I've seen the reports about the average annual cost of car ownership (last one was something like $8400!), and generally disregard them, as I don't buy new/near new, and never have. But even if MY annual car costs were less than a THIRD of that, I'm saving money BIG-TIME.

A couple months ago, I spent about $600 on bike stuff for mine (another $400 for my daughter's new bike), and that would get 'paid for' in 8 months of not buying gas ALONE. What I bought will last longer than that, easily.

I don't necessarily have more money in my pocket; what I DO have is a budget that's not constantly in the red.