Things are looking pretty grim for car owners in the United Kingdom these days and it is no surprise that recent surveys reveal that more people than ever are considering, if they have not already done so, that simply dumping the car is the best idea all round.
The rising price of fuel of course is behind it; who would have thought that drivers would soon be paying over £1.50 for a litre? yet this is the situation in many locations. And if you purchase fuel from a garage in one of those isolated spots then you could be paying even more for the privilege. So, who needs it these days when most of us are battling just to pay the everyday bills and even hang onto the house!
Abandoning the car, even selling it, is not such a crazy idea. Even if you loathe the idea of public transport the cost of catching the bus or train now is far cheaper than running the car. And walking…yep, that costs nothing bar extra wear and tear on your shoes. But consider the benefits – the weightloss, a healthier heart and lower bloodpressure. No more bothering about that annual car insurance quote or paying parking fines and congestion charges.
And if more people take up this option getting a bike and riding it to work would be an even more practical idea seeing as there would be fewer cars on the road with over-stressed drivers to cut you off or knock you down at the lights. Maybe the cyclists can reclaim the routes again!
I actually did such a thing back in Australia some twelve years back and, even though I missed the instant convenience of having a car at first, I soon got into the stride of catching the bus to the shops – no more fighting for car parking spaces which was a boon during the very hot Xmas period. And rediscovering my legs through walking the short distances I would have previously driven – I don’t know why I ever bothered with the car. The family got used to it and boy did we save some money.
Copyright © 2007-2011 by Mums Finance. All rights reserved.Popularity: 14% [?]
Related Articles
2 users responded in this post
I recently got rid of my car (a toyota 4×4) in favour of a smaller more efficient car. I didnt really want to I loved my 4×4 but it was an economic decision. The thing that puzzles me is is the fact that on the news they say there is not a shortage of oil, but the prices keep going up. why. this doesnt make sense to me
Hi Gary,
I too do not buy this ‘shortage of oil’ rubbish – George W is bankrolling this war in order to ensure that such a thing never happens – has nothing to do with terrorism in my opinion. There is plenty of oil and always will be; the tanker drivers right now are simply not getting it from the refineries to the garages. Those who set these prices remain a faceless and unaccountable lot – something which should be corrected.
I think it is so wrong that when a man works his fingers to the bone he cannot reap the benefits of his own hard work.
Then again this Labor Govt are dead set against the ordinary working man having anything or getting ahead – they are managing to wipe out any working or middle class just as Stalin did. The rich stay rich and more people just get poorer. And it is the latter that the Govt wants to achieve; make it impossible to own a car, own a house, pay your bills, just get ‘em all on welfare – that way you have a good chunk of the population under Govt control and dependant on such.
Very Stalinist, and they are succeeeding.
Leave A Reply