Very few people enjoy the commute to work, but one Gen Z woman has even more reason not to like it after revealing that she spends $100 per day on Ubers.
Tiana Arriaga, 24, from Los Angeles, California, shared a video on TikTok (@tiana.com) explaining that she spends most of her wage on Ubers to and from work, meaning she only takes home around $30. The video went viral with over 1.4 million views and 237,800 likes on TikTok, and needless to say, the internet is divided by her method of transport.
Arriaga doesn’t own a car, but as her job is 14 miles away, walking is out of the question. Many people asked why she can’t take public transport, however Arriaga told Newsweek that it’s already an hour in an Uber so “it would take way longer” by bus or train.
She said: “I don’t have a car currently, and I have another job that I do before going to the one that’s 14 miles away, with only an hour gap in between. I wouldn’t have time to take public transportation as it would take about an hour longer on the bus or train.”
@tiana.com / TikTok
She’s been in the role since December 2023, but after moving to a new place this month, she only started taking daily Ubers in June 2024. The journeys currently cost Arriaga $100 a day, and $500 across the full week.
It was incredibly “annoying” to see $100 leave her account each day, but Arriaga’s worked out an arrangement with her employer whereby they will reimburse $50 a day for the costs. She’s incredibly thankful for the help, as the Ubers will no longer be “as much of a loss,” and it’s only going to last for a month.
“The office is moving closer to me at the end of the month, which is why I’m OK with paying that much for the commutes for now,” she added.
According to figures from Statista, the majority of workers (29 percent) have a commute of around 15 to 29 minutes in length, and 22 percent spend less than 15 minutes commuting. Traveling more than an hour, as Arriaga does, was much less popular among commuters, as just 5 percent of people have a journey of between 60 to 119 minutes.
Following the pandemic, remote working became increasingly popular and has become a legacy for many companies. With that in mind, 23 percent, the second highest figure, don’t commute to work at all.
How Did TikTok React?
After Arriaga posted on TikTok to express her dismay over “losing money” on Uber rides, social media users were divided by her choice of transport. Many suggested that she should choose a cheaper alternative.
“Half of the comments relate to it, since some people have no other way to get to work, and it does cut into their paycheck. The other half don’t fully understand why I do it, so they just assume I’m dumb and are fighting in the comments,” Arriaga told Newsweek.
She never expected the video to go viral, just thinking it was funny and might be intriguing to her followers. But after receiving a lot of questions and backlash online, Arriaga posted a follow-up video providing people with more information about her predicament.
Spending so much money on Ubers each day has certainly generated attention online, and the viral TikTok video has amassed over 2,100 comments in just a matter of days. One comment reads: “It’s time to just get up an hour earlier and take the bus.”
Another person responded: “This makes me so glad I can drive and I live 10 minutes away from my job.”
While others were more understanding, as one TikToker user wrote: “This was me, literally working to pay for Ubers because by the end of the week my whole check was going to Uber.”
And another comment says: “These $40 a day Ubers are literally draining my account.”
Do you have a monetary dilemma? Let us know via life@newsweek.com. We can ask experts for advice, and your story could be featured on Newsweek.
Uncommon Knowledge
Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.
Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.
