When it comes to cutting down on everyday expenses, transport is a significant cost that can quietly drain your bank account. Whether it’s the daily commute, weekend getaways, or the monthly fuel fill-up, these costs can add up quickly. But what if there were simple, community-tested ways to reduce these expenses?
In our recent RiseUp Challenge group, we asked members to share their top tips for saving money on public transport and car expenses. Here’s a round-up of the best advice from our community to help you keep more money in your pocket.
Public transport: Cut costs without sacrificing convenience
- Make the most of railcards: Chloe shared how her 26-30 Railcard has been a game changer. “My 26-30 Railcard has saved me £130 in rail travel in the past 2 years,” she said. If you’re ageing out of this railcard, fear not – Amelia chimed in with a solution: “You can then get a Network Railcard that saves you 1/3 off fares. Keep an eye out as they usually do an offer where it’s £20 instead of £30.”
- Split your tickets: A little-known hack involves using split tickets to reduce the cost of train travel. “A peak return ticket to London [from Brighton] costs £65, but with split tickets, it’s £56!,” Alice said. By breaking up your journey into multiple legs, you can often find cheaper fares without changing your route. Alice uses the Trainline app to do this.
- Check your statements: Ele reminded us of the importance of vigilance. “Turns out there is a glitch where sometimes transactions don’t match as each device splits your card into different accounts on TfL. You can contest this, and they investigated and gave me a lump sum refund back.” Keeping an eye on your statements could uncover hidden savings.
- Book in advance: For those travelling longer distances, Matt highlighted the benefits of booking in advance with services like Grand Central. “In the past, I’ve got advance tickets from my local station to London for around £17. If you fancy a trip to Scotland from London, you could use this service to take you over half the trip.”
Car expenses: Drive down your costs
- Fuel efficiency matters: Darren recommends using your car’s Eco mode, especially on long drives. “If you have an older car, I’d recommend using Eco fuel saving mode. It saves me a lot on motorway driving.” He also suggests using additives like Redex for better fuel efficiency.
- Find the cheapest fuel: Joanna shared a nifty tool that could save you up to £200 a year on fuel. “Download the free PetrolPrices app to get the cheapest fuel.” A few taps on your phone can direct you to the most affordable petrol station nearby.
- Electric car perks: If you’re considering making the switch to an electric vehicle, Amelia’s experience might convince you. “I have an electric car via work salary sacrifice, so I save on higher-rate tax and on electricity via my Octopus smart tariff. It costs me about £50 a month in ‘fuel’ for 1k+ miles.”
- Insurance hacks: Car insurance can be another big expense, so Ziv said it’s always worth checking if your insurer offers discounts through referrals or loyalty programs.
Bonus tips to keep you moving
- Plan your journeys: Reducing unnecessary short trips is another way to save on both fuel and wear-and-tear. “I could maybe save more by walking more on short journeys and saving electricity,” said Amelia. It’s a small change that can add up over time.
- Eco-driving techniques: Small adjustments in how you drive can lead to savings. Smooth acceleration, maintaining a steady speed and avoiding excessive idling can all improve fuel efficiency.
- Prepaid cards for managing expenses: Matt suggested a clever method to control spending on non-essential car expenses like coffee stops. “I’ve been trying to only top up a specific ‘treat’ amount each month on my Starbucks app so once the balance is down, there’s no more topping up until next month.”
With these tried-and-tested community-approved tips, we hope you’ll save money on transport, whether you’re hitting the road or hopping on a train. Remember, every penny saved is a penny earned.
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