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Most people have to travel some distance to go to work and back each day.  Few people work from the comfort of their own homes.  And so they will have to brave every conceivable weather condition to ensure they aren’t late for work!

The way that people travel to work and back differs.  Some prefer to use public transit systems like buses and trains.  Whereas others enjoy the comfort and security of their own cars.  We all know that both options have their pros and cons, and one option is usually more suitable than the other.

For example, if you work in the city center it can be impossible to find a parking space for your car.  In those cases, taking the bus or train to work each day makes more sense.  But if you work in some remote area with no provision for public transport, driving there in your car is a better idea.

Whatever method of transport you use, you can be certain that it will cost you a considerable sum of money each month.  To help you cut down on those commuting costs, today’s blog post will give you some handy ideas to make your journey to work and back cheaper.

 

Share Your Car with other People

If you drive your car to work each day, the chances are high that you will live near someone that works at the same place as you.  It seems a bit silly for both of you to make the same journey in your own separate cars.

Do you get on well with the other person?  If so, you might want to suggest sharing your car journey with them to work and back each day.  They would be more than happy to give you some gas money for your troubles, and it means that they don’t have as much wear and tear on their cars.

I did this a few times in the past, and it worked out well for me.  I got some extra cash each month, and my journeys to and from work weren’t so boring and lonely.  In some cities, you can even drive in HOV lanes and avoid getting stuck in traffic with everyone else.

 

Use Public Transport

Some people have mixed views about using public transport to get to work and back.  The obvious bugbear that people have is that public transit systems are sometimes unreliable.

If you need to make two or more connections to get to work and back, a delay in one part of your journey can disrupt the other parts.  The result?  Your boss will get mad at you for being late for work.

To avoid those problems, the obvious answer is to get an earlier bus or train to work.  The only downside to that approach is that it won’t work if you’re not a “morning person” – like me, for example.

No one wants to sacrifice their social life or the number of hours they are awake just so they can get up earlier for work each day.  Still, your journey to work might be pretty straightforward.  In those cases, public transport might be the option for you.

Now, at this point some folks might be thinking that taking public transport to work might cost them more than driving their cars.  But did you know that there is a way to get cheaper bus and train tickets?

What many transit companies do is offer season tickets or monthly passes for commuters.  You will get a big discount off regular single or return day fares, and you can use them as often as you like.  Some employers might even pay for those tickets for you, so it’s worth checking with your boss if that’s the case.

 

Use a Motorcycle

Don’t like the idea of driving a car to work, but don’t want to take the bus either?  You could always settle for something in-between by getting a motorcycle.  They say that two-wheeled transport is the best option for those that commute to work in the city.

Traffic jams always happen in rush hour, and when you’re in a car, you’re pretty much going nowhere.  But motorcycles are small enough to weave in and out of any traffic.  That means you can get to work on time while your colleagues are still waiting in traffic a mile away.

Motorcycles cost less than cars to buy, and they use less gas too because they are so much lighter.  An added bonus is that motorcycle insurance is quite affordable.  You’ll be saving so much money on your commuting costs that you’ll wonder why you never did this before.

I know that I am stating the obvious here.  But you need to make sure that your driver’s license includes provision for riding motorcycles.  If it doesn’t, you need to get licensed first.

 

Use a Bicycle

Some people don’t like the idea of using a motorcycle.  Their reasons might be down to fear, whereas others might be reasons of cost.

If you’re on a tight budget, and you don’t work a great distance away from your home, another option open to you is to travel by bicycle.  Let’s face it; most people own a bicycle of some description.  Even if you don’t own one, you can buy a used one for a few bucks.

When cycling to work and back, make sure that you’ve got a protective helmet on.  And for night-time cycling, wear a high-visibility jacket so that motorists can see you on the road in unlit areas.

 

Walk

The last option won’t cost you a cent.  I am, of course, talking about walking to work and back.  Some folks are lucky enough to live a few minutes away from their place of work.  If you are physically fit, you could even walk a few miles each way without breaking a sweat.

One place I used to work at was on the opposite side of the road where I lived.  I used to be the envy of my colleagues as it only took me around 45 seconds to get to work and back.  And that’s taking into account waiting for a break in the traffic to cross.  On a “clear” day, that time got reduced to around 10 seconds!