How do you save on transport?

Okay, so I completely feel your pain when it comes to transport costs. It feels like every time I glance at my bank statement, a significant chunk has vanished into the public transport black hole! I'm constantly on the lookout for ways to shrink that hole, and I've picked up a few tricks along the way that I thought I'd share.

First off, let's talk about the everyday stuff. You mentioned contactless payment cashback, and YES! This is a small win, but consistently using a credit or debit card with decent cashback on transit really adds up over the months. For example, if you spend, say, $100 a month on transport (which, let's be honest, is probably lowballing it for many!), a 3% cashback card gets you $3 back. That's potentially $36 a year – enough for a decent lunch, right? I'm personally loving the (insert specific card name and bank if you have one, e.g., "DBS Live Fresh card for its 5% cashback on online and contactless spend, including public transport,").

And the SimplyGo app? A lifesaver! Before it, I was constantly guesstimating my fares and stressing about whether I had enough value loaded on my card. Now, I can track my spending in real-time and see exactly where my money is going. This isn't just about tracking, though. Knowing your spending patterns allows you to identify potential savings. Are you consistently taking longer, more expensive routes? The app can help you analyze this.

You're spot on about transfer rebates. Those little rebates, especially during off-peak hours, are gold dust! It’s something like a $0.25 rebate with each transfer to the next transit within a certain timeframe. Over the course of a month, that adds up.

Then there's the "early bird catches the cheaper fare" strategy. This is brutal, especially if you're not a morning person, I get it! But if you can consistently tap in before 7:45 am, you’ll save a considerable amount with the early morning incentive in Singapore, although I don't do this often enough to reap the rewards, but for those of us who need to be somewhere by a certain time every morning, and who don't mind waking up early, this might be an advantage!

But the real savings opportunities, I think, lie in concessions. This is where I think a lot of people miss out. I recently spent a good hour digging through the TransitLink website and found out I might be eligible for a senior citizen concession card due to my age (yes, it was a slightly depressing realization, haha!). So, check the eligibility criteria carefully. Student cards, senior citizen cards, Workfare Transport Concession Scheme… they’re all designed to help specific groups and can significantly reduce your fares. It's definitely worth the effort to see if you qualify for any of these. Even if you don't think you qualify, double-check! The rules are often more nuanced than you think.

Now, I'm not going to pretend that transferring HealthPoints to TransitLink is going to make me rich. But hey, every little bit helps, right? I feel like it's free money, or at least, money I already spent exercising, so it's like getting rewarded for being healthy. Plus, it incentivizes me to walk more!

Beyond these things, here's what I do to save:

• Plan my routes: I use Google Maps or Citymapper to compare different routes and see if walking a little further will save me a transfer (and therefore money).
• Carpooling (occasionally): If I know someone going in the same direction, I'll see if they're willing to carpool and split the cost of petrol. This is more of a social thing than a significant cost-saver, but it's a nice bonus.
• Walk/Cycle Short Distances: Instead of taking the bus for one or two stops, I walk. It's good exercise and saves me money. If the distance is slightly longer, cycling is a good option.
• Consider Other Savings Programs: Find other potential savings programs. You may get a free travel with your employee benefits or as part of government scheme.

Ultimately, saving on transport is about being mindful of your spending and taking advantage of every little discount and incentive available. It's a game of incremental gains, and every penny you save is a penny you can put towards something more enjoyable (like a vacation, maybe!). So, keep hunting for those deals, keep tracking your spending, and keep squeezing every last drop of value out of your transport dollars! Good luck!