The Side Hustle Alternative: Saving Through Employee Perks Instead of Earning More

When your budget is feeling pinched, you may feel inclined to take on a second job. While everyone has seasons where financial demands increase, extra work isn’t the only solution. Support your budget with robust and relevant benefits through employee perks.

Discount programs and financial perks maximize your earnings without the time-intensive demands of extra work, meaning you can maintain a better work life balance and still maintain your personal and professional development. With the support of the right benefits package, you can ensure that your hard work doesn't lead to burnout and poor job satisfaction.

1. Essential Expenditures

You’ve got to eat, so why not save money while you shop? Gain access to member-only pricing at an exclusive rate using your employee discount platform. With a membership to a warehouse store, your grocery budget shrinks.

Support your busy family’s nutrition and schedule with meal kit deliveries. This convenient service makes home-cooked meals easy and affordable with employer discount programs. The added wellness benefit that comes from pre-planning meals is also a unique perk for those focused on health.

From cleaning supplies to paper goods to textiles, shop using your discounts and layer the savings. Some platforms permit shopping through site aggregators, which offer cashback savings. Maximize financial perks using sales and coupon codes to further reduce your final cart price and make your perks program feel more in line with your family's specific needs.

2. Home Base

Lowering housing expenses frees up room in your budget for years to come. If you’re renting, check out discounts from major property management companies. Or, if you’re in the market for a home, explore employee discounts on buyer services. Trust us, nothing provides more employee satisfaction than when you can save big on the biggest expenditures.

Employee-only discounts for real estate support, lending, and home improvement services can mean big savings. Even a quarter percent discount on your mortgage interest rate can result in thousands of dollars saved. A savings of $62 monthly balloons to over $22,000 in 30 years.

Typically, when you move into a new home, there are projects you want to tackle right away. Use your discounts to shop for fence installation, home security equipment, and service, and cleaning. With a firm foundation, your new home will be ready just the way you like it. Done right, it can even open up savings on a gym membership and other health benefits.

3. Transportation

No matter where you live, you need safe and reliable transportation to get around. Keep your vehicle running in good condition with discounted auto maintenance using Working Advantage commuter benefits.

With good maintenance, your vehicle will be more reliable, and you can monitor emerging issues more closely. When it's time to replace your tires, tap into team members' discounts for a price break on those big-ticket items. Plus, as you complete routine maintenance, you can time your purchase in sync with discounts and save accordingly.

4. Family Care

Lower the cost of childcare with discounted rates on summer camps and daycare. Often representing a large portion of a family‘s budget, childcare expenses can be stressful, especially when your first worry is often eligibility requirements. With workplace discounts, you save money and buy back time you’d otherwise lose working an extra job.

Support your children’s education with discounts on tutoring and instruction. With discounts for in-person education and online support, your discount platform can support every need.

Make back-to-school season easier with lower prices on school supplies, clothes, and personal care. Have your kids looking and feeling their best with the additional perks they need to start the school year with confidence.

5. Health and Wellness

Bolster your health benefits with enhanced health and wellness support through workplace wellness programs. Claim popular gym memberships using your corporate discount that fits your lifestyle. Whether your go-to is intense instruction or a club with childcare, corporate wellness solutions can help meet your individual employee needs.

Maximize your flexible spending benefits by shopping for eyeglasses and contacts on your perk platform. Whether you shop on sites specializing in eyewear or at your warehouse store, savings abound.

Your mental health with online therapy and wellness apps, with your affordable employee benefits. Enjoy a massage, energy work, or meditation at a discounted employee rate to achieve total wellness and savings.

6. Rest and Relaxation

Make the most of your vacation time and use your paid time off to recharge. On average, employees in America forfeit half their vacation days annually. Neglecting to take time off can result in mistakes at work, lower well-being, and increased burnout potential.

Sometimes, employee workloads make it feel like time off is impossible. Other times, budgets are too tight to allow for vacations. Thankfully, your work-life balance benefits can reduce your overall expenses and make vacations possible.

Leverage or employee perks to shop for everything for vacation. Layer flight discounts from your work perks with smart shopping dates and airline-branded cards. Earn points and miles when you shop every day and get access to upgrades and discounts. Secure lodging that gets the job done or is the star of the show.

At a theme park, where you stay can be part of the experience. Make magic happen and save for once-in-a-lifetime experiences abroad or at a family theme park. The more you incorporate discounts into your habits, the more you maximize your budget and time for the whole family.

Maximize Savings and Time Through Workplace Perks

By strategically leveraging employer perks, you can meaningfully reduce your household budget. The more you save through your perks program, the more money you have for retirement savings and other goals.

Employee discounts represent a component of your financial strategy, making room for more pre-tax savings and a brighter financial future. Consider your employer's perks as part of your compensation and as your partner in financial wellness.