Having kids but no car

flutterbyuk25

When I was a kid (I'm 28 now) we didn't have a car until I was 13, and that was only because my brother had a medical condition which affected his walking. Ok we didn't live in London, but we survived fine. Schools were within a mile walk, parks close by, we lived near small shops so got lots there and when big shop was needed we were dragged along to carry the bags back (lots of moaning back then from me and brother, but fond memories now!).

The bus thing is true, I was happy to use a bus on my own as a kid, it gives you confidence. I work with young people now and some of them will turn down applying for job in next town over (30mins journey) as they don't 'like' getting on buses or have no experience of it.

Good luck

x

Oldernotwiser

I have friends in London who choose not to run a car and they use the money saved for occasional taxis and to rent a car for weekends away and occasional days out. They've calculated that they save a lot of money this way.

ironman1

Dont think we'd want to leave London for a while. We love it where we live. Plus it's a new build shared ownership so if we tried to sell up now I reckon we'd lose quite alot on what we paid.

Really good advice thanks all. I'm sure if others can cope we can.

Crisp_£_note

I just wanted to say thanks to the OP and to everyone who has replied as this is a question I have had in mind for ages now!

I don't drive as I have never passed my test, if I did now I couldn't afford to keep a car anyway (but it may help I suppose).

Hubby has a van wich only has 2 seats, 1 for him driving and 1 passenger. We would consider a car when the chil got to school age if not before though if needs be but a van is hubbys work vehicle.

We've been having problems so if we ever have kids it would be through adoption or fostering and I have wondered how we would cope without a car, but I am sure now reading this post it could be done.

Thanks again and all the best. :beer:

ciderwithrosie_2

I live in a market town, cr*p public transport (buses stop running at 6.30pm), but we've never had a car and brought up 3 kids just fine. I'm surprised at people worrying how they will cope without one tbh. A sling, and a baby carrier backpack (when they can sit up) were the best things as it leaves your hands free and no stressing about folding pushchairs etc. Food shopping, I would get a taxi home or these days, more often than not, do an online shop.
The kids are used to walking everywhere and have never known any different. Used to really annoy me seeing parents driving their kids to school that live nearer than me and we only had a 5 min walk. If family & friends want to see us well they have to come to our house or pick us up, it's not really a big deal. Couldn't ever afford to go on holiday so that wasn't an issue either. When I see how much cars cost to run/insure/repair I'm glad we haven't got one, would rather spend what money I do have on other things.

regards CWR

clairehi

I took and passed my driving test when 38 weeks pg :eek: with DS1.
Not recommended!

I would not rush into buying a car just for the sake of it.
That aside, I would just suggest you think about what trips you may make that are different from what you do now. for your OH, things like taking the baby to doctors/clinic, to toddler groups, meeting up with friends etc. when she goes back to work where will the childcare be?

if you have good local facilities and public transport, and family all live nearby all may be well.

For me, public transport was ok with no kids, but the stairs to the train station platform made it inaccessible with a pushcair on my own. The range of places that I went to changed and it was hard to visit new friends in other areas without a car.

ironman1

Well there are about 5 nurseries and two primary schools within a few minutes walk. I suppose i'm worrying about things like cars when there are far more important things to think about.

Just wanted opinions of those who are in the same situation really

Nitha

Hi didn't live in London but did manage with one child and no car (in fact if it wasn't for having to pick up my step son would still be without a car). We found it was ok bar food costs as often if we ran out of something we'd need to use the local shop (and milk is usually the main culprit with a toddler). However we both worked within walking distance and our employer has a shop that sells nappies at a good price so would pick up at work. We also lived within walking distance of my parents and could use my dad's car in emergencies. The hardest thing I found was after getting pregnant with my second - the walk into town was very hard and our buses are expensive. We decided to then purchase a car as it also made seeing my stepson a lot easier.

galvanizersbaby

clairehi wrote: »

I took and passed my driving test when 38 weeks pg :eek: with DS1.
Not recommended!

I would not rush into buying a car just for the sake of it.
That aside, I would just suggest you think about what trips you may make that are different from what you do now. for your OH, things like taking the baby to doctors/clinic, to toddler groups, meeting up with friends etc. when she goes back to work where will the childcare be?

if you have good local facilities and public transport, and family all live nearby all may be well.

For me, public transport was ok with no kids, but the stairs to the train station platform made it inaccessible with a pushcair on my own. The range of places that I went to changed and it was hard to visit new friends in other areas without a car.[/QUOTE]

Yes I agree - I didn't pass my driving test until my children were 4 and 5 so had been without a car when they were small.

When I was married my hb had a car but used it for work so I found it quite difficult to get out and about with the kids at times - like clairehi I found public transport a bit tricky on my own at times.

I think in theory you can manage fine without a car but it is down to individual circumstances how convienient/inconvienient this is.

When I didn't drive I used to walk everywhere with the kids but there were obviously limitations and everything had to be planned well in advance.
With a car now it gives us the freedom to just get up and go as such and now that they are older and wanting to go to clubs/friends etc I can take them and pick them up which I would have found difficult pre driving days.

I guess having managed without for so long I thought it was fine (but didn't know any better really) but since having a car I have realised that there was a lot we didn't do that we could have if I had been driving so to speak.

clairec79

We got a car when our 3rd was about 8 months old (and then it was because I needed it was changing jobs to doing shift work which didn't match with public transport).

It was when the oldest started school and getting invited to parties etc that we found it really helpful.

We tended to do our main shop on line and would walk down to local town (about 1.5miles) to get bread and milk etc and bring it back under the pushchair. We tended to walk more than catch buses purely because a) the bus is expensive and b) too much faff with folding up prams and if we wanted to go into the city then would walk to the train station and catch the train.

It is easier with a car, but in someways we are probably a lot more reliant on it than we either need to be or should be, and not as fit as I was as would walk a lot further without thinking about it