Commuters spend almost £100 on travel treats

The average commuter in the UK spends £94.97 every month on travel treats for their journey to and from work, according to recent data published by American Express.

The average daily commute is one hour, and the items which commuters deem essential for this can swiftly add up. Coffee and energy drinks are the most popular items, with £16.93 being spent on these each month. A further £16.49 is being spent on snacks including crisps, chocolate and fruit, while £13.44 is spent on breakfast during the journey.

More than a fifth (22 per cent) of the 3,000 commuters who were surveyed admitted that the main reason they indulge in these items is to cheer themselves up on their journeys. A further 29 per cent said they buy snacks if they've had a particularly stressful day at work.

Spending differs greatly across the nation, with commuters in the capital spending an average of £174 every month on travel treats, while those in Brighton spend £50 on average.

Catherine Prentke, director at American Express, said: "After the fun of Christmas and New Year, returning to work can be a chore for many of us and a take away coffee or breakfast on the way to work can help brighten up our commute. However, the cost can soon mount up."

With this being a particularly expensive time of year, the purchase of non-essential items can quickly add up, causing people to find themselves in debt.