How a Cafe One Yearly Coworking Subscription Saved Me Money (and Stress)

By Tobi Adebayo

I didn’t wake up one day and decide, “Ah yes, let me become a coworking person.” I was just tired. Tired of working from home where NEPA and my neighbour’s generator were always fighting for who would ruin my meetings, tired of unstable internet and of the low‑key loneliness that starts to creep in when you’ve been working alone too much. 

Sometimes, I’d go days without talking to anyone because I’m cooped up at home, working on a project or trying to meet a deadline. You know that feeling.

So I started going out to work. Nothing serious at first. One day at a coworking space. Another day at a café. Some days I stayed home and managed. I told myself I was being flexible.

What I didn’t realize was that I was slowly stressing myself out.

How “Managing” Became Expensive

On paper, it looked harmless. Just a daily pass here. Coffee there. Extra data bundle. Transport. Small small expenses.

But somehow, my money was disappearing.

Every morning came with the same questions: Where will I work today? Will there be power? Will the internet be fast enough for calls?

The daily mental gymnastics before 9am was very draining.

The Day Everything Clicked

One afternoon while working at Café One, I sat down and decided to actually check my spending. I opened my notes app and started adding things up: daily passes, café bills, data, everything.

What I realized shocked me!.

I was spending more money trying to “be flexible” than I would have spent just committing to one solid solution. That was the day I signed up for a yearly Café One coworking subscription.

And honestly? I wish I had done it sooner.

What Changed After I Subscribed

The first thing I noticed was the peace of mind. I stopped thinking about where to work every day because I already knew. There was a workstation, steady internet, power, and a calm environment waiting for me.

Second, once I’d signed up for the Cafe One coworking subscription, my productivity improved. Once I wasn’t worrying about logistics, my brain could finally focus on actual work. Not survival mode. Actual work.

Third (and very important): my money made more sense. One payment. No random charges. No surprise expenses sneaking up on me. I could actually budget properly.

I wasn’t just saving money, I was saving myself from stress.

The Maths That Finally Made Sense

Let me break it down the way it finally clicked for me.

At the time, the daily Cafe One coworking rate was about ₦6,310 with a Café One card. Now assume you’re working a regular 20 days in a month.

That’s: ₦6,310 × 20 days = ₦126,200. Which is basically the same as the monthly plan sitting at about ₦126,209. So yes, paying daily looks flexible, but once you’re coming in consistently, you’re already paying monthly money, just in a more stressful, fragmented way.

Now here’s where it got interesting.

When I opted for the yearly Cafe One coworking subscription, the cost broke down to less than the monthly rate when spread across the year. On top of that, I got a discounted rate, priority access, and a few extra perks that honestly made the value impossible to ignore.

Instead of paying full monthly fees over and over again, I was paying less overall, with zero pressure and more benefits. That was when I knew I’d made the right call.

Then Café One Did Something Even Better

Just when I thought I had figured things out, Café One introduced the universal coworking plan. With one subscription, you can work from any Café One hub across the country. It was a gamechanger for me!

I subscribed in Lagos, then life happened and I had to travel to Abuja. A couple weeks later, I had to be in Owerri for a work event and by month end, I was in Enugu for a friend’s wedding.

Normally, this would have meant struggling to work in whatever hotel room or relative’s house I found myself. And if I did go to a cafe, I’d have had to make new payments and explanations.

Instead, I just walked into Café One like, “Hi, I’m here to work.” Same subscription. No extra payment. No stress. That flexibility alone is priceless.

Why Am I Telling You All This?

Life isn’t static anymore. Work isn’t either. Some weeks you’re in your city. Other times you’re visiting family, relocating temporarily, or just need a change of environment.

Your workspace should be able to move with you. Mine does now, thanks to Cafe One.

Somewhere along the line, Café One stopped being just a place I worked. The staff knew me. I started recognizing familiar faces. It felt comfortable… Familiar. That sense of belonging matters more than people admit.

So… Was It Worth It?

Absolutely.

If you’re constantly trying to figure out where to work, spending money in bits and pieces, or feeling mentally exhausted before the day even starts, a yearly coworking subscription might be the reset you need.

For me, it didn’t just save money. It gave me structure, consistency, ease, and peace of mind. These days, I don’t overthink my workday. I already know where I’m going.

Sometimes the smartest move isn’t working harder, it’s choosing a workspace that actually supports your life.