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Spinning off the Miserable Thread...
A few years ago, I decided to buy a house. The big factor in homebuying was buying a place I wouldn't need a car to live in -- there are lots of gorgeous small towns close to me, but I couldn't afford both a car and a house, and a house seemed to make more sense.
Over time, this initial economic decision has become a practical one, and an environmental/life values one. I live in a pretty conservative part of the country, though, and this decision gets me a lot of raised eyebrows. Hell on dating, too -- most women won't even look at a man in his thirties who doesn't own a car. (Not that this isn't vice-versa, too, but I haven't been in a position to find out).
Public transit is total shit in this city, so I spend a lot of time on my bike and a lot of time on foot, but that works out better in the long run -- I have friends who own a car so they can save time, and use the time they save to get expensive gym memberships so they can exercise. I'm just eliminating the middle man, really.
According to Maclean's Magazine (Sept. 25/06) quoting Lenard Segnitz, not owning a car saves the average Canadian about $7,000 a year. You can see the true cost of car ownership (requires a U.S. Zip code, I use Hell, Michigan: 48169) at edmunds.com, and just plugging in the numbers for a used 2002 Toyota Camry (a friend owns one), I came up with $31,000 over five years.
That includes depreciation, financing, insurance, taxes, insurance, taxes & fees, maintenance, and repairs.
That's $6,000+ per year.
And gas keeps going up. As does insurance.
There's a UK calculator here, but it's not nearly as automated as the Edmunds one.
Being looked at as a kind of freak is obviously a bit tricky at times -- even my friends that respect the decision still think it's a bit strange. But it's become more than a simple financial or even environmental concern... "non-car-owner" is now part of Who I Am to a considerable extent, and barring a major lifestyle change (like becoming a parent*, or a pizza delivery man) I don't think I'm ever going to get one.
In 2005, not owning a car paid for a trip to Europe. This year, it paid for a new roof. Next year, it'll pay off my new bike and probably some new windows on the front of the house.
Any other non-car-owners in the crowd? Anyone considering ditching the motor and getting with the pedal-power crowd? The cost calculator at Edumunds makes a pretty convincing case for two wheels good.
*Not that being a parent REQUIRES a car, but in a one-bus-every-hour city like mine, I can't imagine it being very possible to stay sane without one. |
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