The freelance lifestyle is envied by many, but understood by few. Common misconceptions about freelancing include ?it's an easy way to make money,? and ?it's almost like a vacation because you don't have to go into the office.? However, there are other hidden costs of freelancing that are foreign to most standard office workers, including self-paid healthcare, quarterly taxes and the costs of setting up a home office. There is no one-size-fits-all solution for healthcare or taxes. However, every freelancer can cut office startup costs by employing a few simple tricks for discounts.



Why not put together a new place of business on the cheap, using discount codes and promotional coupons?

Some companies offer business discount memberships. The sole proprietor or business owner joins this company, and is eligible for discount coupons and promotional codes -- redeemable for office supplies; computers and other technology; furniture, and more. Applying coupons and promotional codes in tandem with other discounts like mail-in rebates and store discount specials can really help freelancers to cut costs when setting up a home office.

I've got coupons, I've got discounts, I've got promo codes ? who could ask for anything more?

If you truly want to cut costs, it's not enough to use discount coupons and promotional codes. You should also buy your equipment and supplies from the retailers with the lowest overall prices, and consider incorporating some do-it-yourself (DIY) elements into your office setup. The following list of ideas ? combined with discount coupons and promotional codes, of course ? should enable you to set up your home office at a deep discount.

• Some furniture can be built using common materials found around the house. Bookcases are a great example of a DIY furniture possibility. Brick-and-board bookcases cost next to nothing to assemble, and look great, especially in modern-style offices. Accent shelves are also simple and cheap to build ? you need only purchase lumber and some hanging materials. You can even build your own desk ? simply place a large, sturdy board across the top of two filing cabinets, and stain the board as you like.



• You can also save money on furniture if you purchase it unassembled and put it together yourself. Most people think of Ikea when the topic of discussion turns to put-it-together-yourself furniture. However, there are other outlets ? often cheaper, too ? that sell this sort of furniture at deep discounts. Wal-Mart and Target are two great places to try. Dollar General and other larger dollar store chains often also sell assemble-it-yourself furniture. Some of the furniture is quite attractive, too.



• You needn't spend top dollar on brand-new technology. Purchasing a central processing unit (CPU), RAM, a motherboard, and casing separately often costs much less than purchasing a ready-made machine. If you want to save even more money, eschew the Windows Vista operating system in favor of an open-source Linux interface. You can download and install open-source operating systems like Ubuntu and Fedora Core for free. Bonus: For many applications, Linux is more secure and more reliable than Windows Vista, and is less of a memory hog.



• Save on software ? go open source. Why shell out hundreds of dollars on the Microsoft Office suite when you can download and install the OpenOffice suite for free? Modeled after office suites like Corel, Microsoft, and Word Perfect, this suite includes a database program, a spreadsheet program, a slideshow program, a vector graphics editor, and more. Similarly, if you can't afford Adobe Photoshop, consider installing The GIMP, which combines the best features of Adobe Photoshop and Illustrator to enable you to create and edit graphics. If you want a free, no-frills word processor, download and install AbiWord. It is a very light, easy-to-use, cross-platform-compatible writing tool.



• Buy in bulk. The more of any item you buy, the more money you will often save. For example, if you're a work-at-home journalist who's constantly interviewing people, you will go through pens and notebooks rather quickly. Buy large packs of pens and notebooks, and you'll be buying each item at a discount. The same rule applies to adhesive, stationery, or any other office item you'll use frequently.



• Buy used. Scour CraigsList, Ebay, and thrift stores for items that you shouldn't skimp on, like ergonomically correct office chairs and durable filing systems. You might pay half of the item's original value ? or even less ? if you purchase it gently used.



• When setting up your home office, combine promotional coupons and discount codes with smart shopping and savvy do-it-yourself techniques. It is possible to set up your freelance business without going over your budget!