Every Monday I post Real Life Minimalists, a profile of one of my readers in their own words. If you’d like to participate, click here for details.
I’m so happy to share this contribution from A Minimalist in the Making, who’s embracing a wonderful challenge: going car-free!
A Minimalist in the Making writes:
I wouldn’t call myself a minimalist, exactly. If you saw where I live, minimalism is probably not the first word that would come to mind. Cosy, comfortable maybe…but not minimalist.
But lately, an idea has been taking shape in my head. An idea that some people think is a little extreme: I’m thinking of selling my car and not replacing it with another one. You might think, “So what? A lot of people get around without a car.” And I’d agree with you. But I live in a city that is dogged by transport problems. I live in the outer suburbs of Melbourne, Australia, where the population is growing faster than the infrastructure to support it can be built. Yet, I feel that it is improving. Trains and buses are more frequent than they used to be and, after looking at timetables online, I realised that taking public transport to work is actually feasible. I’d only have to get up in the mornings half an hour earlier than I currently do. Ten years ago, I would have had to get up two hours earlier, due to infrequent and poor connections between transport.
So, I’ve set myself a challenge. To live for at least a year without my own car. I live with my sister, so if I really, really need a car, I can borrow hers but I will try not to use it too often.
People have been trying to talk me out of it, from those with vested interest (my mechanic) to those without (my medical specialist).
I came up with a list of pros and cons. There were a lot of reasons not to get rid of my car, but a lot of them were trivial and were about convenience. The reasons for getting rid of my car, although there were only a few, seemed to me, more compelling: I will save a lot of money. Not just hundreds of dollars but thousands. Money I won’t be spending on insurance, registration, repairs, maintenance, parking, tolls and fuel. I estimate that I spend roughly at least $3,000 a year on car-related costs. I looked at how much a yearly public transport ticket costs to get me to work and other places in my zone: $1114. That’s less than what I spent on car-related costs in the month of April.
But there are more than just monetary reasons to stop driving and start walking to the station: I will have a lower carbon footprint, something I feel strongly about but that I have felt powerless to improve in the past. Also, I will be getting more exercise, which will be good for my health. When I pointed this out to my medical specialist, she admitted I was right.
I’m actually looking forward to being able to read books and check my emails on the way to and from work.
I know this endeavour won’t be a bed of roses, but I have to try it while I still feel enthusiasm for it. After all, it’s much easier to do something when it’s your own choice rather than something forced on you by circumstance.
Wish me luck!
{If you’d like to learn more about minimalist living, please consider reading my book, The Joy of Less, A Minimalist Living Guide, or joining my email list.}
So great to hear from a fellow Aussie, I feel your pain the public transport in Perth is quite woeful! I’m very impressed with your decision, something I have contemplated but am not yet ready for. Best of luck
Good luck! I am car-light, meaning that I moved to a walkable city and only use my car for trips that are greater than 2 miles. The public transportation here is improving, but not yet practical for longer distances.
I’m in my late 40s and have never owned a car despite being well able to afford one. On the rare occasions I ride in a car I feel quite uncomfortable. I walk, cycle and use public transport. As a result I’m as fit as I was in my 20s.
Don’t look back. Cars are _so_ 20th century.
It sounds like you’ll save a lot of money AND get caught up on your reading. I wish you the best of luck!
Wow, good for you. Keep us posted as to how it goes. You may want to read a website called Catherine Elizabeth Gordon who gave up her car some months ago and so far has not regretted it. She lives in the UK so her experience won’t be quite the same as yours. For various reasons I cannot yet give up my car, but we have got our mileage down to 4,000 miles pa which I am pleased about. We also have a low-emission small car. Anyway, there are very few decisions that are forever, and you could change your mind if you so wished. Good luck!
I grew up without a family car and we did fine, and that was before online grocery shopping!
Best of luck!
You are doing something I’d love to do. We live in an area where public transportation will never be a good alternative. Therefore, really looking at relocating where foot traffic is used most days and a rental here and there.
You are inspiring!
Hi , I do share my husband’s car but decided not to own one myself. My situation is different from yours but here are my suggestions for what they’re worth.
1. I joined a local car club. If my hubby’s using his car I have access to one if necessary. Since I live on the outskirts of my city I have to take a bus to get to the car but it’s still useful, plus they have vans if I want to transport something large. 2. I get taxis from time to time. This still costs a lot less than car ownership. I had to ask around to find a company that always has cars in my part of town but they do exist and they have a booking app too. 3. I use services such as a hairdresser, gym, etc that are on the bus route. The whole arrangement is less stressful than owning a second car, and cheaper too.
We live near Chicago. For years my husband took a train to work. We have one car. He takes the bus to some of his doctor appointments. We combine errands. For example, today I went to the dentist, who is a 45 minute car ride away. On the way home, I stopped at a thrift store which is not worth a special trip. I get all my clothes and hobby supplies free or second hand. We were able to retire when I was 53 and DH was 55. Our youngest had just finished college. We all make different choices.
Because of the Covid 19 lockdown, the air and water are cleaner. I told a young friend that when I was a child in the 1950’s, we would walk to the grocery store. The paper towels didn’t come on a roll, and garbage went out in paper bags. We had one TV that had no remote and got 3 channels. Ice cream came in little paper cups with flat wooden spoons.Straws were made of paper. No one had a big closet like now. If you were lucky, you had your own dresser and a small closet or half a big closet. No one had a walk in closet. Not even if your dad was a doctor or a lawyer. Everyone either wore hand me downs or handed clothes down. No one had a huge garage full of junk. No kids had as many toys as now.