Transportation « FRUGILLIONAIRE

Frugal Transportation: Five Cheaper Ways to Get to Work

By Frugillionaire

Gas prices got you down? Here are five ways to save some serious cash on your daily commute:

1. Take public transit. Ride the bus, train, or subway and let someone else do the driving.

2. Carpool. Share rides to work with colleagues who live in your area, or find carpool partners on eRideShare.com or Carpoolconnect.com.

3. Commute off-peak. Traveling when roads are less congested reduces wear and tear on your car, and increases your fuel efficiency.

4. Flex your schedule. Work a four-day schedule of ten-hour shifts, or telecommute one or more days per week.

5. Ride your bike. If you live close enough to your place of employment, consider riding your bike. You’ll save a ton of money on gas, and get some fabulous exercise (without the cost of a gym membership)!

Photo: http://www.flickr.com/photos/crobj/ / CC BY 2.0

Frugal Transportation: Save on Gas with Good Habits

By Frugillionaire

Bad driving habits can cost you dearly. Not only do they increase your chance of getting a ticket; they also decrease your fuel efficiency, forcing you to fill the tank more often.

Cultivate the following good habits, to maximize your miles-per-gallon and save money on gas:

* Lose the lead foot. Stick to the speed limit—fuel economy drops significantly at higher speeds.

* Drive at a constant speed. Quick acceleration and hard braking increase wear and tear on your car, and decrease fuel economy.

* Check your tire pressure. Keeping your tires properly inflated will extend their life, and improve your gas mileage.

* Lighten your load. The more junk in your trunk, the more gas it’ll take to get where you’re going.

* Change your air filter. When the filter is clogged, the engine must work harder, and fuel-efficiency is decreased.

Photo: http://www.flickr.com/photos/87913776@N00/ / CC BY 2.0

Frugal Transportation: Share a Car Instead of Owning One

By Frugillionaire

Do you live in an urban area, and drive your car infrequently? If so, it may make more financial sense to share a car, rather than own one.

Car share programs let members rent cars by the day, or by the hour. When you sign up, you’ll be provided with a key or smart card that’ll open any car you reserve. Cars are typically distributed throughout metro areas in designated parking spaces.

When you need a set of wheels, choose a pickup location and make a reservation online or by phone. Use your key or smart card to unlock its doors and drive away. It’s that easy!

On the fence about ditching your ride? Consider the financial benefits of using a car share for your transportation needs:

No loan or lease payments. Cars are expensive—you’ll have to either part with a large sum of cash, or make monthly payments, in order to get into one. Car shares eliminate this major expense from your budget.

No insurance payments. Insurance is included in car share rates, so there’s no need to purchase your own policy.

No maintenance costs. You won’t have to deal with the costs (or hassle) of oil changes, maintenance, or other repairs. Anyone who has owned an older car will particularly appreciate this benefit!

No parking fees. When you don’t own a car, you don’t need to pay for a place to park or store it. This can mean significant savings in major cities, where parking is at a premium.

No state registration fees. You’ll avoid the expense (and trip to the DMV) to register a vehicle with the state.

Also: gas is typically included in the rates, so you won’t need to pay extra to fill up.

Visit these sites to find a car share program in your area:

Zipcar (nationwide, some international locations)

City CarShare (Bay Area, CA)

PhillyCarShare (Philadelphia, PA)

e-Go Carshare (Boulder-Denver, CO)

I-GO Car sharing (Chicago, IL)

Austin CarShare (Austin, TX)

U Car Share (nationwide)

Photo: http://www.flickr.com/photos/andrewcurrie/ / CC BY 2.0

Cut Your Commuting Costs with Public Transit Incentives

By Frugillionaire

Taking public transit is a wonderful way to cut your transportation costs. But did you know that this wallet- (and eco-) friendly choice can save you even more money?

Many companies subsidize the cost of public transit for their employees. Such compensation may be in the form of passes, vouchers, or even cash. That’s right—your employer may actually pay you to take the train to work!

This benefit is typically tax-free, and can drastically reduce your commuting costs.

Alternatively, you may be able to deduct public transit costs from your paycheck in pre-tax dollars. In other words, your bus tickets may reduce the amount of income tax you owe.

Contact your employer, or public transit authority, to find out what incentives are available to you. More information on such programs can also be found on the following websites:

American Public Transportation Association

CommuterChoice.com

Federal Transit Administration: Commuter Choice Toolkit

Photo: http://www.flickr.com/photos/dallas123/ / CC BY 2.0