Most of us are back to the office at least part of the week, after several years of remote or hybrid working.

And salaries have remained the same, despite the fact workers have to pay extortionate commute costs.

The good news is, there are ways to cut your costs no matter how you get to work.

Experts from Money Magpie have given their top tips for saving money on your commute.

Car Pool

If you live near to colleagues, a car pool could be an idea. This reduces the maintenance wear and tear on your cars, shares fuel costs, and in some areas also means you can skip traffic by using car pool lanes!

Car pooling might not always be suitable, however. You can still save on your driving costs by making sure your car stays well maintained, such as taking advantage of Halfords’ free winter check. If you travel for work, remember to expense every single eligible mile, too!

You can also cut fuel costs in a couple of ways. First, use supermarket loyalty cards to collect points and spend the vouchers on fuel (check eligibility of schemes first). Second, use apps like PetrolPrices to find the cheapest fuel nearby. You can also save on parking costs with apps like JustPark, too.

Ask About Cycle Schemes

If you live close enough to work to consider cycling, ask your employer about a Cycle to Work scheme. This is a salary sacrifice scheme designed to encourage a healthier workforce and reduce commute costs, while being environmentally friendly.

It’s a cost-efficient way to get into cycling for your commute, as the cost is taken from your monthly salary pre-tax. This means you can afford to invest in a suitable road bike and safety gear without worrying about the price tag.

However, if your workplace doesn’t offer such a scheme, there are lots of ways to get hold of second hand bicycles and gear. Look in your area for bike repair shops, or second life charities which restore older bikes and sell on for a reasonable price. The same goes for much of the gear like a high-visibility jacket, lights, and panniers – they’re easy to find on Facebook Marketplace, NextDoor, and eBay. The only thing you should not buy second hand is a helmet – that must be fitted to you, and be new. Don’t skimp!

Walk  

OK, I admit this might be an obvious one – but wait! I’m not suggesting you walk miles and miles to work (although that’s amazing for your health). You could, however, walk some of the way.

For example, if you usually take a bus a few stops to get to the station, walk to the station instead. Or, you could walk to a colleague’s house if they’re willing to car pool with you instead of taking the train!

Did you know you could even get paid to walk, too? Search ‘get paid to walk’ on Moneymagpie.com to find out how!

Use Discount Cards

If you take the bus or train, you could be eligible for a discounted travel card and not even realise it!

If you always travel with your partner or work friend, consider getting a Two Together railcard which saves you up to a third off rail prices. Or, you might be eligible for a disabled rail card or even free bus travel. Check your local authority and transport networks for the various cards and discounts they offer.

Don’t Waste Money on Commute Accessories

Commute costs aren’t just about what you spend on transport! You can also cut costs by:

  • Using a reusable travel mug to save 50p on your takeaway coffee
  • Read the free paper at the station instead of buying one
  • Signing up to your library to borrow books
  • Find free eBooks on the library app too, or apps like BBC Sounds for free podcasts

These might seem very small costs, but over the working year they add up. Think about it: if you can save £5 every working week, that’s at least £200 saved a year with no effort at all!