With rising crude oil and gas prices, the cost of going from town A to town B is at an all time high. Whether you’re a car owner or use public transport, commuting regularly can be an expensive business. Somewhat inevitably this has had a huge knock on effect in a number of areas, not least in the personal finances of hundreds of millions of people throughout the world.
Increases in raw materials drives up energy costs, which impacts household bills and even the price of goods in the supermarket. However, like any product you do have a choice when it comes to transportation. Not only can you choose to fuel your car at a cheaper petrol station, but you could also look at all non-essential usage and whether this could be reduced. This can be applied across all modes of transport of course. Here are 3 Tips To Reduce Your Transportation Cost
1.Using the Cheapest Transportation Means
If you’re budget-minded, like many are, then you have probably already done this. However, to work out where the best value lies, you need to know the costs of all options. Where transportation is concerned, your options will be limited by your location and destination. You might have a car, live near a station, have a bus-stop on your doorstep and be just down the road from the nearest underground station; equally, there might only be a single, irregular bus service which is located miles away, leaving you to rely on a motorbike, car or bicycle.
Where choice is limited, your ability to save money will be equally restricted. However, if you’re in the enviable position whereby there are a number of options available to you, make sure you cost each one up. Busses are often cheaper than trains, whilst you can enjoy fantastic savings with certain season tickets and passes on all public transport.
So rather than hopping on the most accessible form of transport, consider the relative cost and whether alternatives are available. If discounts are available on particular routes and you are a regular user, make sure you take advantage of these promotions.
Not all petrol stations sell fuel at the same rate. Local knowledge is incredibly useful in locating the cheapest petrol in your area, but if you’re heading further afield just use one of the many online comparison sites to get an idea of where you can get a decent deal.
Plan your journeys so that you don’t need to refill on motorways too. This premium-rate fuel can really inflate the cost of running your car – even if it is only by a few pounds. Again, planning ahead can prevent some serious transportation pain.
2.Using Other Transportation means
Whilst you don’t want to remain confined to your home, considering just how essential a journey is before you take it can help you to avoid building up transport costs. For instance, anything within a mile radius probably doesn’t require a car – unless you’re handling heavy goods or there are dangerous conditions. So consider walking or cycling instead. There’s no charge for hopping on your bike and it has the double benefit of improving fitness/health.
Look at getting more from your travelling by getting as much done before returning back. Going to and from one place or area unnecessarily can quickly see your mileage and costs escalate. So a little planning and forethought can really help to keep your spending under control. This is especially true if you’re setting up interviews, visiting clients, attending meetings or even just doing a few chores around town; get the most out of a single journey and reduce travelling to lower the overall costs.
3.Maintain a budget Plan on Transportation Events
By recording all your spending, you can really keep an eye on where your money is going every month. If you ever need to tighten your budget, you will be able to pinpoint exactly where savings can be made – including transport. Many people overlook ‘hidden’ costs, such as car tax and insurance. We become so accustomed to paying them that it doesn’t always get factored into transportation costs. It could even highlight that your current car is surplus to requirements, with either a smaller model or no car at all providing a better alternative.
