With the VAT increase in the UK it's coming more and more expensive to run a car, we decided to get rid of one of our cars back in September when we returned from our honeymoon. I'd come out of my responsibility towards the letting business so no longer needed a car on a day to day basis, most of my friends are in the city and easy to get to.
The large grocery orders are delivered and we pop down to the local deli, butchers, fishmongers and green grocers for those requirements as and when. So the reasoning having two cars was diminishing.
Living in the city is expensive for keeping a car, car parking costs, insurance premiums are expensive and there are the standard running costs of having a car, MOT, Road Tax and servicing costs. Before you allow for petrol we worked out the cost of having a car ran to £3200 per year. My partner drove to Liverpool for work so the fuel cost ran to around £70 per week, so that was £3640 per year with VAT prices increasing this figure will go up further and it's been muted that fuel prices will be going upto £1.50 per litre by the summer!, so getting rid of one car frees up a pile of cash. We are heading out overseas for a year out from next week so we are waving farewell to our other car. Our good old faithful Volvo Estate.
When we return to the UK I doubt we will purchase another car, we intend to work in the city where we live and there are decent public transport links for us to use, if we do need a car for a journey to the countryside or for a particular journey we'll rent one I am sure the saving of £6840 per year can allow us to hire a car. In Manchester there is a car scheme where you can rent a car on an hourly basis which is great as you can do this on short notice and for a small rental amount.
Getting rid of our car will aid us in the progress to living our lives to the ethos of the 100itemchallenge.com, this challenge has really assisted us in working out what is important to us and finding out what our own values are and where they sit. We're going greener in an organic way and our attitudes are skirting around a more Buddhist way of life (without shaving our heads, obtaining a tamborine and wearing orange)
I have a Volvo Estate (we call it a Wagon in the US) and it is my faithful friend. I'd have trouble giving up the best car I have ever had. Of course, where I live, a car is necessary (no good public transportation and everything is spread out) so I couldn't give it up even if I wanted to. I applaud you for everything you have done in your 100 Item Challenge. I hope you will continue to blog while overseas.
ReplyDeleteIt's been great, and it's been my forth Volvo I've owned, always loved the look of this particular model... I can tell I am getting old! lol
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