How to beat the high cost of gasoline and gym memberships

I recently stumbled upon a secret.

A really good secret is one that hides in plain sight.

Now think about this for a moment. You are driving around town, running errands, shopping, visiting a friend, and going to and from work. You are rushing from here to there and you see one. One of those people, you know, the ones who slow traffic down. Slow you down. You are irritated, your blood pressure shoots up, and you grip the steering wheel tighter. Finally you are able to maneuver around them and speed along your way. Your very expensive (in terms of gas costs) and sedentary way.

Oh those spandex clad, two wheeled terrors of the road. Or are they?

What if those people who are riding bicycles are on to something?

Actually they are, on to something that is.

I have recently taken up commuting to work on a recumbent trike. Not as sleek and elegant looking as one of the top of the line bicycles but it is a very comfortable, get the job done, kind of bike.

So how does this save money?

Well the first and most obvious is gasoline. You will no longer be paying your hard earned cash to big oil  companies. Companies which are frequently making headline news for polluting our environment. Here is just one example examiner.com big-oil-asking-to-violate-local-air-polllution-regulations-again-this-week

The next cost savings is upkeep and maintenance of your vehicle. The automotive insurance agency AAA (triple A) does a cost analysis of owning a car, they update this once a year. Here is this years brochure in PDF YourDrivingCosts2013.pdf and here is one of their articles, cost of owning and operating vehicle 2013.

Owning and operating a car is becoming more and more costly. Does it really make sense to pay so much money to pollute the earth?

I personally live just over 18 miles, one way, from my place of employment. I make it work.

Here is what I have discovered. I have lost weight, I no longer have to pay weekly for gas, I garaged my car and cancelled insurance. My total cost savings per month comes to $275.00 dollars. That is just for the obvious stuff. The hidden savings are $0.00 spent per month on a gym membership, savings equal to $20.00 and up (depending on the gym and add on features). I have found that some ailments that I had been going to the doctor for have disappeared. So fewer visits equal money saved on co-pays and prescriptions.

For me, I am looking at around $350.00 to $425.00 a month in cost savings. It's like an extra weekly paycheck.

I noticed that I have more time to browse my neighborhood, slowing down and stopping to smell the roses, relatively speaking.

Your personal situation is different from mine. So you will have to look at this realistically.

The first thing you need to consider is how far you have to commute. Maybe, for you, instead of using a bicycle to commute to work you can use it to run errands, shop, visit a friend, and etc.

Does your family own more than one car? Sit down as a family and list all the ways you use your vehicles. Now come up with some alternative solutions. Reduce your car obligation to one.

Look at alternative types of bicycles. They have all kinds, such as bicycles equipped with an electric assist to help you power up steep hills.

Cancel your gym membership. Start riding your bike and reap the health and cost saving rewards.

My personal favorite is the Terra Trike. You can see one here. Terra Trike.

Become familiar with your states laws on bicycle rules. Most states consider bicycles as vehicles, thus giving cyclists all the rights and usage of the roads. Excepting of course where it is posted as forbidden such as interstates.

Some people are investing in a product called a Velomobile. A little out of my price range thus far but it is a perfect choice for enclosed comfort and they look really amazing. You can see one here. Velomobile.

So work on weaning yourself from the Big Oil teat and you will not only free yourself and your finances, you will also get fit and healthy.

Side note:
I track my ride through an app called Mapmyride. According to the data I am burning through 2,200 to 2,500 calories a day. I moderate this with increased nutrition and hydration. By keeping up a steady commute/exercise regime I will be at my goal weight in two months. That is something no gym or fad diet can ever deliver. The terratrike can support up to 400lbs. So before considering expensive and dangerous bypass surgery, get a bike or trike first and give it a try.

How to save a lot of money really fast.

You have to set a budget!

Seriously.

The biggest mistake people make when trying to cut spending is to forget about creating management guidelines for how that money should be spent. 

To save money you have to manage how your money is spent.

It is not enough to say "I just wont buy that shirt, purse, lipstick, and or aftershave.".

A budget has to be fluid. 

The first mistake people make when creating a budget is making it too rigid. 

A well planned and flexible budget allows for groceries, eating out, entertainment, monthly bills, annual bills, clothing, accessories etc. 

So how do you create such an amazing budget?

Envelopes.

Calculate how much you need to cover expenses and set each envelope for that expense. Then you take those expenses that are annual and divide them by 12. That is how much you set aside for those each month. For the random expenses, such as ice cream cones on a hot summer day or pizza and snacks for the big game, you take what you have left over and divide it by the number of envelope categories you have created. Put that in each. 

Now you only spend what you have in the envelope. You never take from another envelope except in case of emergency but there should be an envelope for that too. :)

So you are not comfortable with stashing cash in envelopes and leaving them in your wallet/purse or in your desk at the house. That's o.k.

They have an app for that!

Go to Android Play store or iPhone app market and search for "envelope budgeting" and choose the app that you like best. 

Now you can keep your money in the bank and still take advantage of the envelope system. 

If your really smart you will have your money in an interest bearing account. Make those green backs work for you. :)

Using this system I went from twenty dollars in my account by payday to five hundred dollars in my account by payday. It took two weeks to get there. Now that is FAST!

Cheap is not a dirty word.

There was a time when words such as Cheap and Penny Pincher had a negative connotation. A time when someone so called would be considered not much better than a miserly, skinflint bent on keeping only the best for themselves and stingily handing out scraps to others.  Today, words such as Cheap and Penny Pincher have a more positive ring. It belies that the labeled individual is thrifty, modest, and careful with their money.

For now, the days of easy money are over. I say for now because 10 to 20 years from now we might find ourselves in a booming economy with plentiful jobs and inexpensive housing. Oh to be so carefree again.

This blog comes a bit late in the game however I believe that there are still those who have concerns to be addressed and needs to be met.

I hope to try and tackle those needs and concerns.

So sit tight and prepare to be dazzled with cheap and thrifty.