"On the Job Training": Money Saving Tips at Work
by Andrew Trent
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As working Americans, we all desire to save at least some of the money we make. While paying bills and dealing with the ever rising price of gas makes this seem impossible, there are a few “tricks of the trade” which can leave us surprised at just how much money we were able to keep in our checking accounts by the end of the month. What’s more, these money saving tactics may have the biggest impact when practiced at work.

Commuting to work decreases our gas tanks and increases the numbers on fuel pumps. Simply put, the more we drive, the more we spend. The amount of money we spend on gas can be reduced if we take advantage of more “social” options of mobility, such as car pooling or public transportation. In the city where I work (Minneapolis, Minnesota), a convenient Metro Transit system makes it both easy and affordable to get to and from work. Most notably, the Light Rail system has various stopping points throughout the metro area, extending from the Mall of America all the way to the heart of downtown Minneapolis. At various stations throughout its route, the Light Rail system offers free parking to those who wish to “park and ride.” A two dollar local fair is charged for each trip on the train, adding up to twenty dollars per week if one chooses to take advantage of this on a daily basis. This may bode well for those who pay over thirty dollars at each visit to the gas station.

When working an eight or nine hour day, the temptation is always to eat out for lunch, especially when one’s place of employment is located in a busy metropolitan area. In my case, I’m surrounded (and tempted) by countless ethnic and fast food joints, all conveniently located in a central location connected via skyway to the building where I put in my nine to five. The culinary choices seem limitless, and the amount of money that is spent can be as large as one’s daily appetite (which, I suspect, can get pretty big). Buying groceries and packing a lunch presents an economical way to reduce the amount of money spent during break time. Your checking account and your health will be more robust in the long run.

Ah, caffeine, the age-old fuel that gets us going in the morning and leaves us primed for those long afternoons. As corporate America forever tells us that we must produce to our maximum output and potential, how can we live without coffee? Who can resist the urge to grab a late from Starbucks or Caribou? Who can resist the urge to take an afternoon walk down to the local Dunn Brothers? As we all know, none of these establishments are particularly known for their cheap prices, and one can wind up spending just as much on coffee (if not more) as drinks at a bar. What with $3.91 per medium late, prices can add up pretty quickly. It’s much better to spend ten dollars on a bag of coffee beans that will probably last the whole week. Not only will your pocket book thank you, but your coworkers will as well. Share the wealth and share the coffee by purchasing in bulk.

Remember, the grass is always greener when you can actually see the green.