As said before, sometimes I write about “the rest of life”. Today is one of those days. A recent post by green LA girl has started me thinking – is a car really necessary?
check your assumptions … save a lot of money For many of you, it certainly is. Two-hour bus commutes are certainly not a fun idea. But it might be worth checking your assumptions – it’s not only a good ecological idea, it also might save a lot of money. You’ve got monthly car insurance, gas prices are going through the roof, there’s maintenance…. I’d estimate my monthly car costs at around $500. Nothing to sneeze at.
So I gave it a go, and made a list of reasons I still have a car.
- I’ve got one regular thing right after work, once a week. The bus can’t get me there in time. Biking might be possible, but I’m not suicidal enough to bike a major LA traffic artery in rush hour….
- Shopping. About once a month, I do a big shopping run. You know, cat litter, water, canned goods – all the stuff that’s really heavy. There are online groceries like Vons to take care of that, though.
- Road Trips. My wife likes to get out of LA from time to time. Me, I’m more the stay-at-home and fiddle-with-the-web kind of guy, but I like spending quiet weekends with her from time to time. Flexcar or rentals might be a good alternative.
There’s only one (the weekly appointment) that really requires me to have a car – and some creative scheduling might get me around that. At this point, the idea seems viable enough to give it close scrutiny. So here’s the battle plan:
- Keep a car log. While the above are good guesses as to why I need a car, I might be missing reasons. There might be reasons my wife needs a car. A log will help me uncover those
- Make a more detailed cost analysis – what’s the cost of going car-less, how much is the difference?
I’ll give this about three months, and then I’ll report back. What about you?
Tags: environment, Flexcar, public transportation
Wow — This is such a great idea! A car log! I shall do likewise and will link to this via wists — Hope more of us start evaluating our choices — Thanks for the inspiration!
A Q: I was wondering — are you counting parking fees toward this total? Trying to keep my lil log, and I wasn’t sure what to do with that… Also, what about tips (at the car wash, etc)?
I dont really think that college students should tie themselves down with car payments. Then keeping up with the costs of the car and the other bills that comes along with it becomes your main focus instead of school.
I am a senior,and live in a small town,in a high rise Senior Complex. There’s a free shuttle weekly to take folks to the mall.There’s public transportation (street car type bus),that will take Me where ever within a radius of where ever…still, I want some sort of “Vehicle “,so I’m selling My car,( and I love that car),but it’s costing a fortune now for gas,and insurance…no payments ,it’s paid for………still,it sets for weeks at a time and I use it maybe three to four times a month . I jst don’t like to drive anymore,but….am afraid if I sell the car………..THEN I WILL WANT TO !!!
The OTHER VEHICLE I think it will be > an Adult Tri-Cycle ! !!! it’s electric,so I can cruise or peddle,and since I live in a very small town,think it will be pretty safe. I would like to get a small electric or gasoline scooter,like a baby moror cycle,but……….the tri-cycle is the most practrical. it has a huge basket on the front and back,lights,and a big comfy seat…….I could even take My Schnauzer on it for joy rides, wouldn’t be able to do that with a motorcycle . It’s just “giving up always having wheels “,never have I ever done that,and don’t have to now,jst that since gasoline and insurance and everything else is going up more and more, this is stupid to keep a car that isn’t even used. I hope I don’t regret selling My car……….in fact……….I’m almost AFRAID to try it…….maybe I should try riding the bus first to see if I can handle it. Somehow,I can see Me having fits,going to the grocery,the Dr.,or the bank on a bike or a bus every time I need to,jst because I NEVER DID NOT HAVE A CAR. ……….and what about in the WINTER OR WHEN IT RAINS???????? NO BIKE RIDING………omg…. and go by the bus schedule………..hmmmmmmmm…… Maybe I jst talked Myself out of the whole thing ! I am a 65 year old “YOUNG SENIOR”Female,somehow it’s like losing ALL MY FREEDOM AND YOUTH TO NOT HAVE A CAR,EVEN IF I DON’T NEED IT AND IT COST A FORTUNE TO HAVE ONE NOW DAYS…I’m jst not “USE TO BEING OLD”,and most folks have to give up driving ,OR SHOULD,when they get old anyway !!!…..ya think I should forget it or take the plunge ? I wonder how the CAR LOG WORKED OUT ???