It’s no secret that New York is one of the most expensive cities in the world. Whether you’re new to the city or you’ve lived here for a while, it’s not easy to get used to the preposterous living costs. On top of that, the Covid-19 outbreak further dented the finances of many New Yorkers. In fact, many people faced pay cuts and even layoffs because of the pandemic.
Are you struggling to make your paycheck last through the month? Expenses such as house rent, transit cost, and utilities are essential but can certainly be lowered. In this post, we’re summarising easy ways you can save money on your everyday commute. Take a look.
1) Make the Most of Public Transportation
One of the perks of living in New York City is the well-connected and easily accessible public transportation. Taking the subway to work allows you to control your expenses as well as utilize the time spent commuting. You can read a book or enjoy your coffee without worrying about navigating through the congested roads.
2) Bike to Work
If you live relatively close to your workplace, biking to work is an option you should definitely consider. Biking is an efficient, sustainable, and cheap way to travel in the Big Apple. Furthermore, this is also a great way to get in some much-needed exercise. If you’re not comfortable biking, you can also walk to work.
3) Don’t Drive Carelessly
Driving in New York City can be challenging. But don’t give in to road rage and break traffic rules. Taking wrong turns or speeding can get you a hefty fine.
4) Choose Right Parking Spots
Finding a parking spot in NYC is a skill that can take years to master. But take your time to make sure you’re parking in the right spot. Otherwise, you risk getting a ticket or, worse, getting your car towed. This is not only inconvenient but can also set you back a few hundred dollars.
5) Dispute Parking or Traffic Tickets
If you have received a parking or traffic ticket for a violation that you didn’t commit, then immediately dispute it using AppWinIt. This easy-to-use app makes it possible to dispute any erroneous traffic or parking tickets without any hassle. And you won’t be charged unless your ticket is completely dismissed.
6) Start Working From Home
The pandemic forced professionals from many industries to work from home. Now that places are starting to open up again, you should continue working from home. If your employer is asking you to rejoin the office, you can talk to them. Even if they allow you to work from home two days a week, it will help you save a significant amount.
7) Try Carpooling
Whether you drive your own car or you have a coworker who does, carpooling is a mutually beneficial alternative. Carpooling with coworkers will make it possible for you to split fuel and maintenance costs.
8) Find Suitable Car Insurance
Do your research and take your time to find suitable car insurance. There is no point in paying an overpriced insurance premium.
9) Consider Moving
It may seem quite drastic, but moving isn’t a completely unreasonable idea if you’re tired of an extremely long commute. In addition to being expensive, commuting a long distance is exhausting as well as time-consuming. You should look for an apartment closer to your place of work.
The Bottom Line
Unless you start working remotely, commuting to work is going to become a permanent fixture in your monthly expenses. While it can be difficult to completely eliminate this cost, there are several ways you can reduce it. The aforementioned tips can help you save big in the long run. So what’s stopping you? Start implementing these changes to cut-down your commute cost and make your paycheck last longer.