
How to save money on your daily commute
Owning a car and driving into work every day can add up to a lot of money, but you can mix up your necessary commute by using different methods to get to the office.

Commuting can add up to a significant expense. Fuel, tolls, parking… it can be enough to make you pine for the days of working from home. But there are plenty of ways to reduce those costs. So buckle up and get set to save.
Use public transport (and cycle or walk)
Public transport isn’t for everyone and depending on where you live, and depending on where you live and where you work, it may not be possible to use a bus, train, ferry, light rail or tram for your commute. But if it is an option, this is going to be a game-changing cost saver (as well as a win for the planet).
Investigate public transport options. If they don’t take you door to door, maybe you could cycle or walk part of the way and get a fitness boost at the same time. If your commute is short, you might even be able to cycle or walk the whole way. It can be a great start to the day.
Carpool
Ever been stuck in traffic and noticed that almost every car contains just one person? It is crazily inefficient. It would be so much better for your wallet if you could carshare. Put a message out at work to see if you can find a colleague who lives near you. Advertise in your neighbourhood. Or join a carpooling app such as Kapuddle or Moovl.
Carshare
Have you ever added up the cost of owning a car? Maybe carsharing could save you money. Using a carsharing service, you can book cars by the hour or the day, and let someone else worry about maintenance, registration and so on. Services such as GoGet give you access to a fleet of vehicles, while peer-to-peer services such as Turo hook you up with individuals who want to rent out their cars. If you don’t use your car much beyond commuting, it might be worth doing some sums.
Plan your route
Some days it can be better to take the road less travelled. Rather than just sticking to your usual route every day, have a quick look at a reliable maps app, such as Google or Apple Maps, before you set out to see if there are any roadworks, crashes, gridlocks, floods and fires that may hamper your trip. If you also keep your app running when you’re en route it will tell you when it’s a good idea to veer off in another direction.
Find cheap (or free) parking
Are you paying for parking while you’re at work? Do a bit of research; maybe there’s a street nearby that has free (legal) parking spots available during the day. Or maybe there are car parks that are cheaper than the one you are using. It might also be worth looking into car parking apps. With Parkhound you can find parking spots that individuals are renting out while they’re not using them. You might even be able to rent out your own parking spot at home to make some extra cash while you’re at work.
Buy a fuel-efficient vehicle
Swapping your gas guzzler for a fuel-efficient car could save you a motza. You might even consider investing in an electric vehicle – and send your fuel costs plummeting.
The government’s Green Vehicle Guide has calculators that will help you work out whether a new car might be worthwhile.
Be an eco-driver
Adopt good habits such as accelerating and braking smoothly, using cruise control on highways, minimising aircon use, maintaining your tyre pressures and keeping up with your car’s servicing. Eco-driving habits can reduce your fuel use by up to 15%, says the Royal Automobile Club of Queensland (RACQ). That’s as good as getting a pay rise.
Disclaimer
Viva Energy Australia Pty Ltd (“Viva Energy”) has compiled the above article for your general information and to use as a general reference. Whilst all reasonable care has been taken by Viva Energy in compiling this article, Viva Energy does not warrant or represent that the information in the article is free from errors or omissions or is suitable for your intended use.
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