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Living in tough economic times
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Good idea
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| For a while I worked at the University of Minnesota in Minneapolis. The U of MN is a city unto itself (read: it covers several city blocks). I would ride the bus into campus, but once I was there, I'd ride my bike that I kept at work from one building to the next. I saved a ton of money on gas. I think my monthly budget for fuel in 1994 was about $40! | |
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Frugality
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| I've also started combining bus and bike for work, and sold one of our two vehicles. We realized about $2K/yr/vehicle was going to plates, gas and insurance. Proceeds from the sale paid for a fuel efficient furnace and a small amount of credit card debt, so we get to "start over." We also re-evaluated the insurance on the remaining vehicle, taking it down to just that required by law. After no claims with 60 combined years of driving, we felt that continuing to throw money at the fear industry was just stupid. | |
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Try leaving the car at work
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For a few years I lived within walking distance of work. So I left my car at work! At work I had covered parking, security, and other benefits that I didn't have when I left my car at home. I'd generally run errands or go out with friends right after work, so my car was right there when I needed it. And believe me there is no surer motivator to walk to work in the morning (no matter what the weather) than waking up and realizing that the car isn't even at home! People sure thought I worked weird hours, though... |
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Sign of the times?
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I just noticed that Google Maps offers optional walking directions and times for short trips. A sign of the times, maybe? Here's a practical example, traveling from Salvation Army to the Molly. The walking directions allow for walking the "wrong way" up Babcock, making for a shorter trip. And for the record, my dorkiness is already well noted! |
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commuting to save
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| Although I commend anyone trying to conserve, it makes very little financial sense to live in Livingston and work in Bozeman just to save on rent, overall cost of living, etc. There are so many added costs implicit in commuting that are easy to overlook in the short term, such as eating more expensive food on the run, vehicle maintenance due to higher mileage, and being more inclined to stop along the commute for quick (often unnecessary) purchases. Unless you are paying less than half the rent in Livingston that you would in Bozeman, perhaps you might reconsider your options. | |
