Commuting has always been one of the most inconvenient and expensive aspects of professional life. Americans saved an average of $2,000 per person on transportation costs during the pandemic shutdowns, totaling $758 million per day since the outbreak began in March 2020.
Though some companies are committed to long-term remote work, many workers return to the grind. Many people commute to work for more than an hour each day. Those who drive spend money not only on petrol and car maintenance but also on parking.
That is why commuting costs are rising in terms of both time and cost. So, how can you save money when commuting? Here are some amazing tips that can help you lower your commuting expenditures and save money.
1. Stretch Your Gas Mileage
Purchasing a fuel-efficient vehicle is one apparent approach to save money, but you may also improve your gas mileage by making other driving decisions. Here are some suggestions to follow:
- Maintain the condition of your vehicle. Simple things like making sure your tires are properly inflated will help you get better gas mileage.
- If both spouses drive different cars to work, use the more fuel-efficient.
- Avoid driving during peak hours. When you leave a bit earlier or later, you can save money on gas while you’re stuck in traffic congestion.
- Reduce the amount of weight in the car. Unnecessary goods can lead to a reduction in gas mileage.
2. Ride a Bike
Consider investing in a commuting bike if you live within a few miles of your workplace. It may easily pay for itself in less than a month. Putting your car in the garage and biking to work instead may save you a lot of money. You can also consider a bike share if you live in a big city, eliminating the burden of storing and maintaining a bike.
3. Get an Electric Vehicle
While electric vehicles have a bad image for short-range and expensive pricing in the past, today’s electric cars are affordable. They can save money on gas while also providing other environmental benefits. Furthermore, depending on your place of employment, you may be able to charge your phone for free while you work or receive access to express lines to save time going to and from work.
4. Use Public Transport
Even if your local bus route does not run door-to-door, you can try taking it to get as close to your destination as possible by walking or cycling. By doing so, you can avoid the trouble of finding and paying for pricey city-center parking.
It is usually cheaper to acquire travel cards rather than pay for individual fares on most modes of public transportation. Many employers provide employees with an interest-free season ticket loan, allowing them to purchase the less expensive annual ticket while repaying the loan each month.
5. Share a Cab
Carpooling allows you to spread commuting costs among a group of individuals, which is especially useful in locations where public transportation is limited. Most states and counties offer databases where users can find ride-share partners or vanpools with similar commutes and timetables.
However, it also increases your safety if an Uber driver isn’t careful and you are injured. You can sue for damages by hiring a competent lawyer specializing in Uber accidents.
6. See if Your Company Provides Commuter Benefits
You’re wasting money if you don’t take advantage of commuter benefits. The idea is straightforward: you may use pre-tax money from your paychecks to pay for parking and mass-transit passes which include the metro, bus, train, and ferry. You can save 30 to 40% on public transportation, which might amount to hundreds of dollars each year.
7. Look for Coupons and Special Offers
You’re probably picturing yourself spending ten hours a week painstakingly cutting coupons from periodicals, but those days are long gone. There are now entire websites dedicated to finding coupons for customers like you. These websites aggregate useful coupons that will help you save money in all areas of your life, including your transportation budget.
You can save money on your commute in a variety of ways. When you look at the expense of commuting, you might be astonished at how much money you’re wasting. Hopefully, making a few adjustments would result in significant cost reductions.
Even if you can only save a small amount, taking the effort to understand and alter your costs will make you feel more in charge of your finances and perhaps save you more money in the long run. And that can make even the most arduous commute a little more bearable.
