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Original poster

Did driving change your quality of life?

40 replies

escapetothecuntree · 19/08/2018 23:49

I have a baby now. Find where I live incredibly isolating.

It's not in the middle of no where but there's no where to go without a car or waiting for multiple buses that never come Hmm

For example, we have a big Next, a big Matalan. But you have to drive to the big B&Q, for example, instead of them being within the same shopping location. No bus stops anywhere near these things.

Also, it would be amazing to just hop in my car and visit the nearest big shopping centre, a proper one.

Or just bang our stuff into the car and visit family, and even go shopping there.

I'm always wary that I'll be needing a car for me to take DS to any endless activities I know I'll be bombarded into taking him to when he's older.

Did driving improve your quality of life?

I am keen to start but wondering if I'm over exaggerating in my head how convenient it'll be.

OP posts:
Baumederose · 19/08/2018 23:51

Yes, simply.

It means I can pop wherever and whenever I want.

You won't regret it if you do it.

Oliversmumsarmy · 19/08/2018 23:52

For me driving was life changing.

Definitely a life skill

Original poster
escapetothecuntree · 19/08/2018 23:52

Baum Thank you! I'm definitely going for it

I like the sound of that a lot

OP posts:
PlayingGrownUp · 19/08/2018 23:53

I honestly can’t imagine life before driving anymore.

I am now 30 and was 27 when I passed my test so managed school, uni and working for years without doing it.

I don’t like driving - I’m never going to be someone that goes for a drive for fun.

However I love the freedom. No longer judging bus timetables or how long a taxi will take. Just jump on the car and go.

I will warn you - I do blame driving for the stone I’m trying to lose cause I stopped exercising as much by walking but ate more.

GremlinGreen · 19/08/2018 23:54

It's changed my life for sure. I deeply regret not getting my own car years ago. I ended up very isolated as public transport was very limited (rural area). My children missed out as well, as we were stuck at home a lot.
Now I can take the kids on days out or to activities, have hobbies myself, go to work, meet up with friends who live in another town....

Go for it!

nononsene · 19/08/2018 23:59

I lived in a rural village when I turned 17. Being able to drive have me so much more freedom than I had previously. Definitely life changing.

ParkheadParadise · 19/08/2018 23:59

Yes it did. I was 21, dd1 was 6. My parents paid for lessons for my 21st birthday. I got a car and went places with dd I couldn't have gone without a car. It gives you so much more freedom to get in the car and go anywhere you want.
I also got a job, because I was able to drive. Best thing I every did was learn to drive.
Get your lessons booked tomorrow, you won't regret it.

Sitranced · 20/08/2018 00:02

Most certainly. I don't own a car but we hire when we need to and just being able to do that is very freeing.

BlackAmericanoNoSugar · 20/08/2018 00:03

I learned to drive very young but my DH didn't learn until his 50s (to be fair we lived in London for a long time and it wasn't necessary there). Where we live now it made a HUGE difference for him once he could drive, and tbh for me too.

elephantoverthehill · 20/08/2018 00:05

Do it! Why wouldn't you? You could always get a motorcycle and sidecar instead.

WingingWonder · 20/08/2018 00:06

Yep
I had a life thanks to driving
As an adult I can choose where to live
It facilitates work - and on that if I had 2 like candidates I would always chose the one able to drive (not nec own car but ability to drive)
I consider it an essential life skill

JustlikeDevon · 20/08/2018 00:07

Driving has been the best thing I ever did. God, freedom in 4 wheels. Better than children . Me.

implantsandaDyson · 20/08/2018 00:10

Yes hugely. I didn't learn to drive until I was 34/35. I had two kids 3 and 1. We lived in a city so I could walk in and out of work but it also meant I had to schlep the kids to Tesco in a double buggy, had to walk to childcare/nursery in all kinds of weather - all the usual stuff.
Since I learned to drive (almost 10 years ago) I still love getting in the car, heading away for the day, calling up to see my now less mobile parents, traipsing around with the kids, driving to see friends etc. We moved out of the city, that would have been a nightmare without driving, having access to a car also improved job prospects, it was easier to be more flexible.
It cost an absolute fortunate to learn, it was hard, stressful, I took my test a few times, but it is without a doubt one of the best decisions I ever made.

