Living Car Free - how much money do you save by being car free?

How much money do you save a year by not having to buy a vehicle when living car free?

How much money do you save a year by not having to buy a vehicle when living car free?

It will vary from individual to individual, based on lifestyle and location.

Average will be somewhere in the $5k range if you have to make payments on a small car. More for a larger car or truck, less for an older used car that you pay cash for. An added bonus would be to take the car payment money and put it in savings. Bikes at Work has an interesting calculator (http://www.bikesatwork.com/carfree/cost-of-car-ownership.html) on their website. Then there is the added benefit, that if you use a bike you get "free" exercise while getting around. When my mileage dropped drastically one year I noticed a huge difference, in my mental attitude as well as my physical conditioning.

Aaron:)

How much money do you save a year by not having to buy a vehicle when living car free?
When doing your calculations, don't forget to deduct travel expenses incurred by other modes, extra time spent traveling by bike, and/or trips/activity not taken because of a lack of available/reliable/suitable transportation. Answers that include a rationale that any activity that can't be reached by bicycle isn't worth doing should be given the appropriate consideration.

Though I'm carlite, I've been able to delay the replacement of my older paid for vehicle, as well as reducing the amount of maintenance it would normally require. With the monetary savings, I can either spend toward my bicycles or whatever I happen to chose. Another savings plus is that bicycle repairs and costs are extremely basic/inexpensive when compared to that of today's motor vehicles.

When doing your calculations, don't forget to deduct travel expenses incurred by other modes, extra time spent traveling by bike, and/or trips/activity not taken because of a lack of available/reliable/suitable transportation. Answers that include a rationale that any activity that can't be reached by bicycle isn't worth doing should be given the appropriate consideration.

I will not consider any activity totally unworthy of my efforts if it is unreachable by bicycle, but what has gained me considerable savings is the fact that since the bicycle requires more planning and effort, I now give more thought on whether the activity is really worth doing, or to possibly consolidate other activities with it.

How much money do you save a year by not having to buy a vehicle when living car free?

I save enough that I can afford to live (and quite well too) on a part-time job. Granted it's not a McJob but a government job with union wages (and a pension), but I'm not allowed to work more than 20 hours a week.

On the other hand, I'm spending a lot on bikes and bike stuff. I just put $700 of dynamo-hubbed wheels and an additional $250 of lights on my main commuting/grocery-getting rig, and I'm looking to build up a nice titanium frame through the winter for a fast ride fun bike.

I save enough that I can afford to live (and quite well too) on a part-time job. Granted it's not a McJob but a government job with union wages (and a pension), but I'm not allowed to work more than 20 hours a week.

On the other hand, I'm spending a lot on bikes and bike stuff. I just put $700 of dynamo-hubbed wheels and an additional $250 of lights on my main commuting/grocery-getting rig, and I'm looking to build up a nice titanium frame through the winter for a fast ride fun bike.

While that might be considered a sizable amount, it would barely cover a lot of car repairs. Every time my F350 truck hits the shop for repairs it seems the bill is measured in $1000 increments:notamused:

I spent about $1000 on bikes last year, and that included several acquisitions, I spent around $4700 on truck repairs (it is used for work). I would have rather spent that $4700 on bikes and parts...:(

Aaron:)

I will not consider any activity totally unworthy of my efforts if it is unreachable by bicycle, but what has gained me considerable savings is the fact that since the bicycle requires more planning and effort, I now give more thought on whether the activity is really worth doing, or to possibly consolidate other activities with it.
Your answers in the last 2 posts make good sense, but do not answer the OP's question since your car lite status provides options (using your car less, but only for those activities "worth doing") for you that are not available at all to the OP or anyone else who has no access to their own motorized transportation.

