Are you one of the millions of people who shifted from office life to working from home?
When my office closed at the beginning of the coronavirus pandemic in March 2020, I figured that I would only be working from home for a month or two.
As you know very well, that assumption was wrong.
After a few weeks of working from the couch, I cleaned off my desk in our spare room and made it work.
As the pandemic wore on, I made gradual changes to my office setup until it was “fine.”
It worked for what I needed, but it was in major need of a full upgrade.
When we bought our new house, I decided it was time to finally get all of the pieces together for a proper WFH set up.
Thanks to the beauty of Amazon, I was able to set up my entire work from home office for under $500.
Are you looking to furnish your home office on a budget?
Read on to see the pieces that I picked and links to buy them for yourself!
*This post may contain affiliate links, which means I’ll earn a small commission if you purchase through my link at no cost to you. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.
The Desk: Cubiker Computer Desk
As great as my garage sale desk was, it wasn’t right for what I needed to work from home.
Since I’m easily distracted, I need nothing more than a clear surface with a little extra storage to do my best work.
This desk is just long enough to put my whole setup together while still having room for one of the cats to lounge next to me on a self-warming pad.
Plus the storage bag gives me a place to keep papers that are in progress.
The desk stays clear, and I stay organized!
The Chair: NEO CHAIR
When my office closed, I had to leave my expensive ergonomic chair behind, and I didn’t have a few hundred dollars to replace it.
I scoured the reviews for hours and took a chance on the NEO Chair, and it was the perfect fit.
The ergonomic mesh build helps me stay comfortable for hours without feeling strained.
And since I’m 5’2″, I was thrilled to find a chair that didn’t leave my feet hanging off the ground- and it fit my 5’7″ husband, too!
Since the NEO Chair is so comfortable and inexpensive, we caved and bought a second to replace my husband’s desk chair.
The Monitor: Acer SB240Y Bbix 23.8” Full HD Monitor
Between writing for Level Up and my 9-5 job as a data analyst, I couldn’t live without a second monitor for long.
I cringed looking at the super fancy models that had all kinds of features that I was never going to use.
I scoured through the reviews again and decided to give Acer a try.
The screen has been perfect for what I need, and the colors and image are look great.
While this may not be the perfect monitor for someone who does a lot of graphic work, it has served my needs perfectly.
The Riser: VIVO Height Adjustable 32 inch Stand Up Desk Converter
I gave up some serious perks when our office closed, including an electric sit-stand desk that allowed me to work on my feet at a moment’s notice.
Knowing that a similar desk would cost me several hundred dollars, I went looking for an alternative.
I settled on the Vivo desk convertor after watching a few videos on the website.
With the press of a button, the riser lifts to whatever height I specify.
It uses a pneumatic spring lift, so no electricity required!
This means that I can lift it high enough to stand at my desk or just lift it so my husband is sitting at an ergonomic position when he borrows my desk.
Plus it has a keyboard tray and fits my laptop and second monitor.
What more can you ask for?
The Wireless Keyboard and Mouse: Logitech MK270 Wireless Keyboard and Mouse Combo
Since I’m using a second monitor and my laptop is elevated on the riser, I needed a separate keyboard and mouse- or risk serious muscle strain.
When I found this Logitech keyboard/mouse combo that only cost a little more than a wired set, I knew it was the perfect fit.
The USB receiver plugs right into my laptop, and I can use them anywhere I go, whether I’m at my desk or working somewhere else.
The Headset: Logitech H390 Wired Headset
I can easily say that this headset is one of the best purchases I’ve ever made.
This is truly not an exaggeration.
When I started working from home, I was training new employees over Zoom and recording sessions daily.
And my computer has a horrible microphone.
I’ve been using this headset for every Zoom call since, and it has worked flawlessly.
I even used it while I was working on my patio, cringing when an airplane flew directly overhead.
The person on the other line didn’t hear a sound.
If you need a new headset, this is the one to buy.
The Docking Station: Sabrent 4-Port USB 2.0 Hub
My company upgraded my laptop a little bit ago, and it came with a new challenge: fewer USB ports.
