Nearly two-thirds of drivers either cut down on trips or cut back on spending in other areas, according to the AA, as the cost of filling an average car fuel tank passed £100 in 2022.
In this article, we round up some tips for saving your pennies, whether you're catching the train, hopping on the bus, cruising in your car, or strapping your helmet on for the cycle to the office.
Trains
If you travel by train often, a railcard can be a sensible option to help you recoup some of the cost of train travel, with the company estimating that on average, people with a railcard save £142 a year. In addition to the well-known 16-25 Railcard and the Senior Railcard for those aged 60 and over, Railcard also offer a variety of other cards which could work for you, including for those with disabilities, and veterans.
If you're off on a staycation or on a daytrip via train, it may also be worth keeping an eye out for Plusbus tickets, which you can buy online or at the station. These tickets give you unlimited bus travel around the location you've travelled to, which could save you some serious money on taxi fares. Find out more on the Plusbus website.
Buses
If you have reached state pension age or have a disability, you may be eligible for a concessionary bus pass from your local council, which means you'll be able to travel on the bus for free. You can find out more about concessionary bus passes on the Age UK website.
Bus discounts are available throughout our branch locations in Berkshire, Hampshire and Oxfordshire for students and young people, as well as jobseekers and groups.
Some bus companies recommend that young people aged 12-16 and students in full-time education aged 16-18 apply for a proof-of-age card with a PASS hologram to prove that they are entitled to children's fares on local bus services. You can find out more here.
Cars
A simple way to save money if your main mode of transport is a car is to be picky about parking. Instead of heading for the closest car park, make sure you check to see whether there is a cheaper (or even better, free!) space using an app like Parkopedia, JustPark or Your Parking Space, where you can book spaces on an hourly or monthly basis at locations across the UK.
Sharing or hiring a car instead of owning your own could help you strike a balance between getting places and having some extra cash at the end of the month. There are different types of car sharing available, including hiring a car on a short-term basis from a company or club such as Zipcar, or community car shares, where you lease a vehicle for a set period of time from an individual.
Some councils also have official car share schemes with discounts for residents - so it can be worth checking what is available from your local authority. For example, the official car sharing partner of West Berkshire council is Enterprise Car Club.
Cycling
The rising cost of living combined with the climate crisis has led to many of us developing an interest in cycling. However, the costs associated with purchasing a bike and the proper safety gear (which you absolutely need to invest in!) doesn't come cheap.
If you're looking for a bike for your kids, you might also be worried about the cost of upsizing as they grow, in which case Bike Club could be a great alternative. Bike Club offer a subscription service starting at just over £4 a month, which allows you to hire a bike for your child and then exchange it for a bigger one as they grow, which means you get to save money and reduce waste.
