7 tips: saving money on transportation

Transportation is one of those areas in your budget where you have some control over how much you spend. Take advantage of every money-saving tip you can find in this area, because it’ll just give you that much more money to save or spend on something better.

Do you need a car?

One of the biggest ways to save on transportation can be to get rid of your car (or cut down on your use of it) and use public transportation and/or a bicycle to get around. Check into the cost and practicality of public transport in your area. If you can get where you need to go for less than the cost of gas, car payments and car maintenance, this is a great way to save.

For cars

Assuming you will be driving a car like most people in the U.S. do, here are some ways to save:

Cruise control. You won’t believe how much gas it saves until you use it. It’s actually worth buying a car that has it just to save as much as you will over the life of that car (as long as you don’t trade cars every three years or something).
Don’t trade cars often. Find a quality car you like, and stick with it until the repair bills cost more than replacing the car.
Walk when you can. If you can walk to run errands from home or work, doing so saves money and gives you some exercise.
Get your car maintenanced. Find a mechanic you trust and get oil changes whenever that mechanic recommends. Make sure your garage checks tire pressure and other fluids regularly. Preventative maintenance costs far less than repairs. Also, a well-maintained car generally uses less gas.
Use quality gas. Really cheap gas can hurt your car. You don’t have to spend a lot, but go with a brand name gasoline on its lowest octane, unless your manual specifies a higher octane.
Car pool. This one is so obvious, but so many people assume car pooling will hinder their mobility on lunch hour too much to be worthwhile. Give it a try before assuming that.
Buy used cars. You can find plenty of gently used cars with years of life left in them for a fraction of the cost of a new car.