To a lot of people, walking can be too tiresome to do on a regular basis. With commuting becoming a lot more convenient in recent times, it’s tempting to just take a bus or train to work instead of a 30-minute walk.
And then there are people who own vehicles of their own, who can just go at their own pace with their cars. But walking doesn’t cost any money, and you can end up saving more money than you think by skipping the usual bus ride to work.
We aren’t saying that you SHOULDN’T commute or drive your car at all, though. There are plenty of situations where using transportation can be way more time-efficient than walking. If you aren’t travelling very far, though, there are definitely advantages to taking a walk to your destination instead.
Saving by Travelling for Free
The most obvious advantage that walking has over commuting or driving is that you don’t spend any money at all to get to your destination.
But how much exactly are you saving by doing this? Well, it’s hard to really give a clear answer to that. The costs associated with commuting or driving depending on where you live, gas prices, the car you use to drive, and many other factors.
We’re going to use a few rough numbers to give you a general idea, but you may end up saving less or more.
If you’re commuting, then you can easily get an estimate of how much you save. In the U.S., annual commuting expenses can range anywhere from $2.000 to $5.000 a year, depending on where you live. That’s around $5 a day at the very least – which can really add up over time. Other countries with lower costs of living spend a lot less, but you get the picture.
For those who own cars, though, there are a few more considerations to be made. You need to know the miles-per-gallon ratio of your car, the distance your car travels annually, and the regular maintenance costs as well. AAA suggests that you can spend anywhere between $7.000 and $10,000 a year based on the type of car you own.
Saving by Staying Healthy
Here are some of the positive effects walking has on the body:
Burning Calories
Let’s say that you’ve been gaining quite a bit of weight recently, and you want to get rid of those extra calories. You could sign up for a gym membership, but that would cost money and time.
Instead of hitting the gym, you can save up by walking instead, since walking can help burn those calories. You’ll also achieve this while on your way to work or a meetup, which saves more time than setting a dedicated schedule for gym visits.
Lowering the Risk of Cardiovascular Disorders
A person dies from cardiovascular disease every 37 seconds in the U.S. alone. That’s how common heart-related problems are, and many people often shell out large amounts of money to get healthy again.
But you can prevent spending on medical bills by minimizing the risk of heart disease – and walking can be one of the easiest ways to do so. According to Harvard Medical School, you lower the risk of cardiovascular disease by 31%, and the risk of dying by 32%, if you walk regularly.
Saving by Earning Money
These apps are apps that pay you to walk, and the more you travel by foot the greater rewards you’ll get. So instead of spending nothing on transportation every day, you can end up earning from your daily trip to work instead.
Don’t Waste Your Money by Commuting or Driving
Just because there are more efficient methods of transportation these days, doesn’t mean that walking becomes obsolete. In fact, there are plenty of advantages walking has over a train or bus ride, from lower spending and better health to even getting paid.
So if the destination isn’t too far, try taking the scenic route instead, and go for a walk.