The “$2.50 Subway Dilemma”
Yesterday, after work, I decided to walk the 20 blocks to Penn Station instead of taking the subway. It was a beautiful day, and I wasn’t in a hurry. More importantly, I was trying to save my $2.50 subway fare. My job only covers my train tickets into the city, and every trip I take from Penn station down to Hudson Street comes out of my pocket.
The walk started off great. But by the midway point, I started feeling the weight of my backpack. Three-quarters of the way, I questioned why I chose walking over a $2.50 ride. I wouldn’t have minded the walk If I wasn’t carrying a heavy load.
It made me think if saving $2.50 was truly worth it. I thought to myself, if I had a freelance writing job waiting, I’d happily pay the fare to get home quickly and make more money. But with no immediate paying task at hand, saving the subway fare was the best I could do.
Then I thought about the potential savings over time. If I opted to walk 75% of the days after work, I could save around $70. And with my tight budget, saving $70 could mean a few movie nights or dinners with friends this summer.
Addedly, the walk, though tiring, served as good exercise. For someone who spends a lot of time on the computer, this might have been good for my health, perhaps even worth more than the $2.50 I saved.
As I reached Penn Station, despite the heaviness I felt, I knew I made the right choice. When living on a budget, every penny counts, even the $2.50 subway fare.