The easiest money move of No Buy July takes a few seconds and saves real money

No Buy July is about cutting spending you don't have to make. Most people think that means skipping coffee runs and canceling subscriptions. But there's one spending habit almost nobody talks about — and it's costing and it's costing real money. One NBER study found that in 2024 it would save riders taking 100 rides per year up to $177.

The habit: defaulting to the same rideshare app every time without checking the other one.

The fix: rideshare-maxxing.

Rideshare-maxxing is the practice of checking both major rideshare apps before you book — every time — to make sure you're getting the lower fare. It takes a few seconds. It requires no loyalty program, no promo code, and no special knowledge. Just open both apps, compare, and book the cheaper one.

That's it.

It sounds almost too simple. But the data behind it is significant enough that Harvard and Johns Hopkins economists published it as an independent research paper through the National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER).

Economists Dr. Michael Luca and colleagues analyzed millions of rideshare trips in New York City in 2024. What they found: a 14% average price gap between Lyft and Uber for the exact same trip — same origin, same destination, same time of day.

For a rider taking 100 trips a year, defaulting to the more expensive app without checking cost them $177 in one year. Across all NYC riders in 2024, the total missed savings added up to an estimated $300 million left on the table.

Three hundred million dollars. In one city. In one year.

This isn't a Lyft claim. This is peer-reviewed research from independent economists — research that Lyft subsequently licensed because the finding was that clear.

The researchers didn't just find a price gap. They identified why it persists: habit.

Most riders open the same app every time — not because they've compared prices and made a considered decision, but because they've stopped deciding at all. 

Rideshare apps run in independent marketplaces. Prices fluctuate based on driver availability, demand, and time of day — independently of each other. When one app surges, the other frequently hasn't. But you'd only know that if you checked.

Most people don't check. No Buy July is the perfect month to start.

Before every ride:

No code. No switching loyalty programs. Just information you already have access to, used intentionally.

The price gap isn't uniform — it spikes at predictable moments. These are the highest-value times to check both apps:

Airports High-demand pickup zones with constantly shifting surge pricing. The gap between apps widens significantly at airports, especially during peak arrival and departure windows. Check before you join any queue.

Nights out Bar close means every rideshare user in a neighborhood is requesting at the same time. One app surges harder than the other — but not always the same one. Checking Lyft takes less time than finishing your last drink.

Daily commutes The compounding effect of small consistent savings is what makes rideshare-maxxing genuinely powerful over time.

Busy events and holidays Concerts, sporting events, New Year's Eve — any moment when demand spikes creates pricing divergence between platforms. These are the moments when checking takes the least time and saves the most money.

No Buy July challenges typically focus on discretionary purchases — clothing, dining out, impulse buys. But rideshare is different: you still have to get places.

That makes rideshare-maxxing one of the highest-ROI moves in a No Buy July challenge. You're not eliminating a purchase. You're paying less for a purchase you were already going to make.

Is Lyft always cheaper? No — and that's exactly the point. Prices between platforms fluctuate constantly based on demand and market conditions. The NBER study found that on average Lyft was 14% cheaper per trip in NYC, but the lower-priced app on any specific ride can vary. That's why checking every time is the habit worth building — not assuming one app is always cheaper.

Does the 14% price gap apply outside New York City? The NBER study analyzed NYC trips in 2024 specifically. The price gap exists in other markets — the magnitude varies by city, time of day, and trip type. Riders who check both apps in any major market will find meaningful savings opportunities, though specific amounts will differ.

How long does rideshare-maxxing actually take? Opening a second app, checking a fare, and closing it takes approximately 10–15 seconds. Over the course of a year of rides, those seconds add up to minutes. 

What if I'm in a hurry? Price Lock, Lyft's commute fare feature, lets you lock in a price for your regular routes so you're never surprised by surge pricing. For planned trips, you're already rideshare-maxxing before you leave the house.

No Buy July is about spending intentionally — not spending less on things that matter, but spending smarter on things you can't avoid. Transportation is unavoidable. Overpaying for it isn't.

Rideshare-maxxing is the lowest-effort, highest-return habit in the No Buy July toolkit. Two seconds before every ride. Money back in your pocket by the end of the year.

Open Lyft before your next ride.

The money is just sitting there.

The 14% average price gap and $177 annual savings figure are based on independent NBER research by Dr. Michael Luca and colleagues, analyzing millions of NYC rideshare trips in 2024. Savings vary by market, trip type, and frequency.