Meet the Other Phone. Protection built in.

Meet the Other Phone.
Protection built in.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Chat

Join the discussion and chat with other Mumsnetters about everyday life, relationships and parenting.

Realities of life without a car?

254 replies

FeetOnly · 29/03/2023 20:13

DH wants to give up the car. We live in a small village with a small supermarket with post office counter. Bus runs twice an hour (not every 30 mins) except at 10 and 3 when it's once an hour.

Currently I use the car twice a week - shopping and DC activity delivery when DH wfh. DC would still be late for activity if the bus is on time and the connection connects. Once a week for a club taxi.
We use the car at weekends to go on day trips. To go stand up paddling etc. Also to go on holiday.

DH reckons we can do all this by bus/train. [I personally don't see how we can transport e.g. four paddle boards, pumps, picnic etc.] Occasionally rent a car if need be.

He asked me today what plans I would have for the shopping. I said a weekly online shop. He does not want me to do this, says we will waste too much food and it's better to go every couple of days. On the scooter he is planning to use to go to work unless the weather is too bad for him to take it Hmm So he's clearly expecting me to go into town and do the shopping by bus/shopping trolley. Now he's annoyed with me for not being on board with saving the environment and says we should keep the car. Of course that means if anything goes wrong with it and any repairs need doing it will be my fault for not selling it.

-I will admit I did all shopping by bus before Covid and him being allowed to wfh.
-I did all DC activities by bus.
-He moaned constantly about the bus/train commute the first year he was working and didn't yet have a parking space.
-He freaked out about Covid and made me cancel all the DC's activities even once everything was up and running again and I wasn't allowed to take the DC's on the bus until about a year ago. He still won't go e.g. to a cinema or swimming pool or let me take them there.

What is life like without a car?

OP posts:
StillWantingADog · 18/05/2023 13:31

OP the problem is not the car. It's your husband. He's totally bullying you. You can see that, right?

lakesummer · 18/05/2023 14:12

Absolutely don't cave OP he is behaving appallingly and in a very bullying manner.

He also doesn't seem entirely rational to be honest.

Work out what is best for your dc and you and just stick to it.

Drive when it suits you and take public transportation when that works.

Let him do his travel his way and just don't engage when he starts pressuring you. As an adult you get to keep a car and drive if you want to.

lakesummer · 18/05/2023 14:14

Also if this was about being green he wouldn't be taking holidays on the other side of world.

SquishyGloopyBum · 26/05/2023 20:24

How are you @FeetOnly? I hope you are staying strong.

New posts on this thread. Refresh page
Swipe left for the next trending thread