13 Ways to Seriously Slash Your Transport Expenses
Owning a car is still sometimes thought of as a privilege, but isn’t it about time that we change that somewhat? After all, it’s hard to count something as a luxury when most people need it just to go about their daily basis, when the entire economy depends on its use. While it’s possible to get by without a car if you live in a city, if you live in a rural or even semi-rural area, then you’re going to need a set of wheels. And unfortunately, since we are classing it as a privilege, it’s going to cost you a fair amount of money! But the good news is that you don’t have to settle for whatever grand bill comes your way for the annual ownership of a car; there are ways to significantly reduce plenty of the costs. Below, we take a look at thirteen examples. Individually, they might not all seem to be worth that much (though some will), but grouped together, they can lead to big savings.
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Stop Wasting Gas
If it seems like you’re visiting the gas pump more often than you should be, then you probably are. But fear not, because there’s usually little mystery what is to blame: it’s the driver’s fault! This is because they’re not driving properly, which is to say, not driving in a way that’s conducive to a good MPG rate. If you’re accelerating too quickly and braking too harshly, then you’ll be burning more gas than is necessary – and it’s not like you’ll be getting to where you need to be any faster, either. Speeding is also a common culprit. So slow down, take things smooth, and you’ll notice that more time is passing in between trips to the gas station.
Where’s it Cheapest?
It’s always worth thinking about where exactly you’re getting your gas from, too. You might know that gas prices can fluctuate greatly from state to state, but did you know that can also fluctuate in your own town, too? The price differences won’t be quite as dramatic as between, say, Texas and California, but they can add up to big savings when spread over a year. If it’s simply a matter of turning off at one gas station rather than another, then it’s a no-brainer – it’s the simplest way to save money that you’ll come across.
Standing Still
There are times when it can be tempting to leave your car running even when you’re not going anywhere, but don’t forget that this convenience comes at a cost. You’ll save a lot of money in gas prices if you’re switching off the engine during any periods when you’re not going to be driving for three minutes or more. This can be a challenge when the weather is chilly, but think of it this way – you wouldn’t burn money in order to stay warm for just a few minutes, would you!
Sharing Rides
While it can be enjoyable to be in a vehicle all on your own, it’s just a fact that there are plenty of costs to that luxury, including costs to your wallet and to the planet. It’s much better across the board if you share your journeys, at least some of them. Think of it this way: if you rideshare to work a colleague, you’ll almost instantly half the amount of money you’re spending on gas. Plus, you’ll gain a lot of free time, and perhaps even a friend, too. For longer trips, look at posting your journey on ride-sharing websites – you’ll be able to offer another person a journey for a set price. You’re going that way anyway, you may as well make some money off it!
Getting What You’re Owed
If you drive for long enough, then you’ll be involved in some sort of incident on the road. This could be small, or it could be significant; in any case, it would end up costing you much more than you’d like it to cost. That’s why it’s important that you’re always fighting your corner if you’re involved in a dispute with other drivers and insurance companies. If you find yourself in this position, get in touch with Michael P. Fleming & Associates, P.C.; you’ll find all the information you need at their website. Don’t end up out of pocket for something that wasn’t your fault, and which you’re not legally obligated to pay for.
Shop Around
And talking of insurance companies, make sure you’re not giving them too much of your money in another way, either – by overspending on the policies you take out with them. If you’re on an auto-renew system, then you haven’t quite got the game figured it out yet. There is immense competition amongst insurance companies, and that means that they need you more than you need them. When it comes to renewal time, shop around – you might find that you save a lot of money just by doing a quick search. If for whatever reason you want to blindly stay loyal to your current company, it’s at least worth calling them up and seeing if you qualify for any additional discounts. If you don’t ask, you don’t get.
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On Top of Maintenance
It makes a lot more sense to spend a little bit of cash in order to save a lot of cash, right? When it comes to keeping your car in tip-top condition, you’ll be well-served by taking a proactive approach rather than a reactive approach. This means taking your vehicle into the garage on a regular basis just to have things fine-tuned and to ensure that everything is running as it should be. In so doing, you might just prevent a big problem from taking hold – which, as you can imagine, would probably have a big expense attached to fix. There are some things you can do yourself, such as changing the fluids, which would save even more money.
Public Transport
Sometimes, a little bit of self-control can go a long way. Just because you have a car sitting outside your home, that doesn’t mean that you need to drive every time you leave the home. If you’re going into the city for the afternoon, then why not consider taking a bus or the train? It’ll cost less than what the car journey would cost you, and you won’t have to worry about parking your vehicle (and the expense too). Of course, taking a bus or train isn’t always an option, but it’s worth checking if it is before you leave home. In any case, sometimes it’s enjoyable to mix things up and get from A to B a different way, anyway.
Check Your Tires
Here’s a quick tip that might just save you money….how are your tires holding up? If they’re inflated to the right pressure, then you’ll be getting poorer gas mileage. You’ll find the pressure that they should be in the driver’s manual.
Buy the Right Vehicle
Never forget that not all vehicle are created equally! It’s always worthwhile fully researching any car before you buy it; don’t just rely on the test drive or what the salesperson says to you. There are plenty of people out there who have buyer’s remorse because they opted for a vehicle that wasn’t as reliable as they hoped it be. Once that reality sets in, it’s a case of either paying for expensive repairs or selling the car at a loss, a significant loss if the car was bought new.
Car Hiring
If you live in a city, then you might not need a car every day, just some days. In this case, why not sign yourself up for a car-sharing system? These systems work on a per minute or per mile basis, so you only pay for the journey, nothing more. They can be overly expensive if spread over a day, but highly convenient if you’re just making a short journey.
Where to Park
In some areas, the cost of parking for a couple of hours can be more expensive than the cost of driving to wherever you’re visiting. If you’re visiting a new city, then don’t be caught out once you get there: do your research beforehand. In many cases, it’ll probably make more sense to park just away from the center, where costs can, in some cities, be ridiculously high, and then take public transport for the rest of the journey. This will also bring the bonus of helping you to avoid the madness of driving in a busy urban area, too!
Take a Walk
Finally, why not consider the freest way of getting around that there’s ever been or will be? Walk! It seems like in these days no-one wants to use their two legs to get anywhere, but there are plenty of benefits. For starters, it won’t cost you a penny. It’ll also get you physically healthier, clear your mind, and you’ll likely stumble upon some areas of your city or town that you’ve never given much attention to before.