Which didn’t work well with my new wireless keyboard and mouse and headset.
I didn’t want to trade USB ports each time I needed to use something else.
And I needed to use my headset and keyboard at the same time.
I wasn’t able to get a docking station from the office, and our team budget was tight.
So crossed my fingers and picked up this USB hub- and it solved my problem.
I can leave all of my USBs plugged into it at all times and use each piece as needed.
It’s a small easy fix for a daily frustration!
The Floor Pad: Kangaroo Anti Fatigue Cushion Mat
My WFH office has hardwood floors.
Have you ever stood on hardwood floors for a few hours at a time?
The Kangaroo Mat has been a lifesaver for my feet and legs when I lift my desk riser up, which allows me to stand and work for hours at a time.
I love this mat so much that I bought another for in front of the kitchen stove.
I think I may get one for the laundry room next!
Bonus: The Chair Cushion: Xtreme Comforts Seat Cushion
My husband picked up this seat cushion as a perk when he started working from home.
While my desk chair cushion was fine, he made me realize how nice it was to have a cushion when you work sitting for 8 hours straight.
Plus, since it’s portable, it also works great for airplane trips – it has saved my back on international plane rides!
Still a Little Too Pricy? Check Out the Honey app!
Thanks to Amazon’s constantly shifting prices, there’s a chance that these items may add up to over $500 on any given day.
Or maybe $500 is too much for your budget right now!
Enter your new shopping assistant, Honey!
How does Honey work?
Do you log into Amazon wishing that you could save more money on the place that sells literally EVERYTHING?
Since Amazon doesn’t allow you to use third-party coupons or earn cash back without their credit card, it can be really hard to save money on Amazon.
That’s where Honey’s Droplist function comes in!
Once you download the Honey browser extension, a button will appear on your shopping screen that will let you add it to your Droplist.
When the price of an item you added drops, Honey sends you an email to let you know right when it happens.
No more waiting and wondering “When is this item going to go on sale?” and hoping it will fit your budget the next time you check- if you even remember to check.
Outside of Amazon, Honey will automatically apply relevant discounts to your cart AND earn you cash back for 800+ retailers including Walmart and Target.
All you have to do is hit the Honey extension button at checkout!
Is Honey legit?
Yes, Honey is legit.
In case you don’t want to take me at my word, here’s my summary from Honey for 2021.
Not bad, right?
Plus I got $30 in cash back from shopping on Macys, Fabletics, and Ulta- which I redeemed for Amazon gift cards!
If you’re ready to learn more and download the Honey extension, click here!
My Work from Home Office Picks
It’s possible to set up your WFH office on a budget- and it’s even easier with the Honey app!
What does your work from home office need? What other ways do you save money on Amazon and online shopping? Share your answer in the comments below!
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Really great setup!
I have the Neo Chair and I’m not a fan! Do you have a chair suggestion for someone with lower back/hip pain?
Hi Jenny, My husband has lower back/hip pain as well, and the cushion that I have listed here was a total gamechanger for him. He couldn’t sit for a long time on any chair before getting the cushion, but now he sits on his Neo Chair for 8+ hours/day. He’s also used it on uncomfortable car seats and airplanes, and it has decreased his pain significantly. Hope that helps!
These are great. Just started working from home so these are awesome ideas.
I also set up my home office on the cheap! I love it too. Thanks for the post
I also work from home but don’t have a real office (my kids stuff is everywhere lol) so I’ve made it my mission to create an adequate office space for myself. These tips should come in useful!
These are amazing ideas! I love my standing mat to help break up the routine of sitting all day. Thanks for sharing what you love with us!
Super timely post as we are setting up to blog and work from home permanently. Love the suggestions, and the budget – most people can swing $500 if needed to set up a room.
As a work-from-home mum I know how important a good home office is. We don’t all have lots of money to spend on it so this post has been very useful. Thanks.
Great post! These are some awesome picks. I do need a new comfortable chair and a headset. I will try the honey app also. You have made shopping for home office supplies and equipment so much easier. Thank you for sharing!