Budget Buster - GRRRR! DH's commuting vehicle was stolen!

[Leajess99]

OP have you looked into any auction places?? Not sure if you have them where you are but we have a couple of public car auctions and they have had some really nice cars that sold for very reasonable prices. I have a classmate (non-traditional student as well) who got a Toyota for a nice price and now it has close to 200,000 miles on it and has not caused her any issues. She said when it dies she will just go back to the auction. It also saves her money on insurance as she does not have to pay full coverage.

 

[princessmom29]

If it were me, I would purchase some sort of reliable transportation for your DH that you can comfortably afford. I have done the one vehicle trapped ni the house with a screaming infant thing. NOT FUN!! If there had been any way out of the situation at the time, I would have taken it. Use the $5000 to buy a reliable car that will make the 2 miles. It doesn't have to be new, or pretty, as long as it runs and will get him to the station every day. I live in a completely different world, but I cannot imagine functioning long term without 2 cars. It just wouldn't be safe for us not to have 2 vehicles. It can take 30 min to get help to us in an emergency.

 

[bumbershoot]

The freezing to death part? Well, that's DH's choice. I would personally buy a car, but I'm also not male. We also live in Seattle, so the weather here is pretty mild year round.

And if it's THAT nasty outside, no one in Seattle is going into work anyway, as it's snowy or icy and only Colorado natives can get anywhere! Well, unless you're my hubby...we live a few blocks away from the Tacoma downtown lightrail link, which takes him to the bus or train, which takes him right to work. Hmm, actually, his office has now moved, so he'll have to be on a bus or shuttle for a few minutes now...maybe he won't be the office hero this year if it snows like it did in '08.

Anyway, yeah, if it's snowy and icy and nasty, he's not going to work anyway, and neither are most other people in the Seattle area. (I love living here)

I just cannot believe that so many people would take the choice to spend all day, most days, trapped at home, while my car sat 2 miles away in a parking garage for 10 hours. I would say that I only stay home with the baby...um... maybe two days a month?

You and I are/were the exact opposite on that, LOL. I was a total hermit (still would be, if DS weren't so vocal about NEEDING friends) and maybe went OUT 2 days a month.

And yet hubby INSISTED on my having a car. Insisted on my having the GOOD car, back when he was driving. What looks selfish to others can be quite different.




I'd just get another scooter for him, if he was enjoying that. And if you still don't want to insure it, self insure it. Save that $100 a month for a new one should this one get stolen. Are there any sort of alarm systems you can put on it? Motion detectors? Put a layer of sticky gooey honey on it? LOL. Get a lockable cover on it to make it just that much harder? Does the park and ride have cameras to see who might have done it? Is it possible to buy one of those bike lockers for it (if the bike lockers are big enough), if they have the same sort as the Tacoma p'n'r has?

Lastly, are there buses that come by that he could catch instead of riding/driving anything? Or anyone in the neighborhood that drives to commute? DH has always been completely surprised to find out how many people he commutes with who work at or near his jobs...

 

[SaraJayne]

If it were me, I would purchase some sort of reliable transportation for your DH that you can comfortably afford. I have done the one vehicle trapped ni the house with a screaming infant thing. NOT FUN!! If there had been any way out of the situation at the time, I would have taken it. Use the $5000 to buy a reliable car that will make the 2 miles. It doesn't have to be new, or pretty, as long as it runs and will get him to the station every day. I live in a completely different world, but I cannot imagine functioning long term without 2 cars. It just wouldn't be safe for us not to have 2 vehicles. It can take 30 min to get help to us in an emergency.

She said the baby screams in the car, not at home.

 

[Suz D]

I think the idea of you getting the clunker and DH taking the Prius sounds great I know when I was younger we lived in Ellensburg and picked up a car from a college student in Seattle (relatively cheap) because her dad wanted her to have a 4x4 when driving the pass. You could always keep your eye out for a good deal like that Private sale and no it was not a money pit I drove the heck out of that car between Ellensburg and Northern Cali. Good deals and good cars can be found

Don't mean to hijack the thread, but we lived in E-burg for 6 years. I loved going over to Seattle!

