One of the thoughts I keep bouncing around is whether I can get by without a car. Cars can be expensive to keep, even if they are already paid off. We can’t ever get away from maintenance, repairs, insurance, and registration, at a minimum. Last week I read How to Live Well Without Owning a Car: Save Money, Breathe Easier, and Get More Mileage Out of Life
The book starts off with a look at the financial benefits to living car-free. It examines the various costs, including financial, environmental, and quality-of-life. It also gives a look at how and why the author came to live without a car. There is one problem I found in this section however; the book overstates the cost of car ownership by having you add in both the cost of the car and the depreciation. To correctly account for the cost, you need to add only one or the other. So, the true cost is double-counted and may distort the financial benefit of freeing yourself of your vehicle.
The next section of the book addresses the biggest concern most people will face: how to get to work. There are a variety of alternatives presented: walking, mass transit, ridesharing, motorcycles and bicycles. There is a discussion about the possible advantages of moving closer to work so that you can make use of one of the alternative modes of transportation. There is even a chapter that addresses some of the basic questions most of us would ask: how to dress, changing into “work” clothes, etc.
Another section looks at some of the non-work transportation needs most of us have. There is an acknowledgement that we may occasionally need to rent a car, and suggestions on how to maximize the use of the car when we do rent it. Other topics include online shopping, riding with friends, and even dating without a car.
Finally, there are discussions about taking a trial run before making the decision, selling your car, and families deciding to cut back to fewer cars. There is even a chapter dedicated to special situations where you’d normally need a car (taking an animal to the vet, a medical emergency, vacationing, etc.).
Throughout the book there are numerous quotes from “car-free” and “car-lite” people across the US. Many of these are inciteful and inspiring; I enjoyed reading how real people with real jobs manage some of the challenges of being without a car. Overall the book is a quick, fun, and easy read and gave me good food for thought. My only complaint (other than the inaccuracy in calculating the true cost of car ownership) might be that there is a bit too much “cheerleading” throughout. Clearly the author is enthusiastic about being car-free and wants to share that joy with others! But the material is presented clearly and is sure to give most of us some new ideas. I am not quite ready to give up my own vehicle, but what I read has given me something to ponder.
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Tags: Frugality, money management, saving, simplicity, spending, thrift
December 22nd, 2008 at 2:40 am
I decided to go car free back in September and I went completely car-free earlier this month.
So far, it’s been a great decision! I have lost weight by cycling everywhere and I don’t miss it at all, especially the cost of just owning it ignoring the petrol prices. It’s been great.
Andy @ Retire at 40´s last blog post..Why You Should Do New Year’s Resolutions All Year Round (but don’t call them that!)
December 23rd, 2008 at 1:22 pm
@Andy - That’s so interesting, thanks for your comment! It’s a big move to go car-free, and something I know I’ll need to ponder for a while before I’m ready to make the move. It’s good to hear from people who’ve done it and are happy with the change.
February 27th, 2009 at 3:03 pm
Where you choose to live and the nature of yoru work influence how realistic going carless really is. To live in a place where public transit is widely available would influence a decision to go without a car. To be engaged in work or activities that does not require regular physical displacement would also be a factor. Perceived environmental situations suggest it would benefit many people to develop teleportation and other timeless forms of transport. As you move to explore bilocation and other similar phenomena, or, as your desire to move anywhere dissolves, the idea of needing a car becomes obsolete.
Liara Covert´s last blog post..5 Tips to move beyond intimidation
May 7th, 2009 at 11:00 pm
I love this blog, it’s always full of useful info. Keep up the great work!
May 27th, 2009 at 9:38 am
All my life I never had to chance to own a car, but I think I prefer to be like this. Living a car-free life isn’t a bad idea because it really gives you a lot of benefits and advantages nowadays.
June 19th, 2009 at 4:02 pm
I’ve considered getting rid of my car. But having to small children and living in an area without public transportation is really difficult. I try to ride my bike as much as possible, including going to the grocery store. But it is tough trying to carry a gallon of milk and a pack of diapers on a bike.
July 20th, 2009 at 11:39 pm
I had been car-free for years and it actually helped me save money. I do not have to worry about the budget for gas and the maintaining a vehicle. Mostly, i do not have any hassles of finding a good parking when ever i go places.
August 22nd, 2009 at 10:49 pm
I am a car free person and it is true that if you move near to your workplace you save a lot of money in means of transportation (bus/taxi), even if you don’t have car you still get some saving if your workplace is walking distance, what more if you don’t have to drive a car to get there.
January 10th, 2010 at 5:09 pm
Unfortunately living in the Detroit area there is really no pratical forms of public transportation. Car pooling is the one feasible option available to us.
January 31st, 2010 at 5:49 am
I am also car-free since 10 months now. And I do not missing anything. Further more I save a lot of money. But of course it depends on the place you are living. If you live in a small village, 100 miles away from the next bigger city it could be for many people a problem.
February 4th, 2010 at 5:22 pm
I plan on switching from my car to pure cycling for everything but the longest journeys once summer begins. Should hopefully boost fitness as well as saving money. The added benefit is the greener living too.
February 16th, 2010 at 12:34 am
At the end of the day, owning a car is a privilege isnt it. Who said that to be happy , one needs a car. I mean there are so many ways we can not pollute the earth. Plus we can save up on so much money. I hope this article is an eye opener for many people. I cant wait to retire.
March 3rd, 2010 at 4:28 am
Yup it’s true that being car free is good in now a day’s traffic you land up savings lot of money. But if you are staying in a small village and nearest big city is 100 km away than it would be very difficult to move. So cars are helpful sometimes.