Every once in a while this question is posted in BF and I'm always amazed at the posters who claim no savings at all. This thread at least seems to have quite a few of us who have seen substantial savings.

About 15 years ago my wife and I had bought a new home and deliberately bought near a bike path that would take us right into Boston past both places where we work. We'd shared one car for several years already and saw no need to get a second car. But the following year we managed to save up 20 grand from some extra jobs and considered plucking it down on a second car "for the convenience".

Well, we quickly rethought and decided to look for some land in the country for a second home. We lucked out and found 4 acres surrounded by 18000 acres of state forest with an old abandoned farm house on it. We got it for the 20 grand. I fixed up the old house over time in part with savings from biking every where. Eventually we even timber framed a new barn/studio with 140 of our friends doing a traditional barn raising. I often do the 136 mile ride from Boston or back on my bike and my commute into town is a twelve mile dirt road ramble where I am far more likely to see a bear or a coyote than a car.

Do I regret not buying that second car? NEVER!