakenly assumed that when you rent an office, fast Wi-Fi is automatically part of the deal.

Those were all surprises to me, but there were some other costs I HAD anticipated, like the duplicate cords, cables, and office accessories I would need to set up a second office. I had most of these from my old college office, but I took the opportunity to upgrade my desk mat and Apple mouse and keyboard. I also bought a couple of bookshelves for my new office.

So, all told, I’m in for a little over $500/month, plus around $300 I’ve spent on some accessories and duplicate items for a second office.

Is it worth it? For me, it’s a no-brainer. The new sense of energy and productivity I feel has been priceless. I could never get that by staying at home all day or going from random coffee shop to random coffee shop.

The expenses I’ve listed might be out of your range right now. No worries. But I’d also ask you this: what is the price of staying in your current situation? If you don’t feel productive or happy in a home office, maybe it’s time to consider switching it up.

I also want to add that renting an office is not the only solution for working outside the home. You might also consider some businesses or churches in your area that have vacant offices and would be willing to cut a deal.

Before signing the lease on my current office, I strongly considered approaching some churches in your area about using an office a few days a week in exchange for doing some writing or content work for them. There are lots of creative solutions!

But don’t just take my word for it. Everyone’s situation is different. For me, renting an office was the right step. It might not be for you. I just ask that you consider whether you’re happy with your current work area, and what you could do to change it.

Today’s Challenge: Think about what you would be willing to spend on an office outside the home. On the flip side, if you’re not happy working from home, think about what it might be costing you in terms of mental health or productivity.