Saving Money on your Commute
The modern-day commute can be an expensive part of our monthly budget. In this post I discuss a few simple strategies on how to save money on your commute.
The idea here is not to completely stop driving a car (if you own one), but instead to introduce some changes to your spending habits at a pace that meets your comfort level.
With this in mind, let’s take a closer look at how you can save on your commuting expenses.
1. First, if you own two cars, consider switching to a one-car household, saving money on car insurance, fuel costs, and maintenance expenses. These days, you can rent a car by the hour from a service such as Zipcar.com or use an app based services like Uber.com or Lyft.com which leverage the internet to offer you a ride whenever you need it.
2. Alternatively, you might consider renting out your car to other people through online services such as relayrides.com
3. Carpooling is another proven method to save money, cutting down driving stress and saving on gas costs; it can also make your trip faster if your commute has carpool lanes. Gauge interest amongst your colleagues or try social networks to find carpooling companions.
4. If you live within a reasonable distance from where you work, consider riding the bike, walking or running. Even if you only do it once a week, you still save on petrol/parking and get more fit too.
5. If possible, catch public transportation from time to time. They are often cheaper than the combined costs of petrol, maintenance, and parking. Plus, relaxing with a book is always a nice way to get to work.
6. When you do use your car, drive at a slower pace and minimize vehicle accelerations and brake usage for the benefit of reducing fuel consumption. One way to do this is to keep a light touch on the pedals.
7. Additionally, keep your tires fully inflated as part of your monthly routine. It’s probably one of the easiest ways to save on gas money and improve efficiency.
8. Another way to improve efficiency is to get rid of any extra weight in your car. Every extra pound reduces fuel economy and performance.
9. Needless to say, keep the air-conditioner off when not needed. Using the AC burns more fuel and puts more of a load on your engine.
10. Familiarize yourself with gas prices along your commute. Some stations tend to have lower prices than others. Frequent those gas stations and see if they offer rewards cards.
11. Still on the topic of gas stations, there is very little advantage using premium fuel so aim for the cheaper option recommended for your car.
12. If one of the gas stations you frequent offers a reward card, sign up for it and use it as often as possible.
13. Finally, combine work and personal trips to not only save money but also maximize your time.
These are just a few ideas to consider. Remember, every single saving act contributes to your financial goals.
* If you’re looking for more inspiration to help you on your personal development journey, you may want to check out my extensive list of SMART goals. This page is packed with thousands of different goal ideas that can help you set new aspirations and reach higher heights in your life. Personally, this page helped me to create my own 100 life goals list, which I pursued for over a decade.
Chief Editor
Tal Gur is an impact-driven creator at heart. After trading his daily grind for a life of his own design, he spent a decade pursuing 100 life goals around the globe. Tal's journey and recent book, The Art of Fully Living, inspired him to found Elevate Society.
