Can your wagon make you money?

I had an epiphany last week that I felt compelled to share with everyone. I've often complained about the poor gas mileage of my wagon. I love my car to death, but it can really drain my wallet on gas. Last week, I realized a way to change that.

I am a 25 year old college student in a town full of kids who are far away from home. Fall break is coming up soon, and I'm planning to head upstate to visit my girlfriend. It's about 180 miles one way, so for the round trip I usually burn up a tank and a quarter (around $90). I'm pretty strapped for cash right now and I've been trying to figure out a way to finance the trip. And then it hit me. There are tons of students on this campus trying to get home for break who either don't have a car or don't have the money to pay for gas. I have room in the "Griswold" for 6 passengers (7 actually, but I don't want to get that snuggly with a complete stranger for a 4 hour trip). If I fill my wagon with passengers and charge everyone a flat rate for gas, the trip will practically pay for itself.

I ran with this idea and put up an online ad over the weekend. Since then, I've gotten an overwhelming response. I finally came up with a final plan for the trip and created a professional-looking Word document outlining the departure/arrival times and locations, cost, logistics, etc. and emailed that to everyone who contacted me. I'm charging $15 for a one-way trip or $25 for a round trip. So far I have 5 takers, totaling $95 cash in my pocket. This means that I won't be paying one cent for gas on this trip, and I'll probably still have a little money in profit when it's all said and done.

This is the first time I've ever done anything like this, so I'll see how it goes. I'm leaving Thursday. When I get back, I'll post an update. I just thought I'd throw this out there for anyone looking to make a little money off their next road trip.

 

Just don't let the 'gubamdent get wind of your plan. They'll make you get licenses and permits up the ying-yang and regulation you out of bidness.

 

I hear you, Krash. There's no getting around the red tape these days. Right now, this is just a one time deal. I'll see how it goes, and if it's a success I'll try it again for future trips. At this point, I don't think my venture is routine enough or profitable enough to be considered a business. But at any rate, I'll be sure to keep old Uncle Sam out of the loop for now.

 

Good thinking, Griswold. Sounds like a win win for both you and your riders. I just hope they don't show up with 5 bags of potato chips and 3 six packs of beer!
(Oops, when I first posted this, I left out the "don't" so it read "I just hope they show up with 5 bags of potato chips and 3 six packs of beer".) I don't let anybody drink, (alcoholic or otherwise), or eat at all in my wagon.

 

That sounds like an awesome idea! If only I could get my In-laws to cover the costs of my car with all the times I've moved them with it (three so far).

 

I have a friend from Chicago. He said that the folks with wagons would haul groceries for people, since most people don't have cars.

 

When I compare the expense of a car payment and insurance on a new fuel efficient car, gas for the wagon is CHEAP!!!

 

As KK said, be careful where you advertise. There are heavy regulations regarding taxis, shuttles and limos. Make sure everyone wheres a seat belt. God forbid you get in an accident, you want to minimize your liabilty. You need to make some rules also. You don't want someone eating a food that can get all over your interior and not to mention no drugs in case you get pulled over. Drive safe!

 

Another angle .... if your college town is scarce on housing rent out the rear area as sleeping quarters .... their is an old saying "Pay the car payment BEFORE paying rent-You can sleep in your car but you cant drive your apartment!"

..... your plan sounds like a SEINFELD episode! LOL

 

LOL, Wingnut. Believe it or not, this was one of the selling points for me when I bought the Griswold. I always thought in the back of my mind that if I would up homeless, I could live in my car. I have actually laid the back seats down and slept back there before, and it's not too bad!

Very good advice, Eagle Freek. The no alcohol/drugs policy and the seatbelt policy are a given. I hadn't thought a whole lot about eating/drinking in the car, but it's definitely easier to enforce a no food/drink rule than it is to clean up a mess. Thanks for the tip!

 

20+ years ago, I had a friend who ate a Charleston Chew and got some on the front seat of my Mustang. It took me forever to get that chocolate out. I joke with him to this day about it.

 

And another suggestion...
After the trip's all done, clean out the interior thoroughly, including under the seats.

 

I remember that as being pretty common back in my college days in the 1980's at Virginia Tech. One friend of mine met his wife by offering rides home for gas money. When my brother was at Virginia Tech in the early 70's, he had a pilots license and partial ownership in a plane and used the plane for rides home for gas money.

 

Good plan. I would have advertised for females only.

 

Might have enough change for lunch too.

Cool idea, hope all goes well, enjoy your visit with your GF.