Living Large Without a Car

At first thought, it seems impossible to live without a car. It would be so hard to get to work, buy groceries, date, and run errands, right? "Not so much", as the kids like to say these days. Truth is, you can live a great life without the expense, hassle and stress of owning a car. For those of you that have many children, use your vehicle for work, or live somewhere out in SUBURBIA, you're off the hook, but keep reading as you may pick up a few tips on how to drive less and stress less when you're driving.

Here are a few reasons why you should lose that fancy ride of yours!

Costs - When was the last time you added up exactly how much money you spend on car and car related items? This is what we call denial..... You’re probably afraid to see those numbers. I assure you, you need to know, and this simple calculation may be the most important math assignment you've ever had.

Get a pen and paper (recycled or reused please) and start adding them up. We're not just talking about car payments, gas and car insurance. There are several other items that may be slipping your mind.

Parking
Tickets
Maintenance
Tolls
Repairs
Car Washes

What did you come up with? In case you are wondering, the average American spends roughly $700 per month to keep their car on the road.

If you fall into this category or any where close, listen up. That $700 could be a mortgage payment on a small place or at least a good chunk of your mortgage :) What would it be like to put $700 per month into a savings account or invest that extra money in the bond or stock markets? Well, I will tell you what it would be like. It would be like having an extra $ 117,882.21 in ten years (6.5% interest rate). I don't know about you but I can think of a few things I could do with 100k, beach house, trip around the world, need I continue.

A Couple More Reasons Why You’re Not to Cool To Be Car Less.

STRESS- Studies show that people say that many of their current stresses stem from driving or owning a car. As if you needed a reminder, here are a few car related stresses that top the list.

TRAFFIC - I got news for you, it's not going to get any better. Population will always rise, meaning more and more cars on the road. And until they start building multi level roads or chitty chitty bang bang cars the road rage will continue.

GAS PRICES - In case you haven't noticed the price of gas is on the rise again. Of course they will lower it a little, just enough so that you feel like you are getting a deal. Before long you will find yourself saying... "Wow, it is only $3.75 per gallon!" Think I'm kidding...? We thought $2.50 was expensive just a few years ago.

HEALTH - Many drivers spend over 2 hours driving to and from work each day. Some of you might be saying "I wish my commute was only an hr each way". I feel for you, I do. It is well reported that the air you breathe inside of your vehicle is much more toxic than the air outside. Besides, without a car you would probably want to get a bike. Riding a bike will build strong, tone leg muscles and have you feeling like a kid again :)

PRODUCTIVITY - When I had a car I would often listen to audio programs on cd, which I felt was some what productive. However, now that my vehicle has two wheels and requires pedaling, I often opt for public transportation like the subway or a taxi. So instead my hands are free and I can concentrate on being very productive. In fact, I'm writing this article on Chicago's famous red line train.

ENVIRONMENT - It should be no surprise to you that cars are extremely hazardous to our environment. The production and eventual disposal of cars can be more hazardous then the many years of its life on the road. Hybrid cars are a great sign for our future, but "no car" is better than a hybrid car any day.

CONVENIENCE - I have to admit getting around without a car was probably harder ten or so years ago before they advent of car sharing, grocery delivery, etc. Peapod offers a very affordable grocery delivery service and is available in many major cities. Companies like Zip Car, Igo, and others provide car sharing services where you can rent a nice, clean, new car for as little as 9 dollars per hour.

When you need a car for certain chores, trips to home depot, or longer drives, just rent a car for a couple hours. It's cheap plus you can try different vehicles, convertible mini coopers, Honda pilots, Toyota prius, and more.

For those of you that are singles and looking to date, rest assured the extra $700 per month you’re saving is good for dinner at a bunch of great restaurants, impromptu gifts, and weekend getaways. Would you rather take a cab to Ruth Chris' or drive your overpriced SUV to Applebee's? (Not a knock on Applebees)

If the opportunity is right, give it a try. If you’re not sure if you would like being without a car, put the keys away for the whole weekend. See what happens!

Tips for Driving a Little Less:

For those of you who love the idea but simply can't because of many kids, location or lack of public transportation, here are a few tips for driving less.

Carpool: Even in you live in the suburbs, odds are one of your neighbors (one, you actually like) probably works close to your office. Ask them if they would like to carpool and rotate who has to drive. You might actually enjoy it and make a new friend.

ORGANIZE AND PLAN AHEAD

Choose one day as your errand day, and try to do all you’re running around in one day. It will cut back on your driving and you will force yourself to be more productive on that day. f you are spending hours in traffic each day, you may want to consider getting a gym membership close to your job. Head straight to the gym after work. Get out some of your "workplace" frustration and let everyone else bang their heads against the steering wheel for 2 hours.

Guess what, a 1 hour workout and a stop at the local smoothie shop and you can hop on the road, and probably get home in 1/2 the time it usually takes. Plus, you will be getting in kick butt shape, which might help in the dating area if you know what I mean.

Get a Bike - You may not be able to get by totally without a car, but you would be surprised how many errands you can tackle with a descent bike and a backpack.

Want to learn more about environmental info, or review environmentally friendly products, visit our site. www.supportgreencompanies.com

If you have any other tips that you would like to share, please post them in our environmental discussion forum.