If you spend a lot of time commuting back and forth to work, you need to have some ways in mind that will help you save money and stay safe. If you’re looking to manage your finances and security during these rides, there are some things to keep in mind to maximize your time and stay safe. 95% of car accident claims are settled pretrial, but you don’t want to find out. Below are some things to take advantage of before the commutes and during them so that you’re doing the best you can during this time.
Take Advantage Of Rebates
If you are great with utilizing apps for money back or gift cards, there are several out there that you can do to help you get money back on your gas each week. You can also make sure you’re staying safe by choosing areas that allow you to pay with your card so you don’t have to pull out your wallet in these places. If you’re planning to stop, choose locations that are easy to get in and out of, and not out of your way where there might be a lot of traffic.
Fill Up Before The Work Week
You can be safe and fill up your gas tank before the work week stops. In the mornings, and on the way home, there is a lot of traffic surrounding gas stations, and you don’t want to get in and out of traffic a lot to stop and get gas. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the amount of work-related injuries and illnesses went down 1.8% in 2021 from 2020. This could put you in a position for an accident, or even an attack if it’s dark outside. Depending on what time you leave and the areas that you drive, you should get gas before that commute even begins.
Take Your Breakfast With You
If you want to save a little money on your commute to work, pack some breakfast to take with you. It’s easy to grab something like hard-boiled eggs, a sandwich, or something that you can heat up once you get to work. You can finance your weekly budget by planning your breakfast for the week, and not making additional stops that take out funds from your budget.
This is also true for the rides home. If you think you might need a snack to get you from your job to the house due to the traffic and long commute, it’s a good idea to keep some snacks with you in the car that you can grab real quick. Granola bars and crackers will help curb your hunger and keep your sugar stable until you can get home to eat dinner.
Monetize Your Time
Some don’t take cars, but take buses and maybe a train to and from work. If you are going to spend a lot of time on these transport systems, take advantage of filling your time doing surveys, or other additional income on your phone. With your mobile device, you might be able to be paid for some editing services, summarizing, or even playing some apps that pay out cash. You can use this to finance your commute expenses, like your monthly passes on the train or bus.
If you’re interested in carpooling, you can also monetize this time by being the full-time carpooler and having your coworkers who are riding with you pay out a fee. This can go to the gas for the vehicle, maintenance, and maybe some snacks to keep in the car for the ride home. As long as they’re good with the arrangement, you can make this work for you financially and manage your own safety.
If you’re having a long commute to keep up with each day to and from work, make sure you are financially responsible. You also need to maintain safety for yourself, and anyone else you are carrying back and forth to work. If you’re riding a bike, keep up good safety practices. Statistics show that helmets are effective at preventing death by nearly 37% and reduce the risk of head injury by 69%. Keep these tips in mind to improve your commutes for the future.