While that might be considered a sizable amount, it would barely cover a lot of car repairs. Every time my F350 truck hits the shop for repairs it seems the bill is measured in $1000 increments:notamused:

I spent about $1000 on bikes last year, and that included several acquisitions, I spent around $4700 on truck repairs (it is used for work). I would have rather spent that $4700 on bikes and parts...:(

Aaron:)

Other than body repair, non of the vehicles that I've owned has seen the inside of a repair shop. Since my vehicles were only used for transportation, and not for work related activities, I have considerably more downtime available to me if I need it. I have no idea on how much I saved in shop labor costs, but I do have a very nice tool/bike collection to show for it. The best part, after saving my wife a considerable amount of money over the years in vehicle maintenance/repairs, my wife does not give a second thought if I by any new tool(s)

Your answers in the last 2 posts make good sense, but do not answer the OP's question since your car lite status provides options (using your car less, but only for those activities "worth doing") for you that are not available at all to the OP or anyone else who has no access to their own motorized transportation.


I've toyed with the thought of a car free life. Since I live in a rural setting, able to buy an inexpensive vehicle, do maintenance repairs myself; being carfree would be a wash monetarily and only add more time/effort getting to distant activities. Someone living in a denser metropolitan setting with better mass transit, or with very limited mechanical skills would probably accrue much more savings being carfree than I would.

It will vary from individual to individual, based on lifestyle and location.

Average will be somewhere in the $5k range if you have to make payments on a small car.


And... lest we forget... this $5k average is with after tax dollars. Depending on your tax bracket, you may need to earn $7K on your marginal tax rate(in the US... more in Canada) to pay for it.

The way I look at it, if I'm paying a marginal rate of 35%, every dollar I don't spend could be $1.35 that I don't need to earn.

Someone living in a denser metropolitan setting with better mass transit, or with very limited mechanical skills would probably accrue much more savings being carfree than I would.

I'm good at fixing bikes, but I have neither tools nor skills for any auto repair besides an oil change.

I spend a pittance on bike transportation - something like $100 to $200 per year. If I bought a car it would be an inexpensive one, but I suspect that if I paid for insurance & repairs, plus replacing the car every time it became "broken and not worth fixing" I'd be spending something like $2000 per year, more if I used it often.

Check out what consumer reports has to say:
http://www.consumerreports.org/cro/cars/car-prices/what-that-car-really-costs-to-own-4-08/overview/what-that-car-really-costs-to-own-ov.htm

A lot of what the Consumer Reports car people say assumes that you are buying new, or at least buying a car made in the last 4 years. They calculate depreciation as a very high cost and repairs as a small cost, but the situation is reversed for old cars. Fuel comes out as a big factor, which makes sense for their audience but not as much for car-lite folks.

I have the skills and the tools to do anything that a car, truck or tractor could require in terms of repairs. I seldom have the time:o

I was ASE certified in several disciplines at one time, but have since let them lapse.

In my current job I make enough to pay someone else to repair things that I don't have the time nor inclination to do. I even pay to have bike wheels built every now and again when I really get pressed for time.:innocent: Believe me I would love to not have to shell out the dollars. I do as much vehicle light as I reasonably can, but my job won't allow vehicle free.

Aaron:)

When I last owned a car, I paid $30 a month for PLPD, about $15 every 3-4 months for oil changes, the same twice a year for plugs, and anywhere from $40-$70 a month for gas.

$360 + $45 + $30 + $600 = $1035 for a year's operating expenses; this doesn't count brake jobs, etc. I paid cash for that car, there were no car payments.

I've been car-free for 5 years now, had two bikes in that time, total investment of about $3400.

$1035 x 5 = $5175.

I've saved enough in that time to build a twin for the bike I have now -- but the frame is discontinued. So I'll just do a couple little upgrades, build the SS, and get some toys.

I figure my present bike will go at least 4 more years, so the savings will keep adding up.

How much money do you save a year by not having to buy a vehicle when living car free?

I can't estimate how much is saved because it no longer matters. When you become car free, your bank account starts to increase to a point where you no longer pinch pennies. I live a minimal life with no kids or huge house so my saving is in the hundreds each month.

