Cutting Cars – How to Co-Exist in a Household with One Vehicle and Save Money

One sure fire way to save money on gas is to not have to spend money on it in the first place! If you are one of the many two-car households in the United States, you are not alone in wanting to cut costs. The quickest solution is to use only one car. But how can a household exist with just one car? The answer is that not everyone can, especially if it is a two-income family where each wage earner works in opposite ends of town. In addition, if you live in the country and commute to work, it can be hard on the household not to have a second car, especially in an emergency.

Cutting a car out of the equation is best tried by those families who are within walking or biking distance to work or to a multitude of stores and shops that are utilized quite frequently. On those great weather days, walking is a great way to get where you are going. Not only are you enjoying the outdoors, but you are also getting great exercise as well. In addition, you will eventually meet all your neighbors and become more integrated into your community. Biking also offers similar benefits.

If your children are old enough, they can take the bus to school or they can walk as well. Depending on where you live, the school bus will either pick up your children or you could pay a nominal fee for the privilege. Even with a fee, you would come out cheaper than having to pay for gasoline as well as account for any wear and tear on a vehicle.

Car pooling, public transportation or ride sharing are great options for those families looking to reduce costs by cutting out their second vehicle. If you work in a city area that has concentrated work centers, catching a bus is a great option. Not only are you saving on gasoline and maintenance costs, but you are also receiving practically curb-to-curb service! Not only that, you do not have to worry about parking either. In some cases, you might have to drive your car (or have your spouse or a carpool drive you) to a bus terminal where you can then hop on that particular mode of transportation.

If you live in a large city, there may be a light rail or subway system you can ride. Once you have determined that public transportation can help your bottom line financially, you could invest in an easy pass for one of those public modes of transportation. It is cheap and costs just a fraction of what your maintenance, insurance and gasoline costs would be for that second car.

Of course, without a second car, your family will have less impulsive trips to the corner store for a quart of milk or whatever items you could pick up from a quick jaunt. Trips, both during the week and the weekend, have to be more carefully planned than before. No longer can the family split up with one half going to the movies and the other half going shopping. Consolidation is the name of the game when it all boils down to owning one car.

As a one-car family, you will notice that you start planning errands in large chunks rather than spreading them out over the course of a week. You will find that you are spending more time with the family and less time away from them. Bus and subway schedules become your friends and you develop into a proponent of car pooling. Most of all, you will enjoy the savings not operating a second vehicle brings.

Just think about not having the responsibility of that second car. That means there is no extra gas tank to fill up! Ka-ching! Maintenance costs go down to nil. Without a second car, you do not have to pay for regular oil changes or new tires. And the insurance! You will save hundreds of dollars alone by not having to insure a second car. Ka-ching again!

The bottom line is that one-car households become more creative. You discover new ways to get from point A to point B, whether it is through car pooling, public transportation, physical exercise or all three. Families become closer because more time is spent with one another rather than going separate ways. Before you know it, your pocketbook is healthier and so are you!