Contributed post
We all have to work to make a living. That much is obvious, right? If we want a set income rolling in each month, we have no choice but to head out and face the daily grind. And, many of us have to travel for the privilege. In an ideal world, our dream jobs would be close by and convenient. But, the world is rarely ideal. As such, the perfect career could be as far as an hour away.
That, of course, would leave you with no choice but to commute. This is increasingly becoming the case, with house prices in inner-city areas skyrocketing. Many of us will never have the opportunity to move closer. So, we have to bite the bullet and face the commute we’re given.
Just one issue. Commuting can set you back a lot over the course of a year. Once, seasonal tickets on public transport were the cheapest way to avoid this. But, with train prices jumping by an average 3.4%, many of us have been priced out of this option. As such, we have no choice but to take to our cars. But, to say that this is cheap would be an overstatement. What with petrol and maintenance, many of us spend significant portions of our earnings this way.
The good news is, there are options for saving money here. And, we’re going to look at what they are.
Car share
Speak to anyone about saving money, and they’re sure to point you towards a car share scheme. And no, we’re not talking Peter Kay and Sian Gibson. Car sharing isn’t just for television screens. In reality, it’s a fantastic way to cut commuting costs. In some areas, government initiatives offer reduced rates for those who opt to car share. This is especially prevalent in busy cities, such as London. Even if you don’t live in an area which offers this, sites like http://gocarshare.com could make you money on your free seats. Or, you could simply ask around in the office, and come to an agreement with a colleague. The chances are that someone will be willing to share with you. Of course, this isn’t going to make you a fortune. But, by coming to an agreement with your passenger, you may find you can split fuel costs for the journey. Over time, that’s a substantial saving you’re making. And, if you want to remove insurance and tax costs, you could always become the passenger instead.
Ride to work
Another government initiative which may be worth your time is Cycle to work. Obviously, this isn’t going to work for you if your commute is over half an hour or so. But, for those who don’t have far to go, there’s no reason this shouldn’t be an option. Not every employer uses this scheme, but those who do allow you to buy a bike of up to £1000. You do then pay that loan back but in affordable monthly amounts. And, you stand to rid yourself of commute costs altogether. It’s a dream come true.
Of course, there are benefits of cycling to work, even if this isn’t a scheme your employer uses. The upfront cost of a bike is much less than that of a car. And, you don’t have to pay tax, fuel, or MOT costs. Once you have the goods, you can get going. The only maintenance you need to worry about here is your bike servicing costs. But, if you get serviced at least two times a year, these shouldn’t exceed £25 or so. Taking care of your bike will also ensure it doesn’t end up costing you. And, let’s not forget that cycling each day is sure to do your health a world of good. So, why not give this a go and see how you get on?
Drive carefully
If you drive carelessly, there are a few different ways your commute could end up costing you more. For one, an accident would lose you money in a variety of ways. You’d lose hours at work, and may even have to pay out on insurance before seeing anything back. Driving fast also puts you at risk of damaging your tyres, and burning your petrol.
If you drive carefully on your commute, you can lessen these risks. Of course, you can still have an accident when driving carefully. But, you’ll be able to approach an accident lawyer like those found at https://www.craigswapp.com/spokane/truck-accident-lawyer/, safe in the knowledge that you aren’t at fault. As such, any expenses are sure to come back your way tenfold. And, you can also maintain the condition of your car better when you take this slow. Thus, repair costs are sure to be lower.
Shift your work hours
While 9-5 working opportunities are becoming less common, this is still the norm for the majority of workers. As such, you can be sure that roads and trains at this time are busier than at any other time of day. As such, you’ll be stuck in traffic for longer, and will pay peak prices for your train tickets. As such, it may be worth asking your boss if you can shift your hours a little. In an increasingly flexible working world, it isn’t unreasonable to ask if you can move your start and finish times to avoid the rush. You could start earlier, or later, depending on which your boss is happiest with. As long as you work the same length of time, you’re unlikely to come up against opposition here.
The chances are that this move will make a big difference to your fuel costs. No longer will you have to spend time idling in queues. And, this move could also put public transport back on your radar. Off-peak tickets are often substantially less money than those at prime times. So, broach the subject with your boss and see how you get on. Explain the situation, and make sure that they understand you aren’t trying to shirk your work.