 TITLE: How to Pay for a Home Office Upgrade CONTENT: What Do You Need in a Home Office?\n----------------------------------\nBefore you start planning out your home office, you'll need to get a realistic idea of how much your dream setup will cost. Prices can vary greatly depending on tastes and quality, but here's a general idea of what you can expect to pay for the main equipment and essentials you may need:\n*   **Office Desk**: You can find a basic work desk, with or without drawers for storage, starting at around $200. A high-quality standing desk could cost you anywhere from $500 to $800.\n*   **Work Chair**: Since you'll likely be sitting in it for hours at a time, shelling out for a high-quality chair can really make a difference. While a basic task chair can be had for $50 or less, an ergonomic office chair with adjustable features could cost around $200 to $300. If you're game for it, top-of-the-line Herman Miller office chairs can go for more than $1,000. For this price, however, you'll get a supremely comfortable and adjustable chair with a long-lasting warranty.\n*   **Computer**: A desktop or portable laptop that's powerful enough for work doesn't have to break the bank. You'll likely need to spend a minimum of $400 to $700, depending on what's available when you shop. Before you buy one, make sure you understand what's necessary for your job, and if you're limited to a specific operating system for the software you need to use. If you're focused on minimizing costs, you could consider buying a refurbished or open-box laptop from Best Buy or another retailer.\n*   **Monitor(s)**: Setting up one or two monitors may take up a lot of space, but extra screens can ease tedious work, such as comparing data or reading detailed text. If you're on a budget, you can likely find a monitor that's perfect for home-office use for around $150. This is another arena where the sky's the limit, though. If you're so inclined, a curved ultrawide screen with all the bells and whistles could cost more than $1,000.\nDepending on your setup and the nature of your work, you may also add some additional equipment to your shopping list: headphones, a printer, webcam, laptop stand, and a new (wireless, maybe) keyboard and mouse. All of this could add up to a couple hundred dollars depending on what you buy.\nFor anyone required to participate in regular video conferencing or give presentations, you may also want to add aesthetic purchases to your list, like office decor to place in your background. You could also add a ring light or even a pop-up green screen to your shopping list. END