Sarah Rose, I think because this is the budget board, people are always thinking of the most budget minded response. Obviously, taking your DH to the train every day is the most budget minded choice. People pay off their houses in record time by being a one car family.

That being said, I'm a SAHM and I would be hard pressed to be home without a car all day. I enjoy going and doing, and as a new SAHM, that's even harder. You are used to being around adults all day and it can be quite difficult to adjust to at first. If you lived in small town middle America where many things are within walking distance it might be different.

I wouldn't feel comfortable with my DH biking or taking a scooter to work in our area either. We have very windy roads with no shoulders and people drive very fast.

I say go with the "clunker". It will likely last a very long time with you only putting 20 miles/week on it. I wouldn't even put the $5000 into it. You could probably get something decent for $3000. Good luck!

 

[Shleedogg]

I would look closely at the monthly budget. If you can afford a small car payment (with your $5,000 down payment), I would look at a Honda Fit or a Toyota Corolla/Yaris. Something small that would get him where he needs to go. It's the end of the year, so dealers are offering some good incentives and are really willing to work with you (we just bought a Honda van). Otherwise, I'd put that $5k into an older used car. I'd probably only be willing to look at Honda or Toyota for a used car though. They seem to have the best track record in Consumer Reports. I probably wouldn't look at another scooter though, seems to easy to steal.

 

[Suz D]

I'd just get another scooter for him, if he was enjoying that. And if you still don't want to insure it, self insure it. Save that $100 a month for a new one should this one get stolen.

Lastly, are there buses that come by that he could catch instead of riding/driving anything? Or anyone in the neighborhood that drives to commute? DH has always been completely surprised to find out how many people he commutes with who work at or near his jobs...

Re: first point of getting scooter w/o insurance. Although I worked in the insurance industry for years I didn't work with vehicle insurance. If it's not insured and he has an accident would his bodily injuries be covered by health insurance? Something to think about.

Re: Bus & carpool...I think these are both excellent suggestions if you decide not to go for the 2nd car. Although, if he carpools, he'd likely have to drive at some point and you'd be without "your" car for that time period.

 

[Sarah_Rose]

OP here. I love that DS has started going to bed at 7:00 in the last week or so!

Well, DH has decided to take a personal day for tomorrow and go car shopping. He's going to look at some used cars, but he's also going to swing by the Toyota dealership. Though it's a joint decision, in the end it's HIM that has to be happy with the vehicle, because he's going to have it for a long, long time. Except for the Honda Fit that I totalled (and I guess, even then, technically), we drive cards until they fall apart. DH has been known to fix an accelerator cable with a hair pin on the side of the highway, and then go on driving the car.

DH is leaning away from the scooter idea, however. I know he did love that scooter of his, and I think he is taking the loss of it harder than he lets on. He even liked riding on rainy days - there were some days where I would insist on driving him to the station because it was POURING and he would still be insisting that he would be comfortable riding. DH spent 45 minutes combing the parking garage with a security guard and they discussed possible future options... there really weren't any. The parking garage is really just set up for cars (and there isn't even any good bike parking).

And yeah, I like leaving the house. And so does DS. I don't know if it's personality or the fact that I was taking him places from the first few days (he ran his first 5K at 3 weeks!), but he is an absolute little charmer whenever we are out of the house. He'll scream all the way somewhere in the car, smile and laugh for an hour straight, and then scream all the way home. But watching him charm all the little old ladies in their swim caps at public swim is worth putting up with the screaming on the way there and back. For the record, he hates his stroller as well as the car seat.... but he loves every sling/carrier he's ever been put in.

Up until 7 months ago, we lived in downtown Seattle, and I still miss being so close to everything. I think I would go nuts being confined to the subdivision without a vehicle.

 

[NotUrsula]

What about the most obvious option: calling a cab? You could book a cab company to come and pick him up at a set time every morning, and then he can either call you for the evening return, or if you were busy, cab it home.

The cab fare would probably only be about $5 one way for the two mile morning run to the train station; $25/week x say, 49 weeks per year; it's about $1200/yr. If you REALLY have no need for a second car for any reason other than commuting, and don't want to spend the insurance, gas, and maintainance on it, then it makes financial sense to just have him cab it.

