Do you know how to save money on your commute? Read on and find out!
Another day, another commute, right? This constant come-and-go can be physically and emotionally draining, but besides, this long-term commute can also drain your wallet.
Owning and maintaining a car is essential, but it is not cheap. Include the money you have to pay at the pump, and just do the math. This can be a significant financial burden for many individuals. A survey by Bankrate shows that the average American commuter spends $8,466 per year just on the trips they have to do for work. This is 19% of their total income!
Hopefully, there are still many ways you can save money on your commute, and I am here to share them with you. I’ve been commuting already for ten years, and this is how I’ve discovered these amazing tricks that will help you use that money to buy something for yourself. Let’s see how you can cut back on those expenses!
1. Try to use public transportation
Ok, ok I know that most of you don’t like the idea of public transportation. Besides the fact that it is not always available, it can seem like a burden to not use your car. It is more comfortable to just hop in the car and hit the road, but considering all the costs involved, you might also want to consider this idea.
In my first years of commuting, my car was literally an extension of me. I used to spend so much time in my car that it got weird during the weekends when I didn’t need to use it all day.
All was well until one day when my car broke, and this is how I ended up using public transportation. After a few months of this, I realized that it was actually one of the best ways to save money on your commute.
So, if you live somewhere where you can catch a bus, train, or other type of ride, you can give it a try. You don’t need to do it all year, but maybe in the spring or fall, it can be the perfect solution to save money on your commute. Do this one month and see if the money you save is worth it for you to continue doing this.
2. Think about fuel costs
Right now, fuel prices fluctuate more than ever, and this is a challenge for many of you who want to save money on your commute. It is also a challenge for me right now, and due to this, I always try to do my research before going to the pump. Doing this will help you not leave a fortune at the gas station.
But what do I mean by doing your research? Well, you can start by going to the nearest gas station and checking out their rewards programs. Anyone who travels by car in general, not just those who commute, should be part of a program like this because all the advantages it offers are too good to be missed.
At first, you will probably not have a lot of discounts, or at least that was my experience five years ago, but as time passes and points accumulate, you will notice a difference when you look at the balance of your account.
Cashback options, discounts, and points can all be used to get a lower price at the pump. Usually, the way it works is pretty straightforward. With every gallon of fuel that you purchase, you will accumulate points. If you are a long-distance commuter, this will definitely be a bingo for you the same way it was for me since it is the most effective way to save money on your commute.
Also, if you always want to get the best prices no matter what gas station you choose, your best ally by far is GasBuddy. This is an app that will let you find the cheapest gas in your vicinity. People love this app; I love this app, and I am sure that if you give it a try, you’ll find it useful.
3. Can you get transportation benefits from your employer?
This one is not one of the ways to save money on your commute that I experienced firsthand, but I have friends who get such benefits from their jobs, and they seem quite happy with them.
There are enough employers who understand that commuting is not easy and is also not forgiving to your wallet, and because of this, many of them are open to discussing and offering you some benefits that can make your commute more pleasant, at least in terms of money.
I have two examples here. One friend of mine is more than happy with the fact that he receives parking benefits. Besides commuting, he also has tasks at the job where he needs to drive around the city, and because of this, his employer will pay for all the parking. Considering that he works in a city, this is extremely helpful and eliminates a lot of stress related to parking and the money he would need to spend on parking if this program were not a thing.
The other friend doesn’t even need to use her car because the employer has a shuttle bus that picks up all the employees from that area, takes them to the job, and when it’s time to go home, it also takes everyone back.
As you can see, there are some options to save money on your commute; you just have to ask your employer and see if any are available for you. Also, another popular way to save money on your commute with your employer is to take advantage of the pre-tax transit passes.
4. Becoming a geo-commuter might be an option
This was an interesting period of my life. I had two jobs in the city, and my commute was something like 1 hour just one way, so 2 hours spent on the road in total. It was incredibly exhausting, and I was thinking about dropping the jobs and finding something closer to home.
You can imagine that it was terrible, but what piqued my interest was that I had one colleague from one of the jobs who was coming from the same place as me, but when I was leaving to go home, he never went in the same direction as me. But this is not strange. What baffled me was that he was in our town every weekend but never on the weekdays when we were working.
This is how I found out about the concept of geo-commuting. I practiced this for 10 months, and right now I don’t regret it. The story is so much longer; finally, I moved for good into the city, but this is not what’s important now.
What this colleague was doing was actually smart. The money I used to spend on fuel and other travel expenses was used to rent a very small studio, which was right across the street from the place we used to work. He told me that he was living there Monday to Friday, and then Friday after work, he would hop into the car and drive to our town, where he would spend the weekend.
He suggested that I try the same, and to be honest, it was one of the best decisions of my life and also one of the best ways to save money on your commute. At that time, it was suitable for my lifestyle, and I can understand how this would not work for many people. But if you think you can survive like this, why not give it a shot?
I consider that these are the main strategies to save money on your commute, and on this list, you can probably find something that is suitable for you. Also, if your commute is not that long, you can always try to switch your car for an e-bike or some other vehicle that can make your commute more enjoyable and a lot cheaper.
If you have any other ideas or stories, you can share them with us in the comments!
No matter what you do, it is essential to be hydrated. While on the road, don’t forget to take your water bottle with you, especially in the summer: IRON °FLASK Sports Water Bottle
You should also read: 7 Airport Tricks to Save Money on Travel
