Has anyone went from 2 car household to 1 car?

**lullaby80** · 06-01-2007, 02:23 PM

We are a family fo three and have two cars. Now mine is about to break down (needs a lot of work) and I got an idea. Since my last day of work will be in two weeks I might just not have a car at all and share DH's car with him. We did this for the first 2 years of our marriage (before we had DS) and it worked out fine. I could bascally walk to the store and library and whenever I needed a car I could drop off DH to work (he works about 6 miles away and can also ride his bike to work) and use the car for the day. Does anyone do this? I haven't talked to DH about this yet but he might go for it since we need hundreds of dollars worth of work done to my car. And I'm a happy camper just to stay home most of the time anyway.

**yankeegal** · 06-01-2007, 02:52 PM

when we first moved to Maine(from Mass.) we only had one car. I was in the best shape of my life because I walked everywhere. When I needed a ride, I usually bartered babysitting in exchange. (DH worked too far away for me to drive him) At times it was tough, but the savings was well worth it. Good luck!

**3-boys-4-me** · 06-01-2007, 02:56 PM

For years we only had one car. I planned to run my errands and shop for groceries one day a week and on that day I would drive DH to work and pick him up, if he couldn't arrange to ride with someone else. That was easier to do once we were living in base housing. I am a home body so staying home most of the week didn't bother me. I have a car of my own now and still rarely go anywhere.

I don't think I would be quick to sell your car though. Hold onto it for awhile and see how well having one car works for your family. Worse case scenerio you find it isn't for you and you have the car repaired.
Let us know what you decide and how it goes.

**monkeywrangler71** · 06-01-2007, 03:15 PM

My car broke down in January 2002, we've had one car ever since. At first, we were just putting off getting another one, we both worked in different places and different hours so did a combination of busing, walking, dropping each other off, and picking each other up. It was a PITA but we saved a lot of money. I'm at home full time now. My husband takes the train to work, and for the first while I was getting up in the morning and dropping him at the train station. It was exhausting, and we were planning to buy a second car, when it suddenly dawned on me that I didn't even need it for anything. I don't have anywhere to go during the day, if I just need to get out I go for a walk, I do all my errands on Saturday and save a pile of money on gas and impulse buys, and if I desperately need an ingredient for supper during the week I either walk to the store or I ask him to pick it up on the way home. On the rare occasions that I need the car for an appointment or something, I just drive him in that morning.

I doubt we'll ever go back to being a 2 car family.

**geckoace** · 06-01-2007, 03:34 PM

we did it for a while when DS was a baby and it worked until DH took a job far away and it was too inconvenient to drop him off. now we have 2 beaters and he works closer so when one of them craps out we will be ok to share again ...... plus with gas prices so ridiculous i hardly drive anywhere

**littlemotherhaywood** · 06-01-2007, 04:41 PM

We went down to one car when we relocated. I hate it honestly, but we've managed for almost a year. We just did a lot less and went fewer places. I'm not really walking distance to anything, but dh can bike and walk to work from where we are....not sure once we move as it depends on where we end up. On days that it was cold and I had to work I just got everyone up at six and drove him and then picked him up after I got off. He usually dropped me back home and then went to his second job. The hardest part was balancing stuff like our girl scout meetings and dd's baseball. It meant that I usually had to leave practice or the meeting to go and pick him up and he had to sit through the rest or go home and then come back and get us. I know he's been one tired man after working two jobs and then enduring fifteen girl scouts

I don't know how we'll do it with the baby. Overall though, it hasn't been as horrible as I thought it was going to be.

**PeacewithMyself** · 06-01-2007, 06:06 PM

It's easier for us than some of you. I'm a sahm. We only have 1 car now but it's just H and I. If I need the car during the day for some reason I just take him to work and pick him up afterward. Really it's been so much better w/o the extra car. I have to plan trips and concider my spending. We've saved lots of $$ that way.

**FrugalMomof3** · 06-01-2007, 06:21 PM

We used to have 2 cars and with the insurance costs for both, we decided to go down to one car. It works well for us since I dont work and if one day I need the car I drive him to work. my DH also only works around 6 miles away so it's not much out of the way.

I dont miss NOT having another car, if I need something I can walk to the grocery store, marshalls, radio shack, staples, fashion bug, holiday hair, sally beauty supply, hallmark and even the post office.

**Amanda W** · 06-01-2007, 06:36 PM

We've only had one car for over four years now. I don't mind it at all. I work from home, and DH takes the car to work. We live in the middle of nowhere and I definitely can't walk to the stores, so I just run my errands at night or on the weekends. If a situation arises where I need the car during the day, I take him to work and pick him up. We're planning on going back to two cars at some point, but it's been working well for us so far.

**Emerald_Mommy** · 06-01-2007, 08:23 PM

We have only one vehicle (a 2000 Toyota Sienna - van). Where we live you cannot walk to anything except maybe the Post Office & an ice cream store. It still works because we make it work and I'd say I'm happy with it about 95% of the time. Only every once in awhile does it become very inconvenient for whatever reason.

With the price of gas these days, there's no way we could afford two cars, and that's not even considering insurance, repairs, etc.

**i.m.cheap** · 06-01-2007, 10:43 PM

We have had only one car for ten out of the twelve years we have been married. Even when we both worked full time, we managed with one. We are preparing to move in ten days, and we will be within walking distance of a large grocery store, two hair salons, a Hallmark store, Applebee's, Braums, Taco Bell, Goodwill store, and more! I am very excited about the move, and being so close to a grocery store.

We both have bicycles, too, but DH works too far away to ride his to his full-time job, but he could ride it to the part time one after we get moved.

**Neeley** · 06-02-2007, 12:54 AM

We had only one car for about a half of a second before we realized it did not work for us. First, where we live walking and bike riding does not happen and city transportation is not a safe or smart option. The kids have their activities and everyday we have to be at at least one practice, lesson, or game so our second car is a necessity.

**Dancing Lotus** · 06-02-2007, 09:22 AM

Since you do have one now I would try an experiement. I would park your car in the driveway and lock up the keys or even give them to somebody else to hold for you. Commit to not useing your car no matter what for atlest three months. Seriously act as if you dont have it. If at the end of three months or so you decide you can make do without it then get rid of the car.

**lullaby80** · 06-02-2007, 09:42 AM

Well we decided to give it a shot. The car needs immediate repair so I can't use it until it is fixed anyway. We parked it in the garage and today we're moving DS's car seat in my husband's car which means I couldn't drive my car anyway.

DH has a much nicer and safer car, I got mine from FIL a couple of years back (it's a 1999 Kia) for free so it's not like we're losing money here or anything. I feel so relieved, I've felt guilty of having a second car because we don't really NEED two cars. Our town is full of walk and bike paths and I'm able to walk to the store, library etc. DH tried out his bike today and said he wants to ride it to work on Monday which leaves me the car. The only places I really need to drive to are occasional outings with DS (air and space museum nearby) and taking exams at school. Anyway, thanks for the positive comment, I'm sure this will work more than fine for us. And save a ton of money too!

**SammeyG** · 06-03-2007, 01:04 PM

With us it isn't an option to have just one car. WIth the way that dh and I schudles are they are never the same. Mine changes from one day to the next. I go in anywhere from 7- 10 in the morning and don't get off until anytime between 9-11 at night. That is for working 1 full time job and a part time. Then he goes in anytime in the morning and gets off sometime in the night. So that is why that it is hard for us. Just for the simple fact that i have two jobs so therefor i have to cummte. Now my mother will borrow my car if I have to work both jobs since she does not have one. Which this will be the case this week since that i have to work both jobs all week long.