Tips for Uber users to save money

Subscribe to Uber One

If you use Uber regularly for commuting, an Uber One membership can pay off. It costs 17 SAR/month (or 170 SAR/year) and I’m personally saving about 127 SAR every month. It’s definitely worth the 17 SAR membership fee. You can also start with a one-month free trial to see if it works for you.

Use Two Accounts (If You Have Two Phone Numbers)

If you have two mobile numbers, you can register a separate Uber account for each. This isn’t officially allowed by Uber, but it only works if you have two different numbers since your account is tied to your phone number. Doing this lets you enjoy the new user promotion (10% off) and the free Uber One trial twice.

Try “Wait & Save” When You’re Not in a Hurry

When you’re flexible with pick-up time (for example, when returning from work), choose “Book for now” instead of scheduling a future ride in advance. This gives you access to the “Wait & Save” option, which is usually cheaper than pre-booking.

Compare Prices When Booking in Advance

If you need to schedule your ride, check fares across a 30-minute window. Sometimes even a 1-minute difference in pick-up time can save you several riyals.

Booking rides in off-peak time

Whether you book for now or for later, try not book in peak time, eg. in evenings book after 7:30pm. I pre-booked a ride for 8:30pm, if I book it around 5pm the price is much higher than booking after 7:30pm.

Confirm when you see a low price 

If you use Uber for commuting and see a price which is lower than usual, confirm it immediately. If you hesitate, the price will likely go up quickly to the normal range.

Book in advance for peak hours

Uber fares are usually much higher during Monday morning rush hours and Friday evening rush hours. Book in advance if you travel during these periods. Don't rely on Wait & Save function for these periods.

Know How to Dispute a Charge

On rare occasions, you might be charged if the driver doesn’t show up (it happened to me once, someone else took my ride!). If that occurs to you, go to the “Help” section in the app to dispute the charge and request a refund. It helps to collect any evidence you can.

Li-po battery charging tips

avoid charging above 80% and discharging below 20% to maximize battery lifespan. While they can be charged to 100% and discharged to 0%, doing so puts stress on the battery and can accelerate capacity loss. 

Storing a LiPo battery around 40–50% charge is ideal for long-term storage, as high states of charge and high temperatures increase self-discharge and degradation.

Charging Guidelines

Avoid 100% Full Charges Regularly: Regularly charging to 100% creates high voltage stress, which degrades the battery faster. 

Consider an 80% Limit: A common recommendation is to charge your battery to around 80% if you don't need full runtime. 

Consider a 20-80% Range: For general use, keeping the battery between 20% and 80% State of Charge is a healthy range. 

Discharging Guidelines

Avoid Deep Discharges: Discharging the battery to 0% also creates stress and leads to more rapid capacity loss. 

Consider a 20% Limit: Do not let your battery discharge too far below 20%. 

Monitor Voltage and Temperature: These factors influence the battery's overall performance and longevity, so it's good to be aware of them. 

Storage Guidelines

Store at Reduced Charge:

For long-term storage, a LiPo battery should be stored at a moderate temperature and a reduced charge of around 3.8V to 4.0V per cell, which is roughly 40-50% capacity. 

Avoid Hot Environments:

High temperatures accelerate self-discharge and can degrade the battery faster. 

By following these guidelines, you can significantly prolong the life and preserve the performance of your LiPo batteries. 

Comparison of UK bank fees for receiving international payments

HSBC

Receiving Euros from the EEA: no fee

Receiving Less than £100 from outside the EEA: £5

Receiving More than £100 in another currency, or euros from outside the EEA: £5

Halifax and TSB fees are same

Payments in euros received from within the UK, EEA or via SEPA Credit Transfer: No fee

Receiving a payment up to and including £100: £2

Receiving a payment of over £100: £7

Kroo bank accounts cannot receive international payments