We are having to reorganize our buget to get ready for the winter heating bills; found out that my part-time job hours are being cut in half starting in October :( I work at a museum on the weekends and we are not-for-profit. Due to a cut in funding, they just cannot afford to keep going at the staffing level.
So we will probably have to sell my vehicle. The only problem is that my husband works out of state, so he leaves at 7 am and is not home until normally 9 or 10 pm... I would be able to use his truck on weekends to get to work and the grocery store etc. My concern is having to rely on other people or public transportation for doctor/dentist appointments etc. Also feeling like I am going to have a very very long winter trapped in the house every day with no car.
If you are a two or more driver household working with one car, could you please voice an opinion or let me know how you handle it? I am also a bit nervous that my hubby will still want to do stuff with the boys on the weekends; that will mean dropping me off at work and not sure he will be prompt about picking me up, lol. At least it will only be a few shifts per month.
My vehicle is paid in full so we have the free/clear title to sell it ASAP; just had it inspected (annual requirement in PA) and registered... that means a bit less car insurance every month. We are hoping to get enough money out of it to buy wood pellets and fill the oil tank for dual heating; and to have a bit to put aside for mortgage payments because my hubby's work slows down in the winter and with my hours being cut we are so nervous. Gosh, it seems like each time I cut the budget and we think we can stay in our home a few more months, something else happens :(
Love to hear how you function with one car at your house, please, if you feel like sharing here with me. Hugs,
Shel
1|1|Shel, we are a one car family...|sunriver|sunriver@gmail.com|13:40:35|09/14/2010|
It's a little different though because we live in a small town. We have bus service monday through friday 6 am to 630 pm.
Sharing a car poses some challenges, but as long as you can mostly be thinking ahead for any obstacles it can surely work out well. Like for example to avoid cabin fever this winter, I would suggest you get into a habit of walking or taking the bus every few days on a small outing somewhere. Whether it be the library, an errand, or the dr appointment, just having some sort of an outing to look forward to will help a lot. Especially with the boys because I know how the G monster can get when we are cooped up. :0) Having a sense of humor is pretty crucial too.
We've been a one car family almost as long as we've been a family. It works for us.
Talk to your DH about your concerns about having to wait for him to pick you up. Communication will make you or break you when you are car sharing. Talk everything out regarding the car beforehand so it is all set in both of your minds.
I think once you adjust to it you might find that you are actually even happier.
Let me know how it is going for you throughout the winter! V.
2|2|Thanks Vanessa :)|couponshelmd|couponshel@comcast.net|13:51:22|09/14/2010|
Posted on Sep-14-10 at 01:51 PM (Eastern) by 174.54.82.253
That was definitely good to read, liked the tips, too. Yes, the boys will be crazy this winter... we live within walking distance of a bus stop so I do plan to get them out and about this week to try to see how they act :) I have my dad who promised to help if we have a sickness appointment, etc. If it is a wellness appointment/dentist, my sister has off every other Thursday and told me to schedule around her and she will drive us.
In my mind, it will be a temporary sacrifice because the boys start Kindergarten next Fall; they will not be bused, so I will need to get a car before then to be sure I can get them back and forth (we are 1/2 day here). However, we definitely will buy a "cheap car" when we get to that point, we are selling a fairly nice but "old" SUV that should sell at this time of year... I hope!!! We didn't pay a lot for it because it needed work (my hubby is a mechanic) so we are hoping to come out ahead of what we spent to use for heating costs. I realize that might sound silly to some people but it costs us about $400 a month to heat our house plus we are going down in earnings.
Again thanks!
Shel