Also, please forgive the liberty, but I played around with that map. Cycling it (at least in good weather) seems to be quite an easy option, though it's a bit longer than taking the main highway; you are right on top of a bike trail there. He would have to ride for ~.6 mile on 277th St., but Street View shows me that it has a wide shoulder; with lights on the bike that should be perfectly safe. The route is west on 277th to East Valley Hwy, and there appears to be trailhead a little west of it underneath on the left for the Interurban Trail. He would ride west on the stub trail along the rail track for a little, then head north on the main trail up to W Smith St and turn right for the station. Looks like it's about 3.8 miles by bike, on an official bike trail most of the way.

Of course, all this presupposes that you really prefer to have only one car for whatever reason. If you want to own a second car and can easily afford to own two, then do go ahead and get one.

 

[SoonerSarah]

I have spent years as a SAHM in a one vehicle family. We made it work. Yes, there were times when I was SOO ready to get out of the house, but it helps that DH has a more flexible job. It is generally not a problem for him to go to work, and if something comes up, say needing to take a sick kid to the doctor, he can come home and either I will take him back to work, or he will just go with me. It also helps that he can, when needed, use the church van (DH's a Youth Minister).

But anyway, if I had no debt, other than mortgage, and had savings, and an emergency fund, then my choice would probably be to buy a used, reliable vehicle. I would not want to go into debt. Life situations can change at any given time, and no matter how low the payment is, in certain situations that can still be too much. The logical choice, if you are going to buy a second vehicle, is to buy one within your means of staying out of debt.

Good luck with everything, I hope you guys figure out a solution that works well for you!

 

[Minnie]

I cannot believe that some people would be so unwilling to place their family's needs ahead of their own wants. But that's why there's more than one flavor of ice cream too, eh?

I don't understand this comment at all.... The OP is financially able to purchase a vehicle for this purpose so why the negativity?How in the world is purchasing a 2nd vehicle equate to this comment? Wow

OP - If you are concerned with him biking then I would be concerned about his riding a scooter. I'd purchase a gently used vehicle that fits his preferences and your budget.

 

[allison443]

OP it sounds like you can afford a second car...and I think it would work well in your situation. It is very common around here to have a "station car" for people who commute to NYC via train. You still have the "good" reliable car for family trips, weekend use, etc.

I agree with you that I would feel "trapped" being home every day without a car. However I think perhaps your post about how terrible it would have to be to bundle up your baby and take your baby out in the morning and then again at night to drive your dh may have rubbed some people the wrong way. You realize many working moms do that every day to go to work, right?

I think we all tend to look at posts through our own experiences...hence the posts from people who got by with one car and don't understand why you can't, people who did all their outings on the weekends and think you should too, etc.

I wouldn't take offense, just look at as giving another perspective.

Good luck with the car search!

 

[kaytieeldr]

I don't agree with it being cheaper in the long run. I have to drive my child 6 miles to school as she goes out of district by necessity and home everyday and trust me those 12 mile round trip trips (1 in the morning and 1 - 7 hours or so later) are really adding up on my car.

Well, technically I didn't consider wear and tear because that's going to occur with any vehicle - current or newly-purchased. I just meant "cheaper than a $5,000+ car, or another scooter likely to be stolen and its insurance", and "safer than walking or biking based on the OP's description".

And if it's THAT nasty outside, no one in Seattle is going into work anyway, as it's snowy or icy and only Colorado natives can get anywhere!

Not to hijack, but no, Colorado natives are NOT the only persons able to navigate in winter weather.

 

[DCLbrideSept2009]

I say pay CASH for a decent used car. About 2 1/2 years ago I bought a 1999 Honda Accord EX for $5800 and still have it. LOVE that car!! Look on craigslist. I'm sure you can find a really decent car for $5000 or less. Doesn't have to be GM.

