5 Simple Ways to Save from the Commute

There are so many ways to save money. You may start preparing meals at home instead of eating at restaurants, or clipping that extravagant cable subscription since you’re not always at home to enjoy it anyway. Then there is also the commute. Since you commute every day to and from work, try to find ways to save from it since a little every day goes a long way.

According to a 2015 survey, Americans spend an average of $2,600 a year from commute. But this is the median number. Your commute may be more expensive than this. Luckily, there are a myriad ways of scaling back on commuting expenses. Here are some of them.

1. Carpool

Not only will you be able to save by carpooling, it can also be fun. Imagine you and some of your friends or officemates in one car, singing along to today’s greatest hits. You can survey who among your neighbors work in the same area as you, or who among your officemates live in your neighborhood. You can take turns driving and using one’s car. You may also take advantage of the carpool lane, which means you don’t only save on cost, you also save on time.

2. Use public transit

This depends on your area though. So you have to do some calculation on whether it’s cheaper to ride a train or a bus compared to driving your own car. If it’s cheaper to go on a public transportation, then you should definitely do that. Not only are you being economical, you are also saving yourself the effort of driving and the stress of traffic and nasty drivers. There are so many things you can do while in transit: you could sleep, do some work like reading and replying to emails, or read a book. You could be more productive that way.

3. Maintain your vehicle

If driving your own car to work is more economical, then make sure you regularly check in your vehicle for maintenance work. Spending for the regular maintenance work is so much cheaper than spending for engine work. Part of the maintenance is making sure you are using the appropriate motor oil for your vehicle.

4. Avoid tolls

Why pay the extra $5 if you can reach your destination without paying? Imagine what $5 could buy--$10 if you count both ways. All you have to do is wake up a bit earlier in order to save toll money for something more important—say an emergency fund.

5. Take it easy on the brakes

More fuel is used up when you step on the accelerator and the brakes. Stepping on the accelerator is a must, but you don’t need to slam on the brakes all the time. Keep a distance of at least one car from the vehicle in front of you. This way, you can see the car slowing down, which will then allow you to anticipate when to step on the brakes—do so very slowly.

There are so many other ways to save on your commute. All it takes is a little bit of research and some creativity.