One car family?

[jgreco]

My mom had 3 kids and NEVER had a car while we were growing up and we all survived in the suburbs. How times have changed that when you suggest it now, people think it's the end of the world! Often money can be spent better other places or it is a financial necessity for some people.

I remember one of our neighbors coming out while we were putting in a brick walkway on the side of the house "I don't get it, you guys have money to do these projects and yet you share a car" (like it was absurd). Duh, that's why we had the extra money!

 

[amomma23]

I remember one of our neighbors coming out while we were putting in a brick walkway on the side of the house "I don't get it, you guys have money to do these projects and yet you share a car" (like it was absurd). Duh, that's why we had the extra money!

Ok, that's pretty funny. I'm meeting everyone to sign over the title in about 15 min. Feeling better about the decision. I'm sure we'll have some inconvenience, but in the end it will be worth it. More Disney $$ in our pockets, right!

 

[momof2gr8kids]

We've been doing it for a few years now. I work ft and my dh works shiftwork - often getting called in at the last minute.

The only way we are able to make it work is that I am within walking distance to work and my work is very flexible to allow me to leave if I need to drive dh to work in the afternoon to give me the vehicle. Dh's work is close to come home on breaks, etc. too if I need the vehicle.

It takes a lot of planning, but I like it. I like being forced to walk to work each day!

Both kids are in extracurricular activities, but we often share driving with other parents. It's easier now that dd is 11 and can stay home for a bit alone if I need to drop dh off at work at 7am on a Saturday so I have the car. It was a real pain when I had to pack them both up and drag them out of bed!

When we have to put new tires on our van, or get a tune up, etc. that's when I'm really glad we only have one vehicle to worry about!

 

[Colleen27]

We did it for a long time, then had a second car that was never used for family (DH's work truck - a 2 seater and there are 5 of us!), then we sold the work truck when he closed his business and went back to one car. But now he has a company car that comes home with him at night so it is almost like being a two-car family; I never have to drive him to work and he only drives my van on his days off.

I think how well it works all depends on where you live. Our town is very walkable and everything I need on a regular basis, from the kids' schools to the grocery to a movie theatre and bookstore, are within a mile and a half of my front door. So I really only need a car in very bad weather or if I'm heading into the city for some reason, and on those days I used to just drive DH to work. If we lived even a few miles from here in the country or in a less walkable/more suburban setting it wouldn't work out nearly as well.

 

[shortbun]

Three vehicles and a Vespa here. Two drivers. We could never do it but I think I would try it for a few months if I was in major debt.

 

[foltzy]

We use to be a one car family when I was a SAHM. Now it wouldn't work. I work part time and go to school full time. . DH works full time and goes to school part time.

My car just broke down and we're getting it in the garage to get fixed. I had to borrow my dad's car to go to work one day and luckily I could take my husband's for school and got a ride from a co-worker the other (this isn't always possible).

Then we add in the activities for my kids and the volunteering I do at their school and yeah we need to cars.

We also live in a small town where nothing is in walking distance.

 

[drcmk]

I think it really depends on your neighborhood and how easily you can get around. Growing up we lived in a city where we had a hospital and our family doctor in walking distance, close relatives and good neighbors in walking distance and we lived in walking distance of our elementary school. The high school we attended was accessible via public transportation. My parents had two cars, but there were plenty of days when we didn't use them both.

Now, I live in a neighborhood that doesn't have sidewalks. I can walk to a few other homes within a few minutes, but those people are not home during the day and I don't know them that well. My children's schools are neither in walking distance nor accessible via public transportation. I couldn't walk or bus or even taxi to a supermarket, doctor or hospital. I couldn't count on finding a neighbor to drive me to get my kids or my husband if there were an emergency. I would never feel safe if I were in my house without a car. I'd feel trapped.

 

[BernardandMissBianca]

If I were you, I would take the boys and DH to school. They don't have to go anywhere throughout the day. You are more likely to have a need for the car.

DH has a car but it rarely gets used. He works from home, but about once a month he travels to DC where the home office is. The only reason we got the car was because the travel covers the cost of the car, fuel, and taxes. and we still make money on top of that.

