Nobody likes forking out for their travel…
But if you follow some of these top tips, you could save yourself a healthy sum week in, week out.
Plan ahead
We all know the agony of sitting in rush hour traffic, but a little careful planning could save you valuable minutes and fuel money. Visit www.travelsomerset.co.uk to plan your journey.
Checking before you travel can avoid any potential hold-ups. Learn the alternative routes you might need to take should there be heavier than normal congestion.
Car share
If you work with someone who lives reasonably close by and you drive to work, then making an arrangement to car share could not only half your fuel costs but half the environmental impact of your daily commute too.
Many companies now support car share initiatives, so speak to your HR department and they might be able to put you in touch with a suitable commute buddy.
Look after your car
Making sure your car is in tip-top shape will ensure it’s running as efficiently as possible and help save you money on fuel. Keep on top of your annual MOT and service, as well as regularly checking your levels under the bonnet.
Drive efficiently
Falling into bad habits is easily done, but putting a little extra effort into driving efficiently will save your petrol and minimise the wear and tear on your car (saving you even more money in the long run).
Excessive acceleration and braking are some of the worst offenders, so where possible take a little extra time when it comes to starting and stopping.
Cycle
Bridgwater has a fantastic cycling network and will only improve over the next few years with significant investment planned. If you work within a reasonable distance from your home, then cycling to work could save you lots of money on commuting, as well as being beneficial to your health and the environment.
Of course, if you don’t already own a bike there will be an upfront cost involved, however, the government offers a Cycle to Work scheme to employers, which allows them to loan bikes and equipment to its employees as a tax-free benefit. As part of the scheme, you’d hire your chosen bike for an agreed period of time, and eventually purchase it for a fraction of its original cost.
If cycling to work is something you’d seriously consider, find out if your employer is already part of the scheme and if not, encourage them to opt in!
Shop around
If you do decide to drive, variations in petrol and diesel prices can be huge, so it’s always a good idea to shop around and fill up where the price is best – as long as it’s not miles out of your way.
Again, this comes down to being prepared and making sure you don’t end up in a situation where your petrol light is on and your only option is the most expensive garage around.
Public transport
Obviously, this isn’t free, but often it works out cheaper than driving and if it’s something you’d consider, it could work out as a good economic choice.
Not only could you save money on fuel but using public transport also cuts out the maintenance costs associated with running a car. On top of this, you’ll eliminate the stresses of driving and could even find you have extra time to catch up on work, read the paper or just have five minutes to yourself.
Bulk buy
If you do use public transport, you can often save a huge amount of money by buying a weekly, monthly or even an annual ticket. Doing so will cut out the hassle of purchasing your fare daily, as well as helping with your budgeting.