Gas Grief? Eight Ways to Save on Your Commute

With the rising price of fuel, more and more people are considering ways to cut the costs associated with their commute.

While your individual circumstances will determine what you can and can't implement, there are a number of different options you can use to help reduce these costs. Here are some ideas to consider:

Get up earlier: One of the easiest and least disruptive ways to save money on your commute -- particularly if your company offers flexible hours -- is to change the time you drive to and from work. If you get up an hour earlier, you may miss the majority of the morning rush hour, which will enable you to get to work much more quickly than if you left at your regular time.

The same is true on your commute back home. You could actually create more time for yourself. By not spending as much time in your car due to the lighter traffic, you can be more productive, save time and spend less on your commute all at the same time.

Reroute your commute: The automatic assumption is that the shortest route will get you to work the quickest. There are times, however, when taking a slightly roundabout way can save you time and money if you are able to avoid traffic jams. If you can find several ways to your office, you can choose the most efficient way, depending on that day's traffic.