Going car free to pay off the mortgage

sunshine_shell

I'd love to go car free but i have to travel to work in the car, it would take 3 hours on public transport! Plus i'm a teacher so carrying all my stuff about isn't easy either

But i really admire what you are doing and i think if i ever change my job i would look at getting rid of the car!

dad-of-4

were a family of 6 and have been car free for 3 years, cars are a handy tool, nice to have if you can afford one or want to make it a priority to have one.

we tend to walk mostly, but will use busses and taxis if needed for bulky stuff, ive phoned taxis to get me home with DIY stuff, large TV even a washing machine, its never been a problem, just make sure you let them know what you need to be moving.
we dont do the supermarket shop on line either, as a lot of stuff isnt listed.

[Deleted User]

dad-of-4 wrote: »

we tend to walk mostly, but will use busses and taxis if needed for bulky stuff, ive phoned taxis to get me home with DIY stuff, large TV even a washing machine, its never been a problem, just make sure you let them know what you need to be moving.
we dont do the supermarket shop on line either, as a lot of stuff isnt listed.

That's useful to know - thanks. Yes, I wondered about the supermarket shop and how comparable it is doing it on line. Think I'll try to walk there (should take me about 20 mins - good exercise!) and do a big shop, and get a taxi back (should be about the same as their delivery charge, plus I'll get the chance to pick up any bargains).

Will be interesting to register with them, though, and then see how it compares to doing the shop myself ....

dad-of-4

i just asked the missis and she said a lot of asda brand and smart price items are not listed, also a lot of the offers are not listed, 2 for £2 deals that kind of thing she has a prety regular patern of what she buys so tends to know what she wants and knows whats not listed and whether it will cost more to be taking the alternative.

george_jetson

I've never owned a car, this is one of the main reasons why I should hopefully be mortgage free this year

In addition to the previous comments I would highly recommend considering joining a car club, if one operates in your town. I've been a member of Streetcar for a couple of years and it works well. On the rare occasions that I need a car I have a brand new VW available for £5/hour!

However they don't allow pets...

Alion

I sold my car 2 1/2 years ago so that I could save all my car costs (maintenance, insurance, petrol, etc) towards a new one that I really really wanted.

After a few hard weeks, I got used to being carless and realised that I really really didn't need it in the first place. I live in a small-ish town, and can walk from my house on the edge to work in 45 mins or I can cycle it in 15 mins. There's reasonable bus services from the centre of town to other towns locally, and there's a good train service from the centre of town to London.

I've had so many debates with people who can't understand how you could ever be without a car and seem to think i'm hiding a secret car somewhere, but I kinda understand that because I didn't think I'd stick with it and I thought it would be far harder than it is.

So yeah, 2 1/2 years on and I saved for my new car (MX-5) and then put it into the deposit for our house. I don't need a car at all.

culpepper

you could always get a shopping trolley for the supermarket.When our car is out of order,I just get out the trolley.I used to shop that way all the time till they closed the local kwik save,now its once a week in the car to asda about 8 miles away.

happymonday_2

Corona wrote: »

You're right about people being on "autopilot" when it comes to owning a car; it's just something they don't even question. It's one of the number of steps people see as "normal" - i.e. get married/own a house/have children/own a car/do your shopping at a supermarket .. etc. Very few people question any of those choices (and those who do are considered strange).

Personally, I feel excited about becoming car-free; as though I've "woken up" from a half sleep. I know it will be difficult at times but I'm really looking forward to the challenge.

You are inspiring me, we currently run two cars (I know I know however both are economical and owned outright) simply because I work 40 mins in one direction and hubby works an hour in the other. We both car share (drive one week on, one week off). Quite regularly, both our cars are sat outside our house unused, because we're with other people that week. However, both of the people we carshare with, are in their late 50's and will be retiring in the next couple of years. With a bit of tweaking, I reckon we could cope with one, the only issue being when one of our carshare people is on holiday. When our carshare partners retire thats another issue in itself.
It is definitely possible and something I've been pondering for quite some time!
Unfortunately I can't currently do public transport and get to work on time (can't leave kids until 8.20, bus takes an hour and I start work at 9) but perhaps when they're in secondary or have left school the bus will definitely be an option.

[Deleted User]

happymonday wrote: »

You are inspiring me, we currently run two cars (I know I know however both are economical and owned outright) simply because I work 40 mins in one direction and hubby works an hour in the other. We both car share (drive one week on, one week off). Quite regularly, both our cars are sat outside our house unused, because we're with other people that week. However, both of the people we carshare with, are in their late 50's and will be retiring in the next couple of years. With a bit of tweaking, I reckon we could cope with one, the only issue being when one of our carshare people is on holiday. When our carshare partners retire thats another issue in itself.
It is definitely possible and something I've been pondering for quite some time!
Unfortunately I can't currently do public transport and get to work on time (can't leave kids until 8.20, bus takes an hour and I start work at 9) but perhaps when they're in secondary or have left school the bus will definitely be an option.

I'm sure that all sorts of options will present themselves as circumstances change, e.g. when your children get older; when your carshare partners retire?

Talking of car share - someone I know gets a lift into work every day with her neighbour; she pays for the car park space and some of the petrol. However, I think it's important to choose your car partners carefully (I've found out that he finds her constant chatter gets on his nerves but is too polite to say so!!)

[Deleted User]

I'd like to add a bit more about my comment about "waking up". It's occurred to me that most of us (if my own friends and neighbours are typical) once we have a car, cease to question whether we really need it on an onging basis - even if our circumstances change? Maybe it needs to be a YEARLY question for all of us - when we're looking at our budgets: "how much is this car costing me?" "how much would alternatives cost?" "do I really need a car this year?"

Of course, in a couple of months my answer to the last question may be "YES" !!!