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How to save money on transportation

Save money on transportation.

Save Money on Transportation

The price of gasoline is as high as it’s ever been, but there are still many ways you can save money on transportation.

Here are just a few of them:

Use public transportation

Public transportation costs much less than owning a vehicle and is also better for the environment.

This may not work for people who do not have easy access to public transit, but if you do, it might be a good idea to check out how much it costs to use that, rather than owning a vehicle.

Maintain your vehicle

If you do have a vehicle, it is very important to maintain it properly so that it lasts as long as possible.

Routine oil changes are important, but there are also other things you need to do – check your owner’s manual to see the maintenance schedule and follow it religiously.

Shop around for insurance

It takes a bit of time, but it may be worth it to get insurance quotes from a bunch of different companies instead of just going with the company everyone else seems to be with. You could potentially save yourself hundreds of dollars (or more) every year.

Buy a fuel-efficient vehicle

Don’t buy a big gas guzzler if you can’t afford it. Invest in a vehicle that is the most fuel-efficient. This will save you a huge amount of money in fuel costs over the long term.

Empty your trunk

You shouldn’t keep anything in your trunk except an emergency car kit. The more weight that’s in your trunk, the more fuel you are using. Remove everything from your trunk that is not essential.

Combine errands

Combine all of your errands into one trip, if possible. This will not only save you money on fuel costs but will save you time as well.

Carpool

If you work with people who live near your home, consider carpooling to save money on transportation? One week you drive everyone to work, one week someone else does it. This is a great way to save some cash and also get to know your co-works a bit better!

If you’re not careful, getting around can be expensive. Sometimes the cost of owning a vehicle is just not worth it. Take public transit, walk, ride a bike – do what you can to save.

Just because the cost of gas has increased doesn’t mean you are destined to stay home forever. Be creative and make sacrifices to get your transportation costs lower. It’s worth it.

Do you have any tips for saving money on transportation?

Comments

  1. Marianne

    If your employer will compensate for mileage, do the paperwork. I thought it wouldn’t be worth it and hadn’t done it for 5 years. Apparently I average $30/month that I wasn’t claiming. That’s half a tank of gas!

  2. Marianne

    Oh — and if you have a vehicle with removable seats (like older minivans) — consider removing them if they are not used. My DH’s van get 28-30mpg on the highway with all unnecessary seats removed.

  3. Tanya

    Walk! I know this isn’t possible for everyone – especially if you live out in the suburbs, but if you are in the city, walk everywhere you can. it’s FREE and it’s great for your health. Since moving to Canada (Toronto) 9 months ago, we haven’t owned a car, and to be honest, we miss it much less than we thought. And when we add up the cost of buying a car, insurance and Petrol, we realise the huge savings we are making. Also, my husband was getting a monthly TTC pass, but he is buying a used bike so he can ride to work during the summer. Even more money saved!

  4. Janelle

    Ride your bike or walk is possible. We have changed a lot of our appointments so that we can walk, I do most of my couponing on my bike.

    Try keeping a record of your mileage, if you drive, and then try and cut back each week.

    Buy your reliable car… upfront. If you don’t have all the the money for it, either save up until you do, or find a better deal. Do not make payments on your car – you will end up spending WAY more then you think for it. Also, new cars lose a significant amount of their value in the first two years.

    This many sound like common sense, but I think a lot of people forget. Take care of your car, whatever shape it is in. Be a responsible driver. Accelerating fast, using the brakes hard, revving the engine, letting it idle more than 30 seconds, or “burning rubber” will all cost you money. Being a cautious driving also saves you money by avoiding tickets and accidents and your insurance will be cheaper.

    Be content to stay home, spend time with neighbors and friends at your home, instead of always going out. Local garage sales are a great way to get out and save on money too (as long as you walk and know a good deal).

    Do as much “research / shopping” at home with flyers and on line – most stores have items listed on line, or you can call ahead to make sure the stock is in. This will not only save money on gas, and get the best deal for your money but it can help you to avoid impulsive buying, and save time shopping.

  5. sophie

    When shopping for car insurance just make sure that your coverage is the same. Another cie could be offering you a much better price but you could have a much higher deductible, your liability could be lower most offer 1 and 2million (2 million is best in this day and age) you may not get a car rental or it could be for very little…be careful when cutting the price in insurance (in general) it means you are losing out somewhere and should something happen then is when you would of been happy to spend those extra dollars

  6. Jane

    It’s so important to compare coverages and not premiums. Check with lawyers if you want to know the best insurance companies to deal with. They deal with them all the time.

    • Olivia

      Excellent point! Will try to remember next time I meet a lawyer.

  7. mariposaman

    I second the idea of walking and cycling, and consider a cargo bike or an ebike. Cargo bikes and ebikes are more practical for shopping. Unfortunately ebikes have been getting a lot of bad press lately, but they allow more people to go further more often with no gas, no insurance, and no licence.

    • Mike

      And your idea ROCKS!

  8. Mike

    HI all you super savers. I have a crazy idea.. get a moped, electric scooter or a bike with a child carrier to haul items. I’ve hauled as much as 120 lbs behind my bike in -30C in 6″ of snow and survived just fine. It cost me virtually less that you could register a car in your name for a whole year kinda so unless your unable to get FIT or would rather spend 10 mins driving in your car while it warms up or waste 10 mins pre idling to warm up OR just spend 6 mins getting dressed warm and get some fresh air and enjoy nature at a leisurely pace and breath in the savings. From Grimsby’s Green Guy!

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