Erin from Curbly has created a stylish (and deductible) home office space for less than $100, by shopping at Goodwill and IKEA and making innovative use of cheap supplies:

IKEA Hensvik Bookcase [left of picture]: $59.99

Goodwill desk/chair painted white: $18.00

Goodwill lamp: $4.50

Goodwill mailbox painted black [hanging on wall]: $.50

Office Depot mini-storage unit [on top right]: $3.99

Office Depot file folders [black/white paisley]: $2.99/3 pk.

Goodwill remaining decor [top shelf]: $8.50

Grand Total: $96 [and then some].

Erin recommends sticking to a color scheme when picking out your items. She also recommends putting your money into the bigger pieces and being creative with the smaller ones. “I used a goblet for a pen holder, a utensil tray for my desktop, a soap dish for a paper clip holder, and some paper hat boxes for miscellaneous supplies.”

This is just the sort of space you need to have to qualify for the home office deduction, and even if you don’t work from home, having an office space to pay your bills increases the likelihood that you will be organized enough to pay them on time. —MEGHANN MARCO

9 to 5 for $95 [Curbly]

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