ALT-8 Tips for Living without a Car
If I said I felt happy about giving up my car earlier this year, I'd be lying. It was an incredibly hard decision to make and one I lost a considerable amount of sleep over. I felt I had no choice in the end though as I couldn't really afford the vital repairs it needed. After a few weeks of sighing longingly as cars drove passed me while I trudged a mile and a half to the supermarket and back; I began to realise that the benefits of not owning car actually outweighed the benefits of owning one for me.
The financial implications of running a car run into figures I hadn't previously fully appreciated. Take a minute to add up how much you spend each year on insurance, repairs, testing, tax, petrol and accessories and divide it by twelve. Having done this myself I realised I was spending twice as much every month as I thought I was. Now I'm reliant on public transport to commute out of town I've slashed my monthly travelling costs by 75%.
I also find it necessary to order the bulk of my groceries online for home delivery now. Although this might sound expensive, it's actually saved me a great deal of money. I no longer wander round the supermarket chucking shiny packets of junk food into my trolley just because they're on offer. Instead I find I come to my computer and logically order a shopping list that I genuinely need. I'm no longer tempted by all the clothes and household goods that used to push up my bill by so much either.
As far as the extra exercise goes, I've lost 10lbs in three months without having made any effort to do so. When you've got no choice but to walk everywhere, you find you just get on with it. I've surprised myself in finding the extra fresh air and exercise actually quite enjoyable. When I had the choice of walking or taking the car, all too often I found I automatically took the lazy option and hopped in the car.
Finally there is of course the environmental benefit to consider given the sheer volume of pollution cars emit. I like to do my bit where recycling is concerned and even used reusable nappies on my child for a while. That said, I can't claim to be "at one" with Mother Earth in other areas so I feel like taking a car off the road, even if it's only for a year or two, has done something genuinely beneficial for the environment.
Of course there are still some negatives to bear in mind. Wet weather reminds of being a teenager waiting at the school bus stop; I spent far too many mornings getting soaked and chilled to the bone before I'd even had breakfast. If I have to be somewhere and it's raining outside, my heart sinks to this very day. There are ways of coping though and wearing a thick coat and hat, no matter how unfashionable, is one good way.
There are also places I can't get to using public transport which can be frustrating. I can't take my child swimming to our local swimming pool because it's so far over to the other side of town I couldn't possibly walk it. There's also a local wildlife park that my son used to really enjoy visiting situated several miles out of town. There's no public transport that runs to either and using a taxi cab would just prove too expensive.
On balance I think there will come a time when I own a car again purely for the sake of staying dry and getting everywhere I'd like to go. However, given the financial situation I'm presently in; I'm happy to look to the positives of not owning a money-burning machine for the time being and make the most of this free weight loss programme while it lasts.
