Used to drive everywhere alone until I saw my gas bill hit $380 in one month

I switched to carpooling with two neighbors last summer and now we split the cost three ways. Anyone else found a simple change that saved way more than you expected?

3 comments

3 Comments

vera_palmer19d ago

$380? That's a rough month but it depends on where you live and what you drive. Some people out there are paying that just to fill up their truck once. I've seen folks switching to carpooling save maybe 50 bucks a month if they're lucky. Is splitting gas three ways really that life changing or is it just a minor convenience thing you're exaggerating a bit?

sarah_mason19d ago

Wait, do you guys ever factor in the time savings too? I remember my buddy used to carpool and he said the best part wasn't even the gas money, it was getting to ride in the HOV lane and shaving like 20 minutes off his drive each way. He'd just sit there scrolling on his phone while someone else dealt with traffic. Plus $200 a month is real money to most people, @vera_palmer. That's like a gym membership and a nice dinner out for two. I get that it won't change your life overnight, but it adds up faster than you'd think.

the_robert19d ago

Vera you said "maybe 50 bucks a month if they're lucky" and I used to think the same way honestly. I was skeptical til I did the math after three months of carpooling with two coworkers who live like 10 minutes from me. My commute is 45 miles round trip and my old SUV gets 18 mpg on a good day so I was spending around $280 a month just on gas to get to work. Now I split that three ways and pay about $93 a month plus we take turns driving so my car gets way less wear and tear. It saved me almost $200 a month and I was totally wrong about it being a minor thing.

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