A more important question is not what you save but what are you going to do with your savings that will make the difference in your life. I found that owning a car forced me to spend my savings on motor transport. This form of spending felt worthless.

There are many things to consider that are often over-looked and depend entirely on how you budget you finances. There are the following sources of drain on you finances when you buy a car: the depreciation of the car's value, repair, maintenance, gas, tolls, parking, excise tax, registration fees, any upgrades or accessories (radio, Lo-Jack, OnStar, Tom-Tom, etc.), insurance. There's also a drag on savings where you need to have savings immediately available to finance repairs, keeping you from being able to tuck the money away into a high yield IRA or CD, if you use a credit card to finance repairs, the financial burden is exceedingly greater! Another factor is the age of a car and the climate it's driven in, new cars depreciate in value faster than old cars, old cars need more repairs than new cars, winter climates are more hard on cars than dry and/or salt free climates, it's much more expensive to insure a car in a city than in the country... the list of variables goes on. Living car free also forces upon you a more healthy lifestyle, therefore there is a high probability of lower medical costs down the road.

In my own experience, we have about $5,000 in extra finances per year thanks to living car free (which seems to be the consensus amount). However, we take that $5,000 and dump it into a Roth-IRA, so with the tax-free interest earned on the IRA, the total amount gained by living car free is much higher.

In my experience, living car free has also encouraged a more efficient life-style in general (some a direct consequence of it being harder to go out and just shop around, so you REALLY have to want something to go get it, and some just from the fact that those who enjoy being car-free are also likely to enjoy efficient living). Through the subsequent transition to more efficient living, we have saved another $5,000 per year, for a whopping $10,000 per year, which equates to an annual maxed out Roth-IRA contribution each year on just the savings alone.

Our savings went from $50-$70 per month, to $300-$500 (depending on purchases.) The direct savings per month came to about $240-$280 for two used cars (90 Caprice, 98 Lumina.) Biggest savings was from gas. Indirect savings comes from less frivolous runs to eat out, get coffee, or visit random retailers.
Both cars required about $300 a year for the four years we owned them, for repairs.

We've been car free about a year now, car light for a few months prior to that. We go out for "fun" things just as much, but trips have become less purchase orientated (sucks hauling stuff home) and more experience related. It's been fairly easy with two kids, the hardest part is the extra prep time which adds about 5-10 mins of putting on layers and sorting the trailers out.

There's only been a few times a car would of been a major help, but we used alternate transportation and it worked perfectly. One was a funeral, another was a hospital trip, and the last was bringing home furniture. Taxis took care of the first, and renting a truck for $30 the last.

When doing your calculations, don't forget to deduct travel expenses incurred by other modes, extra time spent traveling by bike, and/or trips/activity not taken because of a lack of available/reliable/suitable transportation. Answers that include a rationale that any activity that can't be reached by bicycle isn't worth doing should be given the appropriate consideration.

By this rationale, i must also add a dollar value for the increased utility and enjoyment of life that being carfree gives me. For example, going to the supermarket is not only a drudgery, it is also two pleasant bike rides--there and back. And I experience much greater enjoyment of the food I bought, after clean exercise in the outdoors. I also have a sense of accomplishment that has a dollar value when you consider how much more I would have to spend on hobbies if i didn't do every day cycling.

I think the bill for pot, booze, tranquilizers and antidepressants is also lower for those of us who are carfree cyclists! (Actually i don't spend money on any of those things, which i attribute partly to my low stress carfree lifestyle.)

:)

[QUOTE=slipknot0129;10168259]How much money do you save a year by not having to buy a vehicle when living car free?[

Recent report states 10 to 12K a year in Canada.

I think the bill for pot, booze, tranquilizers and antidepressants is also lower for those of us who are carfree cyclists!
Interesting theory; my guess is that for that theory to be true you would have to be very selective in choosing your carfee comrades.

