I see people say this all the time, but how is this possible? Do you work from home? I only live a few miles from work and Uber would still way out-expense a car payment, gas, and insurance...and even then, my car is worth a few thousand at the end, at least.
Not that I've seriously pursued this angle but napkin math tells me it would either break even or cost more to Uber.
I can use Amtrak to visit family, which I greatly prefer to Chicago traffic. I walk to work and can use Uber with my company's pre-tax benefits when I need to go somewhere else. I don't have to pay for parking, which is pretty expensive and my driving insurance is half what it used to be. For the 4-5 times a year I actually want to drive I can easily rent a car. Uber pool is also pretty cheap if you are not in a hurry. Plus if I am desperate I can take public transportation. But at one point when I had a nonwalking commute I realized Uber pool was roughly the same cost as public transportation and much more comfortable. I probably pay 75 on Uber a month, plus the 25 for insurance. Vs 140 on parking and 68 on insurance. Car rental is 100.
I used to Uber in the morning and take the bus home in the evening. Came out to less than $350 a month, including the bus pass. Not sure how that compares to a car payment plus insurance and everything else since I've never owned a car.
What I will say is that I was in a car incident while I was taking a ride share (competitor of Uber) and for me it'd be worth it just to not have to deal with the aftermath of something like that.
Not that I've seriously pursued this angle but napkin math tells me it would either break even or cost more to Uber.