Man commuting to work via bicycle in Amsterdam


The economy sucks. Whether you are in the US or the UK, you are trying to find ways to save a few dollars and lessen the sting of the recession. Here are my 10 tips to survive the recession - transport style.

  1. Invite your friends over to hang out. You don't drive, so you save on gas and the frustration of traffic. Better yet, suggest they carpool on their way over.
  2. Dump the gym membership and walk or bicycle to/from local stores. You'll still get plenty of exercise and you'll be doing your part to keep a car off of the road.
  3. Don't drive to the carwash. Instead, stay at home and do it yourself. You'll get your heart pumping and have a sense of accomplishment once you are done.
  4. Find out how to commute from your home to your office using public transit. Even if you have to drive a few miles to a park and ride, you'll have a less stressful commute and save money on gas and car maintenance.
  5. Buy monthly passes for transit. Paying the regular base fair will quickly add up. Instead, get a monthly pass, which is usually at a significant discount, and see the savings add up.
  6. Call your insurance company and let them know that you are using public transit or carpooling more, and see if you can get a discount on your auto insurance.
  7. Similarly, let your human resources department know that you are looking into transit alternatives. See if they offer free or discounted transit passes, parking passes or other benefits for using alternative means to get to work.
  8. If you must drive to run errands, see if neighbors would like to carpool and combine trips. You'll save gas and build a friendship or two.
  9. Find out about low-cost bus carriers between major cities. Instead of driving from DC to NYC, why not try BoltBus for $5 each way?
  10. Ask your employer about working from home 2-3 days a week. Combined with using public transit on the days you go into the office, you'll see your transportation costs drop dramatically.


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