NeverTwerkNaked · 20/08/2018 00:12

It totally transformed life for me. I learnt when my first child was a toddler. It was very very hard to do as the reason I hadn’t learnt sooner was due to an awful tragedy. But I am so glad I did. It has given me more job options and it has also meant my children don’t miss out on any of the activities and parties etc.

gamerchick · 20/08/2018 00:13

I don’t like driving - I’m never going to be someone that goes for a drive for fun

However I love the freedom. No longer judging bus timetables or how long a taxi will take. Just jump on the car and go

This is me to a tee Grin

Catspyjamazzzz · 20/08/2018 00:19

I didn’t drive until DD was 5.
We’ve had a busy holidays and we’ve been all sorts of interesting places - especially those in the countryside.
Before that we’d be stuck going to places on transport links which frankly are shit round here. We’d also be limited what we could do by time I paid for transport.
DD also does an activity she wouldn’t be able to if I couldn’t drive - it’s not far but very very awkward to get to and very expensive by public transport or taxis.

Topseyt · 20/08/2018 00:23

Playing and Gamer, me too.

I'm glad I learned to drive, but I've never taken naturally to it and don't enjoy it.

I like and need some of the freedoms it gives me though, as we are fairly rural and public transport isn't ten a penny.

EleanorRigbey · 20/08/2018 00:25

Yes it did change my life-without doubt. I didn't learn until 37, passed my test at 38. Best thing I ever did. I love the freedom it gives me. I can take my daughter anywhere.

Do it, you won't regret it.

gamerchick · 20/08/2018 00:29

DD also does an activity she wouldn’t be able to if I couldn’t drive - it’s not far but very very awkward to get to and very expensive by public transport or taxis

This as well. It's so nice to leave 10 minutes beforehand rather than the 1 hour each way via public transport and a mega walk. It would cost me 22 quid in taxis

gamerchick · 20/08/2018 00:30

Plus you get sat nav training now in lessons. I missed the new rules and wish I'd got that

BikeRunSki · 20/08/2018 00:33

Totally. I live in the countryside and have a job that takes me to different places every day, some of them pretty rural. Couldn’t do that if I couldn’t drive.

Original poster
escapetothecuntree · 20/08/2018 00:33

I'm wondering how much, realistically, it'll cost to own and run a small car each month

I've looked up some old threads and some are saying they pay £180-200 a month Shock

OP posts:
ineedaholidaynow · 20/08/2018 00:43

When I was a teenager we lived in a village that had a bus a week for market day. You could walk a couple of miles to the next village which had a more regular service. I learnt to drive as soon as I could.

I am like a couple of other posters, wouldn't say I enjoy driving, but it gets me from A to B. Also had to do school run as DS has always gone to school out of catchment.

Also I have a job where you have to visit clients and have always lived where public transport is limited, so have needed a car.

Can't imagine not being able to drive.

MyDirtyLittleSecret · 20/08/2018 00:48

Forty years non-driver in the UK when I stated more often then I care to admit to that 'I didn't need to drive.' But I certainly suppressed the memories of the sheer grinding ballache of too many experiences like the one in the OP where taking a bus to two different parts of town to run two errands took me all bloody day. The misery of walking in the pouring rain and gale force winds in winter, taking my kids to activities miles away from where we lived or highschool teacher meetings in the evenings when we'd be stuck waiting for buses for hours or forking out loads for taxis.

I learned to drive when I emigrated to the USA and you bet it was life-changing not just here, where I have to drive, but when I visit there too. I can't believe I went so long. My visits there are necessarily time limited and I have people I must see each trip many miles apart, trains and buses just take too long, aren't cheap or reliable anyway so I always rent a car.

ZenNudist · 20/08/2018 00:50

Yes. I love driving now.

I was 24 or 5 when i passed got car on a work lease for a bit but didn't drive it. Very nervous. Then stopped driving until i was 30ish.

Finally getting pregnant encouraged me to drive again. That and FIL signing over a cheap old company car to me to drive. Once i got into it i loved it. I banged it a bit but then traded up to a nicer second hand car.

I couldn't live and work where i do and not drive realistically.

I often feel sorry for my dsis who refuses to learn for many reasons. I feel she is missing out. Independence is great.

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