Between rising fuel costs and forever increasing public transport fares, there appears to be no such thing as a cheap commute. With recent research revealing that the average commuter will spend £66,000 on travel costs during their working lives, it’s clear that more advice is needed on how to keep these costs to a minimum.

On Your Bike!

Aside from walking to work, this is by far the cheapest commute option as it doesn’t involve public transport or fuel costs. Plus, arriving at work on time will no longer depend on other people as you ride solo, cutting through the bad traffic. Of course some purchases need to be made, starting with a decent bike and the necessary safety equipment (helmet, high vis clothing, etc.) to ensure your protection on the road. However, if you buy wisely and take good care of your equipment, then it should last you a significant amount of time and keep the cost of your commute down. Furthermore, if your employer is involved in a Cycle to Work scheme, then you can receive financial help as they pay for your bike (and perhaps even some accessories), and then you pay it off via a number of monthly installments.

Sharing Is Caring

It makes sense, if someone is traveling to the same destination as yourself, to share the fuel expenditure by lift sharing. You can also split the price of any tolls or parking, allowing you both to reduce your spend even further. The more people who lift share, the less cars there will be on the road therefore choosing this method will also help to reduce traffic and emissions. So how can you get involved? Obviously, https://resumediscover.com/ suggest you to prefer to share your lifts with someone you already know, so check with colleagues and even friends that don’t necessarily work at the same company but who work nearby. If you don’t have any luck, then why not put a notice up at work? You may feel nervous approaching unknown co-workers at first, but think of the friendship you could make and of course the money you will save! Check out websites such as liftshare.com and blablacar.com to discover people making the same commute as you in your area.

Season Ticket Savings

Unfortunately, many commuters have no choice but to use public transport for their commute and with both bus and train fares continuously increasing, it’s difficult to find a way to cut costs. The best advice we can give you is to make sure you’re using season tickets as paying one lump sum will always save you money and hassle in the long run. Furthermore, you can ask your employer for a season ticket loan if you cannot afford the single payment and this will enable you to pay it back in monthly installments. Further savings can be had by investing in a PLUSBUS ticket which helps you to save money by reducing petrol and parking costs as you take the bus instead of your car to the train station. If you are eligible for a railcard then make sure you buy one in order to take up to a third off your fare.

So take control of your commute and try these money saving tips. Unfortunately, public transport fares are likely to continue to increase, therefore make a stand and force the government to realize the adequacy of these services by cycling or lift sharing instead. Remember, your employer may be able to help you with your commuting costs, so always ask about your options.