Interesting theory; my guess is that for that theory to be true you would have to be very selective in choosing your carfee comrades.

why do you want to toss out the mtb crowd? :p

why do you want to toss out the mtb crowd? :p
Don't forget 'bout the car free FG hipster, economically depressed or DWI transportation crowd. But I suppose Roody doesn't count them as being one of "us." Ya think?

[QUOTE=slipknot0129;10168259]How much money do you save a year by not having to buy a vehicle when living car free?[

Recent report states 10 to 12K a year in Canada.

That's amazing! I just checked CAA (Canadian version of AAA) and they estimate $7-9K. These estimates based on owning a smaller Chevy Cobalt of a mini van. When I visited Newfoundland last year, where gas was over $1 a litre, I saw a number of oil types chugging along in Hummers. I'd guess those guys are paying a lot more.

Don't forget 'bout the car free FG hipster, economically depressed or DWI transportation crowd. But I suppose Roody doesn't count them as being one of "us." Ya think?
I'm not excluding anybody. (Look up "projection" in a psychology text and ponder on your own obsession of putting everybody into a category.)

In fact, two of my favorite riding companions fall into all three of your silly categories of economically depressed and DWI and fixster. They're up for anything, but sometimes we have to slow down for a sec while they light up another blunt.

I save roughly $450 a month not including repairs .

(Look up "projection" in a psychology text and ponder on your own obsession of putting everybody into a category.)

Sure, good idea, and I think this Roody Brand pronouncement would be a textbook example: "I think the bill for pot, booze, tranquilizers and antidepressants is also lower for those of us who are carfree cyclists! (Actually i don't spend money on any of those things, which i attribute partly to my low stress carfree lifestyle.)"

What was your method for extrapolating from your personal"low stress carfree lifestyle" experience to the drug/booze habits and expenditures of "us who are carfree cyclists" ?

It certainly appears that you are quite exclusive in whom you consider "us who are carfree cyclists".

The 2000 Mustang I totaled over 2 years ago cost me: $175 per/month to 'own', $232 per/month to insure, about $100 per/month fuel, and over the few years I had it another ~$2500 in go fast parts. Then 'down sized' to a $950, '90 Volvo wagon at $35 insurance a month and ~$100 per/month gas and oil changes. Then after driving that everywhere for 2 years, got into biking every where. Now I put about less then $40 per/month in fuel in it, still pay the $35 insurance and if I keep up the biking through winter, I don't know if I'll keep it. Though I love a road trip or two every year, though I might as well rent a car or bike road trip to save me the headache of an OLD car that might die at any time.

So over $500 per month from the Mustang days, and about nothing really over the Volvo, seeing as how I'm still buying things for biking. Like in the next week I'll be buying an Xtracycle to put on the Trek 4300.

The bottom line is, I'm in FAR better shape then a few years ago, I have more (and better) friends, and I'm FAR happier. Thats priceless!!!

Oh yeah, sorry, I'm not completely car free..... yet!

Sure, good idea, and I think this Roody Brand pronouncement would be a textbook example: "I think the bill for pot, booze, tranquilizers and antidepressants is also lower for those of us who are carfree cyclists! (Actually i don't spend money on any of those things, which i attribute partly to my low stress carfree lifestyle.)"

What was your method for extrapolating from your personal"low stress carfree lifestyle" experience to the drug/booze habits and expenditures of "us who are carfree cyclists" ?

It certainly appears that you are quite exclusive in whom you consider "us who are carfree cyclists".

I was just making the point that besides saving you a lot of money, a carfree life can give you much of positive value. Like fun, adventure, low stress and a way to beat the drug and alcohol trap. I don't think that's a controversial viewpoint on a forum like this, and I wasn't trying to include or exclude anybody, or start an argument. But I guess I didn't explain it well, as you obviously misunderstood me. Sorry...I'l try to be more clear in the future. :)

I was just making the point that besides saving you a lot of money, a carfree life can give you much of positive value. Like fun, adventure, low stress and a way to beat the drug and alcohol trap. I don't think that's a controversial viewpoint on a forum like this, and I wasn't trying to include or exclude anybody, or start an argument. But I guess I didn't explain it well, as you obviously misunderstood me. Sorry...I'l try to be more clear in the future. :)

The fun, adventure, and low stress part maybe be a little hard to swallow at times, especially when one's life is dictated by mass transit schedules, delivery times, and limited carrying capacity. Though my daily bicycling is a definite help on how I deal with stress at home and at the workplace.