Now I am a SAHM but I call myself a NAHM (never at home mom). Because I stay home I am responsible for shopping, errands, doctors visits, etc. So the car is more important to me than it is to DH.

 

[21yankees]

Another family here that only has 1 car. We've been this way since we were first married (over 15 years ago). We have 3 kids and my dh is a SAHD. In our situation he drops me off every morning and has the car all day. Then he picks me up in the afternoon. We only live 5 minutes (by car) from where I work. As for the kids' schedules it is true that there were will times when people will be waiting but it's not a huge issue (for us that is). We plan ahead ie have snacks, books, etc on hand, all depends on the estimated time of waiting. But since we've always been this way we don't have too many things going on at the sametime as we do try to avoid it. HTH

 

[MrsPete]

We did this for about three and a half years -- and we did it in a very rural area -- and I am sure of two things: 1) most people can do this, if they care to, and 2) for the average family, this will save more money than any other one single thing.

This saves not only the cost of the car, but it saves insurance, gas, maintenance and tags. And it keeps you from making impulsive purchases -- if you can't run out to the mall, can't pop through the drive through for lunch, you'll be surprised how much you won't spend. It could easily save as much as a person could earn at a part time job.

As for emergencies, such as a sick child at school, you can always call a taxi. Even if it costs $100, it isn't a drop in the bucket compared to the cost of maintaining a car all the time. If you know ahead of time that you'll have the car on Tuesdays and Thursdays, it's easy to plan most errands on those days.

 

[dizluvah]

We have been a one car family for almost a year. It can be difficult but is doable. I am a stay at home mom with a 23 month old. This summer we usually had something planned (playgroup, etc) almost everyday so we would drop DH at work and pick him up. Going into fall, we are planning to only have the car two or three days per week. We do have a grocery store and pharmacy within walking distance.

Some things that have helped me are:
creating a visual family calendar (i post mine on fridge) so at a glance both DH and I know who needs the car on any given day
planning my meals for the week
running my errands all on one day (when possible)
heading out in the evenings after DH gets home from work

There have been days that are frustrating and we have had some confusion but in the grand scheme it is no big deal

 

[cktrotter]

We've had one car for about 5 years now. Everything is very close here (we live on a bluff off an island) so once we worked out the routine it was easy. I drop off DH at work & DD at school everyday. Two mornings a week I also drop off DS at preschool and I pick everyone up at the end of the day.

I am thinking about becoming a professional chauffeur.

 

[teacherforhi]

DH and I work at the same school and take two of our DSs with us there and we still need two cars. By the time he gets home from football practice, our youngest has already eaten and is getting in the tub. I really wouldn't like having to load him up in the car to pick up DH and oldest DS.

 

[danceintherain]

First of all....tell him YOU'RE the one who is going to have use of the car on a regular basis, and see his reaction. Oftentimes, the working parent assumes that the non-working parent doesn't need a car, so it's too easy to give up that second car. Yes, bills need to be paid, but it should be a discussion. Not a..."I sold my truck, and we're using the money to pay off some bills."

Otherwise, we've only ever had one car (3 1/2 years of marriage and a 3 year courtship) and right now we have no car. The no car works here, because of the public transportation. The one car worked in the past, because it just did.
Yeah...emergencies happen, but they're emergencies, and having a car doesn't necessarily fix that. For example, DH took our one car to work with him, when I was pregnant. If I had gone into labor, I would have been in labor and it would have been very unlikely that I would have wanted to drive myself anywhere. I had friends (or at least acquaintances) who I could have called and they could have gotten me where I needed to go (people are usually pretty good in emergency situations) if DH wasn't available. If that didn't work, I could have called a cab. If that didn't work, I could have called an ambulance.

It's completely manageable as long as you communicate your needs.
As far as Saturdays go....I have 5 siblings. Even when my parents had 4 cars, I still ended up waiting around places, until I could drive myself. Yeah it sucks, but if you prepare for it, waiting can be rather productive.