Giving up the car - has any one done it

[maria1665]

A head on collison with an out of control, uninsured boy racer has finally ended my love affair with the car. Me and babe are fine, other than cuts and bruises, but car is a right off and I'm in no mood to replace it.

Has anyone successfully tried going completely car free? I have three children - inc a two year old. Don't need car for school, but clubs, music could be a problem. OK bus and rail links.

Am considering getting a bike with a baby seat?

Am I being realistic, or am I still concussed?

I have been thinking along these lines myself this afternoon. Shopping would be a pain - but I suppose I could spend the saved insurance premium on delivery charges.

We would need to hire a car for holidays - camping without one, with 3 children would be hard work, wouldn't it? And seeing friends/relatives around the country would be much more of a logistical nightmare (although, compared to the traffic jams I've recently endured...)

Shopping can be done on line. I know people who have no car and manage perfectly well. It is not cheap running a car with insurance, petrol, servicing etc. It is just a case of getting used to it.

I dont know.

But having experience with insurances payouts, it takes a long time for the payout (oh and word of advice never accept first offer) so could you try until the insurance is settled and see if you are desperate to use the cheque to buy a car or happy to use the money elsewhere?

maria, i have done it Glad you and babes are ok by the way.

When my oldest was at primary school approx 3 miles away from our house, i realised that getting her to and from school was the only time i was actually using the car. So, towards the end of last year, when i knew it needed a lot of work to pass the MOT, i just sold it with the view to replacing it in a coupld of monthes or so.

But, 6 monthes later, i still havent got a new car. Partly lack of money, but also partly resentment at the cost of insurance, petrol, maintenence etc. My eldest does go to some clubs etc, but we usually either bus or taxi, and even with taxi fares, it is still nowhere near what i would spend running a car. Same as shopping - i get big shops online (or go with a friend who does have a car) but find i get my bits and bobs from my local shops, which is better for them. I have also found the amount of walking is really helping with losing weight (not that i am saying you would need to consider this)

Little ones love getting the bus/train, though i would really suggest getting reins for them if yours or anything like mnine - stops them running up and down the train

Havent got a bike yet, but like you, am considering getting one with a toddler seat.

I would say give it a try for a couple of weeks, bus and train timetables can all be checked online, and see how much you save!

I've lived without a car and it is doable. I needed a trolley for shopping as we don't have online grocery shopping here in Germany. It meant I had to do 3 shops instead of one big shop.

I do remember having to get changed 3 times a day when it was raining, or more like pouring down! You need good waterproofs and good shoes all round.

Everything takes longer, you need time and a shopping trip into town was exhausting if I bought a few items and then had to carry them home on the tram. Dropping the dc off for clubs or to visit friends would be a big pain if we didn't have the car now though.

If you live in/near town with a railway station and there are good buses and taxis will come to you and you are in the delivery area for supermarkets then yes it is perfectly doable. You can still hire a car for holidays etc.

We do not have a car and never have had one for 25 years. We save a lot of money and are fitter and happier. Cannot imagine we will ever change.

On the other hand, if you live in the countryside then you definitley need a car.

We gave up our car when DD was one year old because we worked out it was uneconomic. You adapt, especially if you live in a city.

We walk to the supermarket with backpacks. This is really good for making sure that, due to limited space, you only buy what you need.

Is there anyone else in your children's class at school who go to the same clubs? You could consider offering the parent petrol money. We used to take DD to pottery class once a week on the bus. We also took a boy in the same school (though a few years older) to the class with her. The boy's mother picked both children up afterwards and dropped DD home. This worked happily as the mother worked, but the class ended at 6pm. If we didn't take her son to the class there would have been no way she could have taken him herself.

Finally, you get a lot fitter. The children get the exercise they need, and you get a different view of life from the top of a double decker bus.

You don't need a car -- it's just very convenient when you have small children. I gave up my car when I had my first ds. Walking everywhere was fun for him; trips to the corner shop and to the library seem like a big events when you have to walk.

I did do most of my shopping online (groceries too), and had my husbands car at the weekends. You can do it, it just takes more planning.

I did it for 3.5 years, but got a car after ds2 was born because of the school run (too far and no pavement on busy roads to school). Not sure if I would choose to do it again.

Good luck!

Where do you live...near a town??

I gave up my car when i changed jobs (pre kids). I now work 2 miles away and bike/walk or bus everywhere.

I have a bike+trailer for the boys (age 2 and 4) and use that every day when i work as they go to a nursery at workplace. I walk or get the bus into town depending on the weather/time. I get the train up to grandmas when we visit there.

I shop online for big stuff but enjoy getting fish/veg etc from the market in town.

DH does have a car so we have one for long journeys and at teh weekends though dont actually use it a great deal because it is easier to bike or walk or bus into town.

My DSs love the trailer and bike seats, they love the bus and the train too. Tis nice to actually look out the window at things and talk to them which you cnat do in the same way when you are int he car.

Thanks for the replies.

We are in the country, but have decent rail and bus links to three big cities and towns.

The thought of going car free has been in our minds for ages - my husband gave his up some years ago. He has a long commute, but prefers time on train to driving. Not replacing my car means us having NO car whatsoever.

I'm on a career break and have been zooming around taking the older children to every club going. The point about having to rationalise clubs etc is a really good one. We've made some progress in the last few days.

We've also worked out that the car costs us £300 per month - so that's a lot of taxi fees if need be.

Bit of a bad experience on a bus last night going to a choir concert - witnessed punch up on bus leaving DD1 a bit shaken. But on the way back, we chatted like we would never do, had I been driving.

I do feel awkward accepting lifts off other parents, but not being able to offer lifts back.

we dont have car (not really choice).Is definitely cheaper and is manageable but there are times when it would be really useful, taking things to the tip, the occasional party that is 2 bus rides away, rain etc.
On a positive note though, I am better organised,less harassed and never late, as opposed to my friend who nips everywhere in the car.
Ocado or tesco delivery for shopping,leisurely stroll to local shops for extras,the dcs are used to walking so never complain, and we tend to chat a lot whilst walking and on bus,I also think carefully before starting clubs and activities, but they do whatever is possible.Go for it, maybe try it for 6 months.