Daniel and I have been sharing a car for five months. I wrote about my initial experience with only having one car here, and I figured now was as good of a time as any to share an update about how it's been working.
It's amazing to look back and see how fast the time has gone. Five months ago seems like just yesterday. I don't really think about the fact that we only have one car now—it's just the way it is. It's become second nature. We go to the gym in the mornings, go to work together (we both work fairly close), and then go home in the evenings. If one of us has plans, no big deal. We make it happen.
The biggest change we've seen is the amount of money we've saved. We considered buying a small SUV shortly after selling our other SUV, but it didn't pan out and we've been thankful that it didn't work. It's so easy to only have one vehicle—it's one car to fill up, one car to maintain, one car to park in the garage, and one car that keeps us so close together.
Sharing a car has taught me a lot about the kind of person I am and the kind of person I want to be. If you know me, you know I'm not a very patient person. Having one car is teaching me patience. Notice I said "teaching"—obviously I haven't mastered patience yet, but I certainly have gotten a lot better. Sharing a car has taught me about compromise. I can't always do every single little thing that I want to do because there simply isn't time for it. And that's so good, because this one-car situation has taught me to simplify. Patience, compromise, simplification—we love sharing a car.
At the moment, we have no plans to purchase another vehicle in the near future. As I'm going to Basic Training soon, there won't be a need to have a second car gathering dust in the garage while I'm away for training. We are enjoying the financial benefits of just having one-car at the moment too much to consider a second one. I assume that when kiddos come along, sure—things will change—but until then, we are a happy one-car family. See? Simple.
16 comments:
Michael and I had one car for a long time. You CAN make it work and the benefits are pretty great. :)
When do you leave for Basic Training? You must be so excited!
How long did you guys share? What was the turning point that put you in two cars? Hope you don't mind me prying... I'm very interested!
I leave this spring. Just a couple months to go!
Even you you have kids you can make one car work as well...my hubby and I did that for all of 2013 - and we've got 2 children...sometimes it takes a little extra planning - but not once did I really "miss" having the other car
My parents (and all kids who were at home--currently only 4) have shared a car for 9 years--but where they live, there's a bus system, which means that it is possible to get where you need to go even if the car wasn't available. My husband and I are moving this summer and we're going to give having no car a go, though we'll probably end up with buying 1--definitely not 2, though. We've been having so much car maintenance trouble lately that I'm looking forward to not being responsible for one!
We shared a car the first couple months of our marriage because mine was broken. It was very hard because we both have completely opposite schedules that conflict with the other so it didn't work out too well. However if it was possible having one less monthly pmt would be so helpful!!!!
That definitely has been the benefit. I couldn't imagine trying to make it work if our schedules didn't line up!
/ / Annelise Rowe
www.auniesauce.com
Good for you! The idea of going everywhere by bus sounds fun. And good luck with no car! You'll have to let me know how it goes.
/ / Annelise Rowe
www.auniesauce.com
Thank you so much... How encouraging! I know what you mean. I've not ever missed having that second car. Hopefully we can make it that long!!
/ / Annelise Rowe
www.auniesauce.com
Great job Aunie and Daniel~
We share a car also. I work primarily from home, and can arrange my schedule around his meetings. If I need the car I just take him to the office! The Honda CRV will be paid off in less than a year. Maybe then. Or maybe not. I'd like to live without a car payment for a while afterwards!
That would be wonderful. Oh, a world without car payments. We will be there soon as well. Can't wait for it!! And after that? We will NEVER finance a car again. I can't wait to continue building a strong financial future. It's fun to WORK for everything you have, you know? It's hard, but it's so worth it. We value all of it.
Love you, Aunt Linda!!
I am incredibly jealous of your one car situation! My husband and I work in two opposite directions, my commute takes me 25 miles from our home, and mass transit is not an option for him. We had one car when we lived overseas for a few years and it was absolutely wonderful! I hope to follow in your footsteps and return to being a one car couple one day!
Love your blog, btw! You always keep it real.
My husband and I share a car too, and it's great. Right now, my husband is in Airman Leadership School (req'd for AD before they sew on SSgt) so our schedules are a little scattered, but we both work in the same office and our shop leadership has been awesome as far as being flexible with our situation. It can be challenging at times, but yes, the money saved is so well worth it. :) Plus I guess it forced me to expand my horizons. Until we had to share the car, I refused to learn how to drive since they drive on the left side of the road in Japan. So, so scary at first!
I am so glad it is working so well for you guys!
xx Kelly
Sparkles and Shoes
When my husband and I first moved in together we shared a car for that first year and it wasn't that bad! It takes some planning and patience, but it is great to save money, isn't it?!
We shared for almost 2 years. The reason we actually got a second car, was because our jobs ended up being in separate directions and we were spending more on gas, than we were saving. Once we got the second car, which might I add is small and was 7 years old with low mileage, we ended up saving money, or almost breaking even.
You'll know once it's time to get the second car again. Maybe that time will never come for you! :)
So glad that's working out for you guys! My husband and I work at different times and across the world from each other so it would never work. :( Plus, on the weekends he still works and I have stuff all over the city. Too bad, though, because I would LOVE to save on car insurance and gas. And 1 car note? That sounds dreamy!
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