A little known fact about my family is this -- we have one car. My husband and I share a car and we have been for the past 4 years.
How do we make it work?
We just do. I can't remember not making it work. However I have learned this, it takes a lot of communication and being flexible on both our parts to make this frugal lifestyle choice worth it.
1. He works from home, which is awesome. Wish I could.
2. I take the kiddo to school, go to work, pick up the kiddo come home.
3. If he needs the car during the day, we all go together and I'll catch a ride home with a friend who works and lives near me, or my husband will pick me up after errands.
4. For car repairs or long stints of needing a second car, my father-in-law will lend us his second car. This happens maybe 2 or 3 times a year.
Benefits:
1. No second car payment.
2. No second insurance payment.
3. No second round of car repairs and maintenance.
4. No second gas bill.
5. We plan to pay cash for a second car within the next year or so.
Tips for the kid aspect:
1. If your spouse is stuck at home with the kids during the day, make sure you get creative in making the home environment enriching. Since they may not get out a lot, bring lots of fun indoor and outdoor activities to the home.
2. Make the weekends count -- Get the kids out of the house on the weekends and head some where anywhere so they can see their world.
3. If you have a flexible job, don't abuse it, but use some of your flexibility to surprise the kids with some mid week activities.
4. Sports, dance and other activities you pay for will add to the equation, so make sure your schedules don't create stressful situations.
Impressions:
If you are making t
he jump to a one car lifestyle like this Craigs List seller you need to prepare yoursel
f for the "pride wall."
What's that?
A "Pride Wall" is the wall you hit when you run into someone who judges you for being a one car family.
I could care less.
But if you're new to frugal living you might be inclined to get your feelings hurt if someone says "Oh really?!?" So prepare yourself for a response to justify your lifestyle.
Not that you need to justify it, but don't belittle it either.
You could afford 10 cars and still be a one car family.
The point is that you're using your money for something else. It doesn't matter if you're using it to pay bills, save for a vacation, avoid debt or pay off debt.
So what about you? Are you a one car family? Could you do it? Why or why not?
Join the conversation here or on the
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