Sometimes a story resonates and you need to rush to the TV to scribble down the name of a hardy, native, perennial, plant-something-or-other. Before you know it you're heading to the nursery twice on the weekend to tick of the ever-growing list ... Having Costa for company is proving costly!

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1. Tea. Three cups of tea a day is fine for some; two in the morning and a green tea after dinner. However, that is positively pre-pandemic. These days you need four cups before lunch and two before school pickup. Sometimes you don't finish them but you make them all the same! It may have something to do with your office's close proximity to the kettle. Since the kids went back to school, the sound of a boiling kettle is company enough. When you find you can no longer get to sleep at night, you switch to Aveda comforting tea after dinner and between the hours of midnight and 3am. Your total tea bill (TTB) goes through the roof. You may be eligible to claim up to $150 a month. (You could also claim you are a teatotaller but, if you're anything like me, that would be false. Never lie on your tax return!) Expense: $900
2. Lurpak. When having immune-boosting soup for your al-desko lunch, you can always justify a high ratio of butter to toasted sourdough. Without any fear of judgmental and preachy work colleagues, you can get away with a whole lot more than seven scrapes. If you're going through a tub of Lurpak every couple of days, however, you may have a problem. (I know I do!!) Expense: $200
3. Plants. With Gardening Australia on in the background from 10am to 11am weekdays, Costa, Jane and Tino have become like your new distant family. However, sometimes a story resonates and you need to rush to the TV to scribble down the name of a hardy, native, perennial, plant-something-or-other. Before you know it you're heading to the nursery twice on the weekend to tick of the ever-growing list of essential shrubs. This would never happen in the real office. Having Costa for company is proving costly! Expense: $1000
4. Heating. While you know 18 to 20 degrees is a sensible temperature for home heating, WFH sometimes requires you to be more comfortable. I'm talking Queensland-comfortable! Given we're not even allowed to migrate north (thanks Annastacia Palaszczuk), we can do Queensland right here. Your quarterly energy bill may just about break your bank, if not, your heart! Expense: $3000
5. Red wine. With no daily commute, happy hour starts on time, or even early, now. This can cost a fortune. When you've drank the cellar dry and are on to the port and stout, you may be in trouble!! Having skipped FebFast this year, I'm seriously considering Dry July. Expense: $1000
6. Water. While you used to save the washing for the weekend, now you may do smaller loads during the week to procrastinate over a work task. This uses extra water on top of your bottomless cup of tea. (See above). Expense: $800