 

[herdtoDisney]

Oh dear...I'm the one who posted about buying a Chevy. I didn't mean the OP had to buy only a Chevy, just that 'I' had and was using it as an example of a cheap used car. I know people who have bought older Hondas and Toyotas for under $5000, I'm just saying that you can get a lot of use out of a car like that, without having to be burdended with car payments

 

[ssawka]

A couple thoughts:

1. Have you checked with your home owners insurance to see if the scooter might be covered as a personal posession?
2. If your DH was OK with the scooter, how about looking for a used scooter?
3. Would DH consider a Hyundai or a KIA? If you were going to buy new, at least you would get the 10yr/100K mile powertrain warranty and 5yr B2B warranty (I won't even get into the "American" versus import discussion)

 

[Swimalie]

I just cannot believe that so many people would take the choice to spend all day, most days, trapped at home, while my car sat 2 miles away in a parking garage for 10 hours. I would say that I only stay home with the baby...um... maybe two days a month? On the other days, we take the dogs to the dog park, drive to the abundant parks around here or the beach, go for coffee with friends, do baby storytime at the library, go swimming at the public pool, go to our one day a week MyGym class, or I volunteer. One of the charities that I volunteer with (it was almost a full-time job for me while I didn't have a work visa (I'm Canadian) for a spell last year) is only too happy for me to come in and do some work for a few hours while the baby naps in his bouncy seat next to me. I can't imagine giving up all this to sit at home with a baby and two German Shepherds.

If it was financially necessary to do so, I could see it. But since it isn't...?

When we lived in Portland, OR we lived 2 miles from the MAx station. My husband had my old car to drive the 2 miles to the Max, to take the train to work. When I had a new born no way would I want to be stuck at home without a car, either. I don't blame you here one bit. Not only for the "I want to escape home" aspect but what if an emergency happens and you feel better driving them to the doctor rather than calling an ambulance? You need a car.

Before we moved to VA, we sold my old car, kept my newer car. When we got to VA, we found a used Toyota Corolla that was 5 years old for $7000. My husband drives that to work now. I'd search for a car like that. They can be found. It's a bare, basic car that just gets him to and from work and we will drive it until the wheels fall off.

Good luck and I'm sorry the scooter was stollen. I hope it can be found.

 

[woodkins]

Are people seriously recommending that her dh wear a reflective vest and walk or ride a bicycle on a 4 lane 50mph highway? That is NUTS to me. Maybe because I live in on Long Island outside NYC, but I don't even think it is legal to ride a bicycle on a highway. Unless your are trying to boost your budget by cashing in on his life insurance policy this doesn't seem like a good option to me

When we commuted into NYC we had a "station car" that was an inexpensive used car who's sole purpose was to get back and forth to the train station a few miles away.

 

[NotUrsula]

Are people seriously recommending that her dh wear a reflective vest and walk or ride a bicycle on a 4 lane 50mph highway? That is NUTS to me. Maybe because I live in on Long Island outside NYC, but I don't even think it is legal to ride a bicycle on a highway. Unless your are trying to boost your budget by cashing in on his life insurance policy this doesn't seem like a good option to me

When we commuted into NYC we had a "station car" that was an inexpensive used car who's sole purpose was to get back and forth to the train station a few miles away.

The road I was suggesting he ride on doesn't appear to be four lanes between her home and the bike trail except for the very last intersection, though the speed limit is 50 mph., The Street View photo of the road leading from her subdivision to the bike trail (277th St.) shows it to be a dead-flat two-lane road through farm fields, with long visibility and a wide shoulder for most of the three-quarters of a mile or so that he'd be on it. It also has guardrails, so if he wanted to be really safe he could walk the bike on the outer side of the guardrail for that distance. I used to ride on roads like that all the time when I commuted by bike. If you really WANT to commute by bike, riding in those conditions isn't unusual, and I know plenty of people who do it. (Of course, if he doesn't WANT to do it, that's a different situation, but commuting by bike for fitness reasons is popular in some quarters, and it sounds like he might be the sort of person that it appeals to.)

In most jurisdictions, bicycles are only banned from limited access Interstate highways and roads that are configured like them. Most surface roads and older highways don't ban cyclists even if the speed limit is 70 mph.

 

[mrodgers]

I have to wonder, why the big mindblowing about a car for a 2 mile commute?

You could buy a $3-4000 Honda Civic with say 125,000 miles on it. Drive the car for another 25,000 miles to 150k and it would take the husband 25 years to reach that point.

Even putting initial maintenance into the car, I would expect you would want to do the timing belt and water pump unless you had proof of it done recently. Even if you need to put tires on it immediately, both of these routine maintenance items wouldn't have to be done again for.... 50 years!