By Cynthia Kimola<\/p>\n
My first internship didn\u2019t come with a stipend but they were generous enough to offer me a weekly allowance for transport and lunch. The money wasn\u2019t much but it was sufficient to get me to and from work. (Fares in Nairobi can be quite expensive and if it were possible, we\u2019d all live near the office and walk or cycle to work. The larger population still has to rely on public transport to get around and this leaves us at their mercy as they can raise fares at their own pleasure. )<\/p>\n
During my internship and well into my first job, I found creative ways to save on my bus fare. I\u2019ll share some practical tips you can use when on a budget or if you just want to spend less on transport.<\/p>\n
If you leave the house before or by 6am, you are guaranteed lower fares and you can pay Sh20 to Sh50 depending on the route. This is because the matatus have just started operating and there\u2019s no traffic on the road. I know someone who leaves by 6am, gets to work by 7am and does freelance writing jobs till 9am, then starts his official duties.<\/p>\n
If you are not a morning person then you can work till late and leave the office after traffic has eased up. The bus fare may not be as low as those who leave before sunrise but it will not be as high as peak time. You can use that time to finish up on some work, do an online course, read, go to the gym etc<\/p>\n
Now this saved me quite a sum. At my first workplace, I had a colleague who lived in BuruBuru and he\u2019d offer all of us staying in the general Eastlands area a lift. He\u2019d drop us close to our destinations where we\u2019d board a Sh20 matatu to Umoja, Komarock, Donholm or Tena estate. We would save Sh80 bob a day (Sh400 a week and Sh1600 a month).<\/p>\n
Train services are available on most routes in Nairobi. For example, there\u2019s one that leaves Embakasi, Kikuyu, Syokimau, Imara Daima, Kahawa West in the morning to come to the CBD and the fares are only Sh40. The upside is you don\u2019t get any traffic on the railway line<\/p>\n
All matatu routes have off peak hours, when the fares are cheaper, as there\u2019s not much demand. When you can, try scheduling meetings during those times so that you can pay the lowest fares possible.<\/p>\n
If going for the same function with a friend, meet in a central location then share the cost of the ride. If the total cost of the ride is Sh500, you split the cost and each person pays Sh250 instead of you forking out the whole amount. There are so many taxi hailing apps nowadays, you can compare prices before you settle on one.<\/p>\n
You can get around on foot easily in Nairobi and with the congestion on our roads it\u2019s often faster to walk. Those who work in Upper Hill or Westlands can walk to the CBD in the evening instead of spending long hours in traffic. You also get the added benefit of keeping fit.<\/p>\n
I\u2019m sure that if you try one of these tips you will shave off a sum off your transport budget and direct that cash towards something else – like saving for a holiday trip.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"