How to Drastically Reduce Your Weekly Commuting Costs

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When it comes to your daily commute you’ve got plenty to gripe about. Not only does getting to work and
home again take up a huge chunk of free time that could be spent with your family, but you also have to
deal with the hassles of gridlock (you are all too familiar with the concept of road rage) and the major cost
associated with sitting in traffic for a couple of hours each day. It’s enough to make you think about quitting
your job and taking less money to work closer to home. But before you hang up your hat and turn in your
resignation, consider that there might be ways to cut back on both the costs and stresses associated with
your commute. Here are a few options you may want to look into.

Thanks to the growth of the internet and mobile communications, you may be able to do your job (or at
least a portion of it) from home via telecommuting. This is a fantastic option for anyone who spends the
majority of the work day operating online. If your company is forward-thinking or geared toward eco-
innovation, you might not have a hard time selling them on the idea of telecommuting at least a couple of
days a week (or even setting up some kind of program for employees in similar circumstances whereby
their duties do not necessarily require their presence in the office). In truth, this could be a win-win for
you and your employers, reducing their liability and utility bills even as it gives employees the chance for
greater job satisfaction and reduced commuting costs.

Of course, not all businesses are keen to leave employees to their own devices by letting them work
from home, and the situation admittedly comes with the risk of reduced performance and accountability.
However, there are other options for the commuter looking to slash the cost of participating in the working
world. Public transportation could be a good option, and again, you may find that your company is willing
to subsidize the cost of annual passes for city buses and trains. You’ll never know unless you ask. If your
commute is rather short you could consider a daily dose of exercise by riding a bike. But since this is rarely
an option for commuters, you might want to think about getting a motorbike of some sort (motorcycle,
scooter, etc.) as a way to save both time and money; it costs less than traditional transportation and it could
allow access to the carpool lane or even the option to split lanes, depending on the state you live in.

Purchasing a green vehicle is another interesting option, especially with all the government rebates these
days for electric vehicles and plug-in hybrids. And considering how much you’ll save at the pump, such a
car could quickly pay for itself. But you may want to start with something simple, like a carpool. So update
your static caravan insurance to get your motor home on the road and ready to haul coworkers. Again,
see if your company will offer incentives like carpool rewards (often in the form of gas cards or other gift
cards) so that you can earn even more from your eco-friendly and cost-saving enterprise.