Saving on Gas and Transportation - Tricks I Use to Economize

Carpooling used to be considered a bit odd by most people, especially during the "see me" eighties. However, with the rising cost of gas and the attention being given to pollution, carpooling is now a very mainstream option and is one really great way to economize on gas.

Of course, you can't just walk up to strangers and ask where they go to work or school. What if Ted Bundy carpooled? Luckily, there are plenty of safe and easy ways to find carpooling buddies.

• Ask at work. Human resources may have a list of people looking to carpool. If not, ask if you can start one. (This goes for school, too. Check with your school's commuter student organization. Mine kept a list of people who wanted to carpool when I was going to school.)
• Check the staffroom bulletin board. You may just find a note from another employee searching for a carpool buddy from your area.
• Chat with other members of your local church. You may discover that another member is driving to a job right up the street from you.
• Use an online commuter match up service. Commuter Connections helps D.C. area workers find other drivers to set up a carpool group with. NuRide offers a way for potential carpoolers to hook up with other carpoolers and allows them to earn rewards, too. Save gas and get gift certificates? Sounds like a good deal to me! NuRide began in the Virginia area, but has since expanded quite a bit to include other regions.