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The Switching Experiment
marginalnut
Posts: 21 Forumite
in Motoring
the experiment:
Substitute car travel where possible for bike travel.
the details and background:
So i was sitting in traffic in Edinburgh the other morning very very bored and was thinking about my up coming running schedule and how i could squeeze in more training... why not get a bike. Initially i was going to use a bike only for training but why not travel too and from work and uni on bike.
I'm going to undertake this experiment purely from a money saving perspective just now though, for all the time we hear people ranting about saving the world improve your health, and yes these are all fantastic reasons and i fully support them, however not many people are going to give up the comfort of thier car simply f1or this.
I want to provide hard figures with savings!
Outline of propose plan:
So i have just bought a bike costing £269, that includes lights, lock, helmet, pump, water bottle !!
Primarily payback has to be worked out. Then future savings. I am not going to give up the car as on certain days i have lots of materials to bring into work and i feel the car is useful for shopping, getting DIY stuff, etc.
So all savings calculated are going to be on a basis that i still own the car.
Last months car usage details
Tax and insurance will remain. Although their could be savings realised with the greater chance of maintaining my no-claims bonus as i'm driving less and thus the probabilty will fall... too complex just now, if anyone else wants to calculate this feel free.
1/12 of maintenace = £25 (300/12 rounded up) - includes MOT, etc
Maintenance costs should fall as the milage i complete in my car is lower and thus less wear and tear.
Petrol = £65 for the month
CarWash = £3
Misc = £5 this comes from me picking up a paper or bar of choc everytime i'm in the petrol station, not gonna be there anymore, or certainly less!
Inner-city parking = £15
So approx monthly variable costs are £87
Tomorrow i'll fill my car up to the brim and see how long that tank of petrol lasts with my increased bicycle commuting.
Other factors that i have to consider are insurance on the bike, increased food consumsion!? anything else you guys out there can think of. Please do provide input and help me through this, i'm hoping to provide a rough outline of events as well as i'm pretty petrified of cycling on the roads, crazy bus drivers in edinburgh!
Day one starts on monday....
in the mean time be safe... James
Substitute car travel where possible for bike travel.
the details and background:
So i was sitting in traffic in Edinburgh the other morning very very bored and was thinking about my up coming running schedule and how i could squeeze in more training... why not get a bike. Initially i was going to use a bike only for training but why not travel too and from work and uni on bike.
I'm going to undertake this experiment purely from a money saving perspective just now though, for all the time we hear people ranting about saving the world improve your health, and yes these are all fantastic reasons and i fully support them, however not many people are going to give up the comfort of thier car simply f1or this.
I want to provide hard figures with savings!
Outline of propose plan:
So i have just bought a bike costing £269, that includes lights, lock, helmet, pump, water bottle !!
Primarily payback has to be worked out. Then future savings. I am not going to give up the car as on certain days i have lots of materials to bring into work and i feel the car is useful for shopping, getting DIY stuff, etc.
So all savings calculated are going to be on a basis that i still own the car.
Last months car usage details
Tax and insurance will remain. Although their could be savings realised with the greater chance of maintaining my no-claims bonus as i'm driving less and thus the probabilty will fall... too complex just now, if anyone else wants to calculate this feel free.
1/12 of maintenace = £25 (300/12 rounded up) - includes MOT, etc
Maintenance costs should fall as the milage i complete in my car is lower and thus less wear and tear.
Petrol = £65 for the month
CarWash = £3
Misc = £5 this comes from me picking up a paper or bar of choc everytime i'm in the petrol station, not gonna be there anymore, or certainly less!
Inner-city parking = £15
So approx monthly variable costs are £87
Tomorrow i'll fill my car up to the brim and see how long that tank of petrol lasts with my increased bicycle commuting.
Other factors that i have to consider are insurance on the bike, increased food consumsion!? anything else you guys out there can think of. Please do provide input and help me through this, i'm hoping to provide a rough outline of events as well as i'm pretty petrified of cycling on the roads, crazy bus drivers in edinburgh!
Day one starts on monday....
in the mean time be safe... James
One debt Vs 100 days £590.00 / £800. 74 % paid off.:D
0
Comments
-
Good luck!!
Just be careful on the bike though .... theres some ruthless drivers out there who dont even bother to try and spot the cylist.If you found my comment helpful, please click the 'Thanks' button below :T0
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