How to Survive Without a Car

I started going without a car about 15 years ago and have been doing so off and on ever since. Even back then, the savings were close to $500.00 a month, counting my car payment, insurance, gas, maintenance and parking in a downtown area. Now, I am sure the current savings are closer to $900.00 a month. I usually treat myself every few months and rent a very nice car for recreation travel. By the time I return the car I am ready to give up the hassle with traffic, parking, etc.

I get my groceries and large items delivered. The first question everyone asks me is "Don't you have to pay for that?" Well, of course you pay a delivery fee; it is usually $5 to $10 and well worth it! You don't have to buy gas, fight traffic in or out of the store and don't even have to carry your groceries from your car to the front door. I order on-line and I can change my order right up until the morning I have them delivered. I absolutely love it. What a time saver!

Public transportation can be a blessing and/or a curse. The Internet has made it very easy to look for schedules, maps and fares, etc. Here are some things you need to check out when you are looking into using public transportation:

Train or Bus Schedules:
Usually schedules run about every 15 minutes, or ½ an hour or once an hour.

Some of the routes are only for rush hour commutes and do not run at any other time.
Some of the schedules may only run on weekdays.

Also check to make sure your bus/train runs late enough for your return trip back.

Some of the routes also travel on weekends and some do not.
Make sure you check if there is a schedule difference on the weekend route.

The 1^st thing I did when starting out was I always had taxi money and their phone number with me just in case, until I learned how to ride. Once you figure out a few routes, you will see that there really are methods and patterns to how it all runs and it really is easy to figure out after you have done it a few times. It is a little intimidating your 1^st time out, but it's like anything, with practice it gets easier. And believe it or not, but taking public transportation is a huge time saver once you get good at it. It is also a great excuse to get out of work or away from a chatty coworker, "Oh, I've got to run, my train is coming". I also enjoy getting "my outdoor time in" and my walking which is good for me. While I am riding on a bus or train I can read or daydream, text, play on my laptop, etc.

While it is not for everybody, in some instances it is actually a great experience to go without a car. It saves money for monthly costs and cuts down on those impulse trips. It has calmed me down a lot also; I am no longer obsessed with running here or there all the time. I recommend people try it and see where it leads them.