I was reading a few blogs and articles about cars and parking. In some areas you would have to factor in the cost of parking if you have to pay to park for work or shopping. There are many, many hidden costs for a car you don't realize and they can be difficult to quantify.

Aaron:)

I've been doing the numbers for a while because I've been thinking about selling my car. My car is paid for and I'm also car-lite. However, the costs are still significant.

Per month: Insurance - $75, Gas - $40, Maintenance - $20. So the total is somewhere between $100 - $150 with minimal maintenance and without counting depreciation.

It will vary from individual to individual, based on lifestyle and location.

Average will be somewhere in the $5k range if you have to make payments on a small car. More for a larger car or truck, less for an older used car that you pay cash for. An added bonus would be to take the car payment money and put it in savings. Bikes at Work has an interesting calculator (http://www.bikesatwork.com/carfree/cost-of-car-ownership.html) on their website. Then there is the added benefit, that if you use a bike you get "free" exercise while getting around. When my mileage dropped drastically one year I noticed a huge difference, in my mental attitude as well as my physical conditioning.

Aaron:)

I worked out the numbers for our previous car, and it was about $2K / year, but it was an '89 Volvo and I did many of my own repairs (without including opportunity costs). Probably another ~$500/year if I had paid for them + oil changes, etc.

I worked out the numbers for our previous car, and it was about $2K / year, but it was an '89 Volvo and I did many of my own repairs (without including opportunity costs). Probably another ~$500/year if I had paid for them + oil changes, etc.

Like I do on every thread about how much is saved by going carfree, I will point out that the experiences of people on this forum are not typical. Most people here were already carlight, doing their own repairs, and/or driving an older paid-for car before they became carfree. So in most cases, their savings were lower than those of the average person. All of the pro-car groups (like AAA and Consumer Reports) agree on the $5K to $6K range.

I was car free for approximately one year about three years ago.

I saved $7000.

I had a scooter.

It is very dangerous to ride a bicycle, motorcycle or scooter in SFlorida. I do it as I said on another thread because I am ticket prone. Im hoping to get out of this car soon. Actually, I would love just to tell them to come and get it. I simply care not to drive a car anymore. Im in a relationship so the car is great for me picking my lover up and for attending classes which are about 50 miles away. However, the car is used for home, school, lover and work.

Today I rode an old Schwinn Sprint '80 to work. 8.5 miles. What a mule. LOL!

Like I do on every thread about how much is saved by going carfree, I will point out that the experiences of people on this forum are not typical. Most people here were already carlight, doing their own repairs, and/or driving an older paid-for car before they became carfree. So in most cases, their savings were lower than those of the average person. All of the pro-car groups (like AAA and Consumer Reports) agree on the $5K to $6K range.

True, true, except in my case I wasn't really car-lite before I was car-free (before I became car-lite again).

On the other hand, most people who get their new car every three years and try not to think about how much gas they buy -- the ones at the other end of the spectrum -- aren't typically the ones who are going to give the car up.

Incidentally, the cost of our current car is probably closer to your number, but this is Denmark.

Let's see...

'93 Opel we've owned for two years:

Purchase price, $4000. Could probably sell for $2000 now.
Gas is outrageously expensive, let's say 500km/month => $100/month
Plus $500 green tax per year (come to think of it, maybe 6 months...I'll have to check)
Plus a new radiator and gas tank (done by myself) => $400
Insurance isn't too bad, $50/month

Egads, that's $3500 per year + whatever I forgot. I could see it being $4000 in all.