How hard would it be to give up the car

bonnie_2

I am really unfit and would like to stop using the car, but i don't know if i am fit enough to walk everywhere and do all the housework, cooking, washing and ironing plus the allotment.
The school run would be 4 miles a day, plus i would have to walk into town twice a week and back to pay bills and get the shopping and walk the kids to girls brigade and back. and also the allotment is another 15min walk.
Is it all doable or am i just lazy.
I really nead to lose 4 stone.
Whats the best way to start.

Sirbendy

cycle? Never a bad plan, less knackering than walking.

picklepick

ha depends if its uphill or not!

Penny_Farthing_2

Hi Bonnie
We gave up 1 of our 2 cars four or five years ago. It was very easy because my husband gets the bus for work. I have 3 children and an allotment and a job that I can't reach by public transport or taxi. Giving up 1 car was far easier than we thought. It just requires a bit more forward planning if people in the family need to be in several places at the same time. We also use taxis occasionally - much cheaper than running another car.

However, I couldn't give up our 1 remaining car. What I would suggest is that instead of getting rid of the car, you change your thinking about it. It's an emergency vehicle only to be used when there's no other reasonable option. That way, you get the benefit when you need it but you don't hop in for every journey. You could help that along by having to 'pay' for each unavoidable journey. Maybe keep a moneybox specially for that.

Desperate_Housewife_2-2

I scrapped my car last year and have never looked back. OH still has his though which is great for heavy stuff but I do all my weekly shop on a cycle. I got some panniers and fit everything in and there are 4 of us and a dog. My weekly shop is now between £20 and £30 a week. I feel fitter and we eat less rubbish due to me refusing to lug it all home and pay for it!

As you lose weight you will feel more energetic as you are not carrying 4 stone around with you all the time. Could you pay your bills online? I don't think a 15 minute walk is unreasonable really, its probably the thought of it that puts you off. It would be good for the kids too.

Why not give it a go? Treat yourself to a bike and go for short journeys at first to build up your confidence. Its not all bad, I forgot just how much fun it is on a bike and the sense of freedom is nice too. Think of the money you'll save, no more costly insurance, petrol, car tax, parking, MOT, maintenance, it all adds up.

When i got rid of my car I said I would give it a couple of months and see how I went on and if I couldn't manage then I would get another car, I don't want one now because I can manage without it and have felt the benefit financially and physically.

Let us know how you get on

CurlyTop

Hi Bonnie

We've been without our car for over 18 months now and don't miss it. I've always travelled on public transport and have never driven. My DH has always had a car however, he is self employed and over the course of a year, changed the way in which he ran his business which meant he was spending more and more time at home and consequently the car was getting used less and less.

We decided to do some research and work first by making a note of how often we were using the car, what the type of journey was (ie, just to nip the shops for the paper or to do a big shop). We also looked at what the options were. Luckily we have a train service but the bus service is a bit hit and miss, certainly in the evening. The price of petrol, road tax, insurance, repairs, service.

In the end, we decided to get rid of the car. We now shop via Mr T once a month and if I need milk/ bread/ fruit and veg, DH gets his bike out of the shed and goes to the shops, or I go on my bike and do it instead. We also bought pannier bags for the bike which are easier to transport food in. I have an annual rail ticket for work which helps reduce the costs of travel. DH has lost weight of about a stone but more importantly, he feels fitter within himself. At the end of the day, if you aren't using your car very often, what's the point of keeping it. So, you go up hills on bikes, unless you live in the Alps, I would guess that you only go up an odd one every now and again and if you remember to change your gear (I don't and consequently wonder why I puff and pant lol), you will do ok and there is always the downside of hills to look forward to. HTH

the_worried_one

Hello, just some words of encouragement about losing the weight. I lost 2 stone when I got rid of my car- within the space of six months, and without any other changes to my lifestyle. I have a car again now due to living more rurally, but make a real effort to not use it for the sake of it like I once did.

Lorian

the_worried_one wrote: »

Hello, just some words of encouragement about losing the weight. I lost 2 stone when I got rid of my car- within the space of six months, and without any other changes to my lifestyle. I have a car again now due to living more rurally, but make a real effort to not use it for the sake of it like I once did.

I'll match your 2 stone and raise it 2. I lost 4 stone in 6 months when I started cycling. Kept it off too. I'm slim now.

I'd recommend it. Walking sure helps too.

bonnie_2

is it best to just walk it all at once or to add the journeys week by week to get used to it. At the moment i can barely walk up the stairs without huffing and puffing.

sparkleworld

I am a fairweather cyclist As my daughter loves to cycle to school but only from April through to about Oct, Gave up in Oct as a rather strong wind nearly took her off her bike!
We HATE travelling to school in the car as it is so stressful compared to the bike, and the car takes longer. Our cycling route to school incorporates a large meadow a riverside and other beautiful calm surroundings which enable us to enjoy quality time together which isn't available in the car as I have to concentrate soooooo hard on avoiding the "I'm late and in a rush brigade". Can't wait for the weather to change soon as we will be enjoying our cycling once again.
It is amazing how fitness levels increase from cycling my daughters teacher couldn't believe the transformation, She isn't particularly unfit and is definitely not overweight but never really stood out at P.E until we started riding the bikes.....She came first in every race she was entered into on sports day and as a result was entered into the interhouse run and WON for her school!
Since I have stopped cycling I too have noticed the pounds piling on and can't wait to get back on it.
School is approx 2.5 miles away so my daughter cycles 5 miles a day and I do 10 ( There and back twice.)
Due to the relatively remote location where we live I think it would be too hard to give up our car completely 30 min walk just to the nearest corner shop -1 hour round trip along a busy 40 mph road -no footpath.
But we definitely have started to only use it as a last resort.
Good luck with whatever you decide
Regards
*Sparkle*

bandraoi

bonnie wrote: »

is it best to just walk it all at once or to add the journeys week by week to get used to it. At the moment i can barely walk up the stairs without huffing and puffing.

start with the afternoon school run.
That way you won't be under time pressure and you can build up a bit of stamina. Walk that, come rain or shine for the next month.

Once you've done that, any amount of walking everyday should be no trouble to you.