When I got rid of my car last August, I wondered if I would miss it. Surprisingly, I haven't.
I gave the Chevrolet Cavalier to my daughter and her husband for their move to Phoenix. Abby has a chronic illness, and I couldn't stand the idea of her waiting for a bus in 115-degree heat. To me, the decision was simple: She's sick; I'm not.
Going car-free would be good for me, I figured. Obviously I'd save money on insurance, gas and other car-related costs. I'd get more exercise. Best of all, I would no longer have to worry about maintenance, parking or cleaning bird poop off the windshield.
Not that I wasn't apprehensive. How much time would walking or riding the bus steal from my already-crowded days? Would hunting down ultrabargains be possible without driving from store to store? If not, would my frugal lifestyle be compromised?
The past few months have been a revelation. I feel much better physically. Not only have I lost weight, but I've been reminded that walking is a great stress reliever, thanks to the endorphins our bodies produce. Not only are endorphins legal, they're also free.
More to the point, adding up last year's auto-related expenses shocked me -- and my car had been paid off for years. Vehicle ownership is the biggest single expense in many people's lives, and not owning a car can be the biggest single weapon in a serious-minded budgeter's arsenal.
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A big-ticket item
Initially I'd thought about buying myself a replacement car. But I live a mile from most of the services I need and near several bus lines that can take me anywhere else. So why did I think I needed a vehicle?"There's a mindset, driven by endless automobile advertising, that you've got to have a car," says Chris Balish, the author of "How to Live Well Without Owning a Car."
Ads that trumpet "Only $199 a month!" aren't telling the full story. AAA says fuel, tires, maintenance, insurance, depreciation, license, registration, taxes and financing for a year really cost this much:
- Small sedan, $7,086.
- Medium sedan, $9,108.
- Large sedan, $10,972.
- Minivan, $9,903.
- Four-wheel-drive SUV, $11,473.
Of course, these are just averages. Costs do vary. But try adding up your own expenses. The payments on a $20,000 car loan -- that's well below the average new-car price -- run about $400 a month. MSN Money columnist Liz Pulliam Weston notes that many middle-class families have two such payments, adding, "It doesn't take a major disaster, like a job loss, to send them over the edge."
On top of that $4,800-a-year payment, add 15,000 miles' worth of gas -- an additional $1,875 figured at 20 mpg and $2.50 a gallon. Then insurance (it averages about $950 a year for most people, but you can check out costs for most models here). Throw in a few oil changes and car washes, and you could top $8,000 a year. That's almost $700 a month.
Think of what $700 a month could do to your debts.
"If you're constantly broke and can't figure out why," Weston says, "the answer may be sitting in your driveway."
Walk softly and work steadily
Although I hadn't had a car payment since April 2004 and drove very little, I still paid out nearly $1,500 in auto-related expenses in the past year.When I ditched the vehicle, I got a $111 refund from the insurance company.
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Theoretically I'm also saving an average of $41 per month on fuel and oil. But I spent all that money (and then some) after an old case of plantar fasciitis flared up in a big way. Sturdy walking shoes and custom-fitted arch supports took away the pain and, as a bonus, improved my posture.
My best guess is that I walk at least 1.5 miles a day -- often a lot more, occasionally a lot less. Much of that perambulation is around the University of Washington campus, but I also walk to stores, the post office, the bank and the library. When pressed for time, I take the bus at least one way.
Carlessness encourages productivity by discouraging the tendency to goof off. Ever wind up working late because of time wasted on Facebook updates or water-cooler chat? Once you commit to taking the 6:05 p.m. train, you'd better believe you'll develop some cubicle focus.
Although I work at home, the principle is the same: If I want to make my Tuesday evening yoga class, then I need to whip that rough draft into shape in time to catch the 5:29 p.m. bus.
Taking care of business
Planning is key. It's no longer an option to drive to the post office or the supermarket just before closing. Instead, I work errands into my commute. For example, I'll get off the bus 10 blocks early to take advantage of drugstore rebate specials. Or I'll walk to a supermarket after my classes and then hop the bus home.If I miss a sale or two, that's OK. The money I'm saving overall outweighs missing out on that 99-cent bag of potatoes.
Sure, the weather might not always work with me. Right now it's raining like a fire hose on a flat rock, with occasional bursts of sleet, and there's an errand I want to run. It's not what I would have chosen, but that's why coats were invented. As my mom was fond of reminding us: "You're not made of sugar. You won't melt."
Continued: From point A to point B
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. A 12 pack of soda, Orange juice, eggs and bread. I don't by paper towels and toilet paper one roll at a time, I like bottled water too, how 'bout those frozen entrees?. I'd have to make three or four-3 hour trips a week. How much do those special shoes cost? Taxis are out of the question cost wise. Ridiculous!!