How much money do you spend on travel on a daily basis? The chances are that you don’t even know. Few of us track and trace the amount we spend on fuel, and it’s almost like an invisible tax and drain on our finances. There are, however, plenty of ways of saving a significant amount of money on your travel – and we’re going to explore a few simple ideas with you today.
Buy a hybrid/electric
If you have money to invest, a hybrid or electric car can save you a massive amount of money on fuel costs. Depending on how far you have to travel to work you could, conceivably, get to work and back for only a few pence, rather than several pounds. Buying a new car isn’t cheap, of course, but over the lifetime of the vehicle, you can save a considerable sum in fuel costs which makes it a savvy investment.
Ditch the car
By far and away the biggest cost of traveling is the fuel you use to fill up your car. Most households can’t do without a vehicle, of course, so we aren’t suggesting getting rid of it entirely. But, ultimately, if you are driving everywhere every day, it’s going to cost you a lot at the pumps. It makes sense, then, to stop using it quite so much. Try setting up a carpool with work colleagues that live nearby. Or shorten your journey time by parking further away from work and walking the remaining distance.
Get on your bike
Another option is to invest in a good bike and start cycling everywhere instead of driving. Not only will you save money, but you will also get fit, healthy, and arrive at work full of beans and ready for a productive day. Make sure you look at some bicycle insurance comparison service first, to ensure you have cover if your bike is stolen. And swat up on your cycling safety, too – particularly if you haven’t been on the roads for some years.
Try a healthier school run
The average family lives less than 1.8 miles away from the schools that their children attend. That’s easily walkable for the vast majority of people. And, if your kids moan a little bit, it’s easily solved by investing in a scooter or bike for them to bring to school. Most schools have bike sheds or stores, but if yours doesn’t, why not petition the board of governors to build one? Ultimately, the stop-start nature of driving to school and back will cost you a lot of money in fuel. And walking or biking instead will save you a significant sum of money – and keep your family fit and healthy.
Take public transport
Not all public transport will be suitable for you – if you use Southern Railways, for example, it’s a little difficult to justify the cost of a season ticket at this precise moment in time. But buses, trams, and underground services all offer exceptional value for getting around town. And, of course, they encourage you to get out and walk a little bit – you don’t get that fitness boost when you travel by car.
If you have to drive…
If you have to drive every day, watch out for the many fuel promotions that supermarkets often offer. At various times of the year, there will be plenty of vouchers and special offers which give you the potential of saving a lot of money at the pumps. And, of you are prepared to shop around, it’s possible to find these deals from superstore to superstore throughout most times of the year. Finally, make sure that you drive sensibly at all times. Slower driving in high gears, maintenance, and sensible, moderate braking will dramatically reduce the amount of fuel your car uses.
Conclusion
The average British driver spends around £2,500 every year on fuel. That’s an extraordinary amount of money that you may not be getting any recompense for. So, if you can reduce your car use by a significant amount, it’s not beyond the realms of possibility that you could save half of the money. That frees up somewhere in the region of £100 per month – and just think what you could do with that money. It could be a lovely holiday or a good contribution towards a mortgage deposit. It could even be put towards starting your own business or helping with the expense of Christmas. Given the enormous costs of fuel in this country, it makes complete sense from both a financial and health perspective to leave the car at home as much as possible.
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