Saving Money & Wasting Less

Lesson 5: Getting around

In this lesson we will look at ways to save money on the expenses of getting around, going to work, travelling, and the normal business and other expenses we all have. We start to look at the expenses involved in owning and running a car.

We will also look at saving money on clothes, phones, and look at inexpensive, and often free entertainment ideas.

Saving money on transport

The car is often the second-biggest value item you own (after the house), and it is certainly an expensive item to run, and as such can be a means of saving a lot of money. It is also costing the Earth for so many people to drive so much, and so often with only one person in the car.

The first question to ask yourself is: do you really need a car at all? It's a big ticket item we'll look at again in Lesson 7, but for now, just start to think about the car. If you live in a city with a good public transport system you can save thousands of dollars every year by not having a car. Even if you hire a car occasionally you can still save a lot of money. If you have more than one car, do you really need two cars? (I know of a family who has two cars and only one driver!)

Let's assume you've decided you really need your car. We'll look at ways to save money when buying a car in Lesson 7, but let's see how you can save money driving the car you have right now (but use public transport if you can for most trips).

The simplest and most dramatic way to save money on your car is to simply drive more slowly! A difference of 16 kph (10 mph) can mean a 25% difference in fuel consumption (see the website, How can you improve gas mileage, for example).

Driving more slowly doesn't just save you money, it also saves the Earth, because by using less fuel, your car will be producing less pollution, which is better for the environment. You will also save yourself some stress, and you might enjoy the ride more. If you need to, leave a few minutes earlier to allow yourself the time.

Driving more slowly and leaving plenty of room between your car and the one in front also dramatically reduces your chances of being in a collision, and surviving a crash if you are involved in one. And you'll never get another speeding ticket.

If you have alternative routes, find one where there is less chance of stopping/starting frequently. Even if the alternative route is slightly longer, you will save on fuel, maintenance costs, and stress if you can find a route that is more free-flowing.

Keep your car maintained by regular servicing, because it will run more efficiently, use less fuel, and last much longer than if you neglect the maintenance.

If you regularly throw money away in a car wash, you can save the money by simply washing the car yourself. It really doesn't take much effort. (Perhaps you could make the kids work for their pocket money!)

If you have neighbours or colleagues working near where you work - try to organise a car pool. You may also be able to organise a car pool for taking kids to school, or for shopping trips.

Getting to know your neighbours not only saves you money on transport, it can save money in other ways (such as sharing bulk buys you wouldn't buy for just one family), and can also make you feel more self-reliant and less isolated.

One of the worst trends in the last few decades has been the shifting workforce - people regularly moving house, chasing better jobs, or moving 'up' into a house in a 'better suburb'. As a result, families are fractured, people don't know their neighbours anymore, and a sense of belonging to a community is rapidly becoming a thing of the past in many places (especially cities).

People often now feel isolated, and the isolation leads to rising crime rates, rising depression, and a hundred other modern ills.

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