living without a car

owen2k

I couldnt give up my car, it would be the last thing to go, its ok if you have time, are retired or live in a big city, but for me i am far to used to the freedom of being able to go out where and when i want, and not relying on public transport or other people for lifts,

I remember about 12 years ago before i passed my test going to work having to wait every morning for 20 minutes in the rain when the bus was late (as it usually was) seeing all the cars go past, then being crushed against someone like sardines coughing everywhere, and thinking, cant wait till i can drive.

Now i can get to work in under 10 minutes, go shopping at the 24H tescos when i want, go to someones house when i want, go to see friends who live 30 miles away when i want. I Know it costs a lot for me but i couldnt give up my car, i guess it depends on what lifestyle you lead and how much freedom you are used to, if you have a set routine, shops nearby and dont rely on it too much then i guess you´ll be ok, if however you are like me, then good luck, you will need it.

GUMPO

A car and a mobile phone. If you have never had one you don't need one. Once you've got one you cannot do without. Keep up the good work jud!th. I couldn't do it.:beer:

Marquez_2

jud!th wrote:

Well, we've now been three weeks without the car and we're not wanting one yet. We are taking about one taxi a week but it's true that compared to my resignation to paying out £50 for petrol I'm much more worried about £6 for a taxi... Buses in Leeds don't cost much either.

But then it hasn't rained much yet, and it hasn't been very cold. Our pushchair got nicked with the car, so we've spent £130 on a new one that's better for footpaths and buses, and more waterproof.

I feel much fitter and more chilled out, as now I'm prevented from rushing to places, and from leaving home at the time I'm supposed to arrive. Our 3-year old is loving all the walking too. And it makes me feel healthy, worthy, and like I'm giving our children a great gift. The winter will tell whether that will last...:)

Buggy buses are so much easier than non-buggy buses, but people are great when they see us getting on - 3-year old dd carries my handbag on and pays the driver while I put 9-month old on one hip and fold up the pushchair with the other arm. Even if no-one helps us on someone nearly always helps us off once they watched us get on unaided!!!

I'll keep you updated.

love, Judith
x

You havin a laugh?

inkie

I would love to do without the car. But, i need it for my job - where I go out doing a lot of visiting etc...

jud!th

Marquez wrote:

You havin a laugh?

nope - £1 for the mile and a half home from preschool, £2.30 for a dayrider. I'm happy with that.

J
x

browolf

I never had a car, dont entirely fancy it either. Hardly matters cos i can't afford to have one. Have a mortgage and bills instead. Live just within my means as it is, if i had more money I suppose i might buy some new clothes or some more furniture. I walk to work 2.5miles. mostly im lucky and its not raining at that time. Use an umbrella or get a bus depending on the severity. take the train to my gf's 2-4 times a month. If i need a big shop i'll get it from tesco online which is about 7 miles away. Otherwise i'll get the bus/walk to sainsburys after work and carry it home. 10 mins from house, 45 mins from work. other than that dont go out that much.

Sam_Bee

Again, depends where you live. I joined these guys:

http://www.whizzgo.co.uk/

A car club. 2 cars around the corner, always there. Around £5 an hour including insurance AND petrol. Great for smaller trips to big shops, and now with baby, trips to friends that public transport can't take me to.

Still prefer the train for longer trips though.

Contact your local authority as other car clubs might be working in your area.

dolly_day_dream

owen2k wrote:

i guess it depends on what lifestyle you lead and how much freedom you are used to, if you have a set routine, shops nearby and dont rely on it too much then i guess you´ll be ok, if however you are like me, then good luck, you will need it.

Have to admit I am feeling a little put down:o I don't have a car nor ever have had. In as much as I go to work each day (which I suppose you do as well) I have a set routine. Apart from that I hope I am as spontaneous as the next person. I live in a 'village' just outside a market town and therefore use the bus for shopping. Yes it does take me longer to get about, though sometimes I do enjoy it when my walking speed is faster than the cars jammed up in the town of an evening:D but I use that time to my advantage. It does take more organisation but you soon get used to it.

I travel the length and breadth of Britain sans car and enjoy myself whilst I am doing it. As I have mentioned before none of my 3 children, brought up without a car but all of whom are now old enough to drive, do so. Must be a case of not missing what you have never had.

cats_whiskers

Hi dolly day dream

don't feel put down I think you are doing great, well done you for showing you can have a full and interesting life without owning a tin box on wheels. As you say it takes a little organisation but can, in many circumstances, be done.

I was often looked at in horror and pity when I told my work colleagues that I got the bus to work, in fact one girl would near have a fit if something was wrong with her car and she had to get on a bus. When I actually said that I enjoyed getting the bus to work and I felt sorry for those who chose to drive they thought I had lost it. lol. When I explained that I got the bus in the morning along with several other lovely regulars who were previously unknown to me but we all got chatting at the bus stop at one time or another. We would chat, swap news and tips, look at holiday photos or have a general grumble about something topical. (We have even had occassional evenings out with the "Bus stop girls"). After my bus journey I would have a 10 minute walk to the office which was my excercise and thinking time. I arrived in work relaxed and ready to start work. The people that drove often came in fuming and moaning about being stuck in traffic, roadworks, bus lanes and stressed at only finding a car parking space that was a 20 minute walk from the office. I knew I would never convert any to using the bus but one or two occassionaly did say to me that they would like to swap my journey to work for theirs.

Cheers
Cats:rotfl:

LizEstelle

Good for you, cats.

I've just finished watching a 'Money Programme' portrayal of convenience food Britain.

Quite grotesque, the way that some people will, out of sheer, wanton laziness, inflict non-stop TV dinners on themselves and their families.

They pay 5+ times the price of using fresh ingredients; they pour salt and saturated fat drenched, processed junk down their kids' throats; they then complain about how it might take half an hour to do any real cooking as opposed to microwaving.

I'm a great fan of the microwave but I know where its limits should be. When I had children in the home, I made sure I got up early each day and prepared everything needed for the family's evening meal from fresh ingredients.

Sorry for ranting more than slightly off topic but watching how these insufferably lazy couch potatos were bringing up their kids made my blood boil.

It all fits together with the 'convenience' factor afforded by cars and the lack of exercise and socialising with others this brings about. These families didn't cook or eat together but simply bumped into each other accidentally on their way to and from the microwave.

Uncannily close analogy with car use, eh? Convenience... at a price.