Commuters have saved £500 during lockdown

British commuters have saved nearly £500 in the 10 weeks since lockdown began after working from home, it has been revealed.

Personal finance experts have researched spending habits of those who commute to work in order to see how much Brits have saved.

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By looking at the average price of a commute in Britain, with lunch in the office, daily coffee orders and Friday evening drinks with colleagues, experts at TheMoneyPig.com have worked out commuters spend around £49.88 a week, totting up to just short of £500 - £498.80 - in 10 weeks.

According to daily figures from government briefings, 41 per cent of Brits working from home at the moment compared to 12 per cent this time last year, so more Brits than ever are set to make these savings.

With a meal deal costing on average £3 and a regular takeaway coffee being £2.44, more than £5 a day is being saved by cooking and eating at home.Friday evening drinks can also see weekly spends hike, with two pints before going home costing around £7.38.

The average price of a commute is also £15.30 a week, which sees the weekly cost of working in an office, instead of at home, rise to nearly £50.

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As lockdown starts lifting and businesses need to ensure offices and staff are protected from coronavirus, offering flexible working could help their employees to both save their money and prioritise their health and wellbeing.

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Households who do not commute are also likely to have saved money during lockdown, with spending on takeaways and fast food likely to have decreased.

Petrol is another area that many Brits have been able to save money, with a sharp decrease in use of vehicles over the time-frame.

Lockdown, which started on March 23, is slowly being eased in stages.

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A spokesperson the company said: “Working from home has been a big change for many people in this extremely turbulent time.

“It is good to be able to report some positives for employees because of these changes and seeing more money in bank accounts is obviously a big one.

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“This time may give people the chance to look at their finances when it comes to their commute and see where they can save money.

“Furloughed workers, although on 20 per cent less than their normal wage, will also be enjoying the savings made from not commuting and spending time at home.

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“Unfortunately, the price of commuting isn’t likely to decrease, but added extras such as coffees and shop-bought lunches are easy places to save money.

“Along with the added money-save bonuses, working from home also has brought many other benefits, including giving us more time with family.”

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