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Wife does'nt drive

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  • System
    System Posts: 178,348 Community Admin
    10,000 Posts Photogenic Name Dropper
    andygb wrote: »
    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.

    She's right she doesnt need to whilst other people are ferrying her around.
    This is a system account and does not represent a real person. To contact the Forum Team email forumteam@moneysavingexpert.com
  • KxMx
    KxMx Posts: 11,123 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper Photogenic
    edited 31 May 2012 at 11:11AM
    I can't drive and neither can Mum, and there is no-one to give us lifts even on a casual, occasional basis.
    I have never had sufficient income, and with Mum it is a combination of that and disinterest. She was quite happy not having a car, but once she started going out and about socially and got more friends she does feel the lack of one seeing all they can do (with buses you go where they go+ reasonable walking distance and nowhere else). Whereas I have always felt the lack of one.
    It is quite possible to manage without a car, at times it is easy and at times it is very hard, over all it can be done. You wouldn't believe some of the things I have had to do via taxi/bus.
    We have even moved to be somewhere with better public transport.
    I could possibly find the money to learn but I could never afford to run a car.
  • NicoleWild
    NicoleWild Posts: 60 Forumite
    Hazard perception. I'm getting 50/50 questions right, but my hazard perception is pants because I "click too much" apparently.

    Last test I took about 3 months ago I was one mark off my hazard perception from passing because I got disqualified for one clip :(
  • Idiophreak
    Idiophreak Posts: 12,024 Forumite
    10,000 Posts Combo Breaker
    NicoleWild wrote: »
    Hazard perception. I'm getting 50/50 questions right, but my hazard perception is pants because I "click too much" apparently.

    Last test I took about 3 months ago I was one mark off my hazard perception from passing because I got disqualified for one clip :(

    I can sympathise...When I took my theory, I got 100% on the questions, but got the minimum pass mark for the hazard perception thing - and they've increased the pass mark since then. Just seemed completely random to me.
  • heartbreak_star
    heartbreak_star Posts: 8,286 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Combo Breaker Rampant Recycler
    I don't like that you can be penalised for spotting a hazard early - apparently this caught a lot of motorcyclists out as they are usually very aware.

    KxMx, running a car is not as expensive as people think a lot of the time, and you can always join a car club like Commonwheels! :)

    HBS x
    "I believe in ordinary acts of bravery, in the courage that drives one person to stand up for another."

    "It's easy to know what you're against, quite another to know what you're for."

    #Bremainer
  • tooldle
    tooldle Posts: 1,602 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Name Dropper
    Running a vehicle is expensive. A lot of people forget the initial purchase costs. If you are buying on credit, this costs more than just the cost of the vehicle. They also tend to forget parking charges.
    We run one vehicle, a campervan. Over the estimated time that we expect to keep it, the costs to us is just over £50 a week. That cost is worked out using a £0 allowance for fuel and parking. It was last fueled up around Easter time, and has moved only once in the past 10 days. I could happily manage without, having grown up in a family where neither parent drove. To give a comparrison, we can both access a bus pass through our employers for £8 a week each.
  • Gloomendoom
    Gloomendoom Posts: 16,551 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Combo Breaker
    You don't have to own a car just because you pass your test. As I said earlier in this thread, I gave up my car for three years and travelled mostly by train. However, on the occasions where a train was not convenient, I'd just hire a car. If you only need a car occasionally, hiring makes sense financially.

    You can't do it without a licence though.
  • Idiophreak
    Idiophreak Posts: 12,024 Forumite
    10,000 Posts Combo Breaker
    tooldle wrote: »
    Running a vehicle is expensive. A lot of people forget the initial purchase costs. If you are buying on credit, this costs more than just the cost of the vehicle. They also tend to forget parking charges.

    I do agree about parking charges, people forget them...but I'm not sure people forget the initial cost...it's just that the ship has sailed on that one already, the car itself doesn't cost you any more if you decide to do a few more miles in it...I think a lot of people fail to work out the total cost of running their car, though...and it's scary the way it adds up...

    As an example, I run a 2 year old Jazz and my annual outgoings are something like:
    Car payments: £2600.
    Tax: £90
    Insurance: £400
    Fuel: £2300
    Parking: £200
    Tyres: £170
    Service: £200

    All in, you're looking at around £6000/year - or £115 / week.

    It really is a lot of money, when you see it all written down like that. It's times like these I regret promising a nun I'd never ride a motorbike :)
  • IrishGypsy
    IrishGypsy Posts: 353 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 100 Posts Combo Breaker
    I was in a similar situation where I only passed my test 6 months ago and I'm over 30. I've never needed to learn how to drive as my work was always close enough to walk, get the bus or train to (and the sheer cost of lessons/tests/car/petrol/tax/insurance/repairs etc made my wallet cry just thinkng about it).

    But then my wife got pregnant and my job was a 2hr bus ride each way every day. So it was then I realised that I now needed to learn, crammed loads of lessons in and passed both tests first time.

    The OP's wife may not feel the need to drive yet, and as such hasn't taken further lessons. For her birthday, xmas etc, pay for driving lessons and take her out for a few yourself. Whilst I personally don't care for driving still (I don't derive any enjoyment from driving 80 miles a day to and from work), it certainly provides options. I drove my wife to the hospital to give birth, picked my parents up from the airport for the first time ever myself, helped take stuff to the tip for the inlaws and can be more flexible.

    Still hate the thought how much of it has all costed me, even with a lot of moneysaving tricks used to cut it down. :(
  • Marisco
    Marisco Posts: 42,036 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper Photogenic
    Mine doesn't cost anywhere near that a week!! I'd say it was about £20/30. I suppose it depends how often you use it, engine size etc. For us it is convenience, although I don't take it into town as we have an excellent Metro service. The buses aren't too bad but they take too long! But go "up the road" to Northumberland and a car is a must, as public transport is very hit and miss.

    Also if someone has a job that is shift work or a very early start, public transport is non existent.
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