Wife does'nt drive

Gloomendoom

Fairy snuff.

For what it's worth, I agree with both of you.

Steel_2

Gloomendoom wrote: »

Fairy snuff.

For what it's worth, I agree with both of you.

ok, ok, I'll take that as my cue to shut up now!

amyb_2

I don't drive.
I use public transport. I have a 30mins walkt to a mainline station. (helps that i don't have to pay for trains).
I shop in our local town, and use home delivery services.

My BF has a car, he drives to work even though it is closer than the station. He like me also does not have to pay for train travel.

We try and be sensible and use the train for distances.

The car gets used for monthly food shopping trips, visits to out of town places (garden centres, B&Q etc, courier collection places).

No we don't need to car at all; but it doesn't really cost that much.
We purposely only bought a cheap one - and one that is cheap to insure (about £25 a month).
We buy cheap run for a year or so and then scrap. For example our last car was a Mondeo. We paid £500, kept if for a year with no excessive maintainence costs and then sold it for £250 scrap. That works out including tax, insurance at less than £80 a month for the use of a car.

We could manage without a car fine but its easier to have one. Simple as.

We also have debt BUT i feel it is cheaper to run the car than have to pay for taxis.

Idiophreak

Steel wrote: »

The possibility of getting rid of a car and finding other ways to travel if you can balance the cost-effectiveness with the added inconvenience, safety etc doesn't seem to figure much on people's list of moneysaving ideas.

I fully get the point you're making, and agree to a large extent...I do think that a lot of people simply don't consider other methods of transport once they own a car...but there still seems to be the underlying assumption in your argument that public transport is cheaper than driving a car, which simply isn't the case in most instances (in my experience, at least).

As soon as more than one of you are travelling at the same time, I nearly always find driving the cheapest option...and when travelling distance, the savings you make by driving can be really significant.

It's also worth noting that the "cost" of using public transport can be a lot more than just the amount you pay out each month. For example, I worked with a guy at work. We both started at roughly the same time. We both had similar skill sets. We both did the same kind of work. He, however, had to leave promptly every day, in order to catch his bus home, whereas I often stayed on to help resolve issues. Then a promotion came up...Needless to say the associated pay increase dwarfed the cost of running a car...

NicoleWild

I sound like your wife, and you sound like my OH... Scary...

I phoned him up sometimes when I'm at my friends house about a 15 minute walk away to come and pick me up cos I'm too lazy to walk.


I've failed five theory tests, and had about 40 hours of driving lessons. I do want to drive but now it's the money issue, it's very expensive nwo and I don't think we can afford to run a second car. We have one, but it's a company car so luckily don't have to pay too much for diesel or anything for insurance, tax etc etc.

heartbreak_star

How are you failing the theory tests? Is it worth buying those practise ones, they helped me loads

I wanted to learn to drive so that I could help my parents if they became frail (as it was, I ended up driving my dad to hospital after he fell down the stairs and my mum when she dislocated her shoulder). I now find that having a car has completely de-stressed and opened up my life - I can go anywhere, anytime, not have plan around buses, not have to curtail my activities...I feel my life was very humdrum till I could randomly explore, and before I lived with him it was nice having a half-hour drive to see my OH rather than three buses and 2 1/2 hours - more time with him.

I understand that my view is not for everyone...but I stand by it.

HBS x

NicoleWild

heartbreak_star wrote: »

How are you failing the theory tests? Is it worth buying those practise ones, they helped me loads

I wanted to learn to drive so that I could help my parents if they became frail (as it was, I ended up driving my dad to hospital after he fell down the stairs and my mum when she dislocated her shoulder). I now find that having a car has completely de-stressed and opened up my life - I can go anywhere, anytime, not have plan around buses, not have to curtail my activities...I feel my life was very humdrum till I could randomly explore, and before I lived with him it was nice having a half-hour drive to see my OH rather than three buses and 2 1/2 hours - more time with him.

I understand that my view is not for everyone...but I stand by it.

HBS x

I have about five CD;'s, one manual and one highway code. I guess I 'm just stupid.


I will take my lessons up again and try again and again, once I can afford to pay my bills

Idiophreak

NicoleWild wrote: »

I have about five CD;'s, one manual and one highway code. I guess I 'm just stupid.

Is it the hazard perception you're failing on, or the questions themselves?

heartbreak_star

The hazard perception was a right pain in the bee-hind for me! Good luck Nicole - you'll feel so much satisfaction when you do it. You're not stupid

HBS x

andygb

In our family, it is my sister who has never learned to drive (never taken any lessons), says that she "doesn't need to", but is quite good at getting lifts from others, trying to dictate where to go, and commenting on the lack of room in some people's cars. She also relies on our 81 year old dad to ferry her around.
It is selfish and inexcusable in this day and age.