@octavient

I often spend upwards of $150 per month in coffee shops, where I do much of my (remote) work (25+ hours per week). Since I don’t pay office rent, I perceive these expenses as replacing my fixed rent costs, and I tend to spend more money at coffee shops when I’m camping out for a 2- to 4-hour work session, so these expenses strike me as legitimate business expenses. Has anybody gone down this road with the IRS? Is anybody aware of any official guidance or precedence for this?

Has anybody ever encountered a travel gear manufacturer that makes gear that is solid and durable, but that is intentionally designed to look old and crappy? For international travel, I want good, durable gear, but I’m uncomfortable walking around with slick, brand-new-looking, expensive-looking gear (especially with my family in tow). I’m happy to snatch up any good used gear (reduce, reuse, recycle) that we’re lucky enough to encounter, but selection is limited, and durability is often compromised. Seems like there’d be a decent market for some durable but ragged-looking travel gear. What i have in mind is luggage, backpacks, laptop cases, smartphone cases, camera bags, infant/toddler carriers, etc. I’m sensitive to the preppy fad of clueless, well-off westerners dressing up like the poor in naive but trendy mockery, but that’s not what I’m after, here. I just want good gear that doesn’t put a target on my back as we traipse around various parts of the world. Anybody have any thoughts on this…?