I want to sell my car - its a luxury I dont think we can afford anymore...

[Badvoc]

..but dh disagrees.

I know I will miss it. I know that. BUT we could get £3k to put into savings/pay off cc and I would sav over £100 per month in costs.

AIBU in thinking this is a good idea?

We have NO savings (long story but moved into a new house in Dec and everything broke!!!) and cc debt we have no chance of even denting unless things change.

I will need to walk to school/pre school with dc in all weathers but, hey, I've done it before.

I get my groceries delivered mostly anyway and would be quite happy to use buses/trains on my (very) rare (think 4 x per year) trips into town.

wwyd?

I would suggest that you keep a little of car money back for a "taxi fund". Just in case you do need to get to doctor's urgently etc, or have to take children to a party. Maybe £150 or so, so that you don't have to worry about emergencies.

I gave up my car last year after I did the arithmetic. With all the costs, it was soaking up £1.5k a year on 'dead expenditure' for (mainly) sitting around 'in case', going weekly to the supermarket or doing other short runs which could really have been done another way.

Now, we have the main supermarket shopping delivered free or cheaply (I realize that's not an option for everyone), take taxis/hire cars or use public transport - and walk to the local shops to buy smaller items or other places where previously we would have taken the car for ridiculously short journeys. Family or friends are happy to help out on the very odd occasion where a car really is more convenient and get extra good petrol money from me automatically. (It helps them justify their own cars because I make the money good enough to include a bit for insurance/maintenance etc so they genuinely don't mind.)

I know it won't suit everyone, particularly some of those living in rural communities, but I'd give it a try if you think it looks halfway realistic. You do have to think ahead and rejig a few things but insurance, petrol etc are only going to get more expensive, you get fitter (we were becoming couch slugs) and you save a shed load of money and stress. Even not having to worry about car parking can make an evening out more fun and taxis are surprisingly easy to find - they're hurting too and there are a lot around.

When I think of how much I walked when I was younger (wouldn't have even thought of getting transport) and how little the youngsters generally walk now it quite perturbs me.

One thing I do like is the suggestion above of putting aside some money in a 'taxi fund'. You start to forget those big bills - that always seemed to come off the credit card anyway so weren't so 'visible' - and handing over cash to a taxi can start to rankle until you sit back and think 'Whoooaahh, cozie. You've saved £x this month already: you can easy afford this'. Having some set aside already could make the process easier for you.

Good luck anyway - whatever you decide.