Guest Post by Liz from Frugally Blonde When I tell new acquaintances that my husband and I share one
car, I am usually met with a mix of shock and pity. In our affluent
society, it is practically unheard of for each adult driver in a
household not to have his or her own car.
However, my family has
managed well with only one car for four years, and we plan to continue to
live this way as long as it seems necessary. While our lifestyle might
not work for everyone, I hope that it demonstrates that living without
a second car can be both possible and practical.
When my husband and I were first married and both working, it
was easy to just have one car with the help of public transportation. However, a year after our wedding we moved to an outer suburb/small
town bereft of a subway or bus system that we could use, and shortly
after I quit my job to stay home with our newborn daughter.
There was
no other way for my husband to get to his job 30 minutes from home
except by driving--which meant that I was left without transportation
during the day. So that's what we decided to do. Now, three years later, we have added a second daughter
to our family, but not a second car!
The girls and I stay at home most days without a car. Once a week
(occasionally twice), we get up early in the morning, drive my husband
to work, and spend the entire day on errands and appointments. Then we
drive 30 minutes to pick him up in the evening, and we all drive 30-45
minutes home in rush-hour traffic.
Why do we have only one car? The simple answer is that we do not
feel that we can responsibly afford another one. At certain times
during the past four years, we might have been able to squeeze a car
payment into our budget, but it would have been at the expense of our
other priorities.
For instance, we were blessed last year to be able to
purchase our first home. We knew that doing so would seriously hamper
our ability to get a second car in the near future, but we felt that a
home was more needed as well as a much better investment. Further,
although we would not rule out a car payment, we would much prefer to
pay for a second car in cash, as we did for our first one.
Clearly, living with one car can be challenging and a sacrifice.
However, after four years in this situation, we have discovered a host
of unexpected blessings and benefits that have come with our
unconventional lifestyle.
First of all, we easily save hundreds of dollars a year by not
paying for gas, insurance, maintenance, fees, and taxes for a second
car. It also helps us save money in other ways. Out of necessity, I
have become extremely organized about my shopping trips. I combine
trips and map out the route that is most efficient. I try to do most of
my grocery shopping for a two-week period in one trip, and I can often
go at least a week without going to the supermarket, except perhaps for
fresh fruit. Limiting my shopping trips to once a week also prevents me
from being tempted by impulse purchases.
On a more personal level, I feel that our situation has
also blessed me with the opportunity to truly blossom in our home and
to focus on my life there. At first, as a new mom, I chafed at being
unable to get out of the house, and I admit that some days it is still
hard. But now with two little ones, I have so much to do that I can’t
get it all done even with being home all day! And my girls and I have
developed a rhythm to our days, so much so that I feel very
discombobulated if I take the car more than one day a week.
I believe that the day will come when our lifestyle and/or our
growing family will require us to purchase a second car. God-willing,
at that point we will have the money to do so. And quite honestly, I am
looking forward to that day. I know that I will never take having my
own transportation for granted, but rather see it as a wonderful
privilege and gift.
Until then, I tell my friends, I may not get out
much, but they're welcome to come over!
Liz lives in Nothern Virginia with her husband and two little
girls. Her blog, Frugally Blonde, is a place to discuss frugality and
celebrate living the good life on less.
Photo credit: Sports Car Workshops
