Why I'm giving up my car
Posted
Aug 18 2009, 05:55 PM
by
Donna Freedman
Rating:
I'm giving away my car at the end of August and making a conscious decision not to replace it. For now, anyway.
The decision isn't inspired by frugality or carbon-footprint concern so much as sheer curiosity: What would life without a car be like?
My daughter and her husband decided to speed up their planned move to Phoenix, Arizona. They have no wheels and limited funds and were discussing whether or not they could just use the city transit system.
Since my daughter has a chronic illness, waiting for a bus in 100-plus-degree heat sounds like a bad idea. So I'm giving them the Chevy with my best wishes plus the suggestion that they remember this when they're picking out my nursing home.
My neighborhood mechanic occasionally buys and fixes up cars for resale. Initially I thought I'd see if he had a beater I could buy once I gave up my vehicle. Then I decided just to use public transit and shank's mare for a while.
If I hate it, I can look for a used vehicle later on. And if I don't hate it? Then no more insurance/upkeep/gas costs.
I have other options, too. My sister says we can stop at the supermarket on the way home from church if I need something that's too heavy to carry home on the bus. There's always Zipcar, an auto-sharing service. I may also start taking mystery shopping assignments for rental car companies once more, so I can use the loaner for errands or appointments.
Since there's decent public transit here in Seattle and since I'm within a mile and a half of just about everything I need, it should be simpler for me than for some people. Simpler, not easier. As I noted in a previous Smart Spending essay, shopping on foot or even by bus limits your ability to take advantage of specials or visit multiple stores, and it takes a lot of time out of your day.
And yes, I fully expect to be cranky on days when I need to go somewhere and it's sleeting sideways. Life will go on, however, no matter how spoiled I turn out to be.
In the rural area where I grew up there was no public transit. There's still no public transit. Going carless wouldn't be an option there. It's an option here, though, and I'm going to give it a try.
As for being freed from gas/insurance/upkeep: A friend has already pointed out that any savings I realize will be offset by my trips to Phoenix. Could be.
Related reading:
What's afoot: Walking saves money, sanity, your waistline
Get a free car repair estimate
My embarrassing insurance confession
