Financial planner saves over $3k a year by paddleboarding to work

By Harrison Moore via SWNS

A financial planner has the coolest commute and PADDLE BOARDS to work - saving £2,500 ($3,257) a year in gas and parking costs.

Alex Kell decided to ditch sitting in traffic and trade it for the open waters when he changed his daily trip to and from work last summer.

Weather permitting Alex, who owns Quayside Wealth Management, gets his stand-up paddleboard out at his home and paddles the mile up the Gloucester-Sharpness Canal to work.

The unique commute provides Alex with much-needed thinking time as a business owner and helps him unwind after a stressful day at the office.

Alex Kell who paddle boards his way to work. (Adam Hughes via SWNS)

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The 38-year-old, who lives with his partner in Gloucester, England, is loving life on the water and has no plans to get back on the road in his Ford ranger anytime soon.

"I'm lucky, I live a mile from work on the canal," he said.

"If I drove it would take me 15 to 20 minutes including parking - but I was often sitting in traffic.

"It's a great money saver as well and I estimate to be saving around £2,500 a year in petrol costs.

"I paddled to work a lot last summer, and now the weather is getting better I'm doing it again."

Alex doesn't wear a suit for his trip on the board, instead of packing it in a dry bag for when he arrives at work.

The weather can sometimes disrupt Alex's paddleboarding plans, but it's not the rain that puts him off.

Alex said: "Rain doesn't stop me, the real issue is the wind.

"If the wind is strong then it's a real struggle and makes you much slower - so on those days I walk instead.

"In perfect weather, it's so relaxing. You get wonderful views and sunsets - it's just beautiful."

Alex says he saves £50 ($65) a week on gas and parking - £6 ($7) a day on parking and £20 ($26) a week on gas.