4 Ways to Cut Your Transportation Costs

While gas prices are still below their peak of a couple of years ago they are starting to creep back up. You can find lots of advice on how to save gas but that is just one part of total transportation cost. Since transportation costs can make up a large part of a household budget this is great place to save money. If you want to cut your transportation costs there are several strategies that will allow you to do that. At least one of the strategies should work for you.

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Work close to where you live or live close to where you work.

When choosing a job, try to find one close to where you live. If you can't do that, then find a place to live that is close to your work. Doing so will allow you to walk, bike, or take public transportation to work. That will allow you to leave the car parked five days a week or possibly allow you to go without a car completely.

Participate in a carpool.

Sharing your commute with several of your co-workers will help you save on fuel, maintenance, and parking costs. Plus, you might be able to take advantage of multiple occupancy lanes to get to work faster. On the days you are not driving you will avoid the stress of traffic as well.

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Work at home.

This will save you even more money than carpooling because you won't ever have to drive to work. Not everyone will have this option. Even if you think your employer doesn't offer this option it could pay to ask. If you can present a strong case that you can do your job at home your employer just might allow you to do so. If that isn't an option you can make your own employment and work at home.

Drive a clunker.

If the previous strategies will not work for you or you just don't find them attractive driving a clunker is your next best option. I've already wrote about this strategy. By buying a clunker you can save on depreciation and insurance costs. You can combine all or some of these strategies for even more savings. If you are serious about cutting your transportation costs adopting one or more of these strategies will allow you to do so.

Andy Hough writes about frugality and living well on a small income at TightFistedMiser.com.