How to Save Gas Money for Work Travel

Paying money to commute to work each day can be expensive if you are on a tight budget. Gas prices increase and decrease many times throughout the year, and those who travel to work must adjust accordingly. There are several different ways you can save money for the cost of work travel.

Instructions

1. 

   Carpool with other employees who live in the same area. Everybody can help contribute to the cost of gas to travel to work. Also, you could have a carpool donation jar in which those who carpool can leave donations to pay for gas money.

2. 

   Study your household budget. Calculate how much it will cost to travel to work each week. Find out how much you can take out to save each week to contribute to gas money. Have a "gas money" jar or envelope where you put your gas money each week. Use the money from that jar to pay for gas only.

3. 

   Walk or ride your bike to your place of work during warmer weather if you live nearby. Set aside the money that you normally would have paid for gas that week so that you will have it for future use.

4. 

   Plan your trip for the day ahead of time. If you need to make a trip to the grocery store, library or any other errands, try to do them before or after work so that you will not be making multiple trips throughout the week. Try to cover these tasks within just a few days of the week so you don't add a lot to what you pay for work travel.

5. Buy or rent a home that's closer to your area of work, or try to find employment that is near home. This way, you will not have a long commute back and forth to work each day and will spend less for the cost of travel .

6. If you drive to work, pay close attention to maintenance of your car and how you drive. Under-inflated tires can sap gas mileage, as can a dirty air filter or any number of maintenance issues with other parts. Also, keep you speeds as low as realistically possible and avoid jack-rabbit starts and stops. Avoid a lot of city driving if you can; all the starting and stopping is bad for gas mileage.

7. Consider the cost-effectiveness of alternative travel such as light rail, trains or buses, if available. Depending on the situation, they can cost less to use than your car and can save important wear on your vehicle.

Resources

• Frugal Living: Save Gas, Save Lots of Money