Carpooling
A proven method of saving money on a commute is to share a ride with other people, commonly called carpooling. If you and one or more people work at the same place, or in the general vicinity of each other, and your work hours coincide, you can all save money by piling into one vehicle and making the commute together. It will help considerably if you also live within a short distance of each other. The object is to spend as little money as possible to get everyone to and from work in a comfortable, timely manner. Most people who car pool trade off the driving responsibilities by taking turns, alternating by the day, week, or month--whatever time period or manner the group chooses. Everybody will share the expenses of the commute equally, unless some special circumstance comes up. An example might be that one of the riders is dropped off well before the others, and picked up at the same place, so they’re actually not going as far as the rest of the group. Therefore their share of the expenses may be reduced.
Public Transportation
If you live somewhere that has public transportation, you may want to consider using it rather than driving back and forth to work every day. Determine how much it costs you to commute to and from work in your car and compare it with the cost of taking a train or the subway. You may also want to take travel time into account when you’re trying to decide between the two. Letting someone else drive can reduce your stress level considerably, and this could be an important consideration--unless the possibility of missing the bus or train would cause even more stress. This choice is only valid if you live somewhere where reliable public transportation is available.
Get Your Exercise While Commuting
Another option is to get some exercise during your daily commute. Riding a bicycle or walking to and from work is a viable option for anyone who lives close enough to make it feasible. During pleasant weather the commute can not only increase your overall physical health, it can also be an absolute pleasure to be free of the confines of a motorized vehicle. Unfortunately, that kind of weather doesn’t happen every day, but you still have to go to work, so you will have to be willing to brave inclement weather. If you purchase proper raingear, you can still enjoy the walk or bike ride to and from work. Keep in mind a commute of this sort will undoubtedly take more time, so you should plan your day accordingly. You may also have to allow time to refresh yourself before work.
Fuel Efficient Vehicles
Driving a fuel efficient vehicle can also save you money during your commute. If you’re used to driving a full-sized SUV, a compact car may seem confining, but modern small cars are very comfortable. If you opt for a fuel efficient car with all the amenities you had in your SUV, you may not even notice the difference. Small cars can even be used for carpooling. Although some people may feel cramped, the money they save may make up for it. A small, fuel-efficient car can get upwards of 35 miles per gallon in stop-and-go driving--a significant savings over a full-size SUV which would more than likely get less than half that amount in city driving. Over the course of a year, the savings in gasoline expenditures would be considerable.
Even More Fuel-Efficient Vehicles
If you would like to save even more money on your commute, there are motorized vehicles that are even more fuel-efficient than a compact car--motorcycles, motor scooters, or mopeds. These two-wheeled vehicles are capable of going a hundred miles or more on a gallon of gas. If your commute is 25 miles each way you would burn one gallon of gas every two days. The same commute in an SUV would use considerably more than that. The savings can really add up as time goes on. Of course, you’ll have to deal with the weather by dressing accordingly.
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