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one car family
DH & I are thinking about becoming a 1 car family. 
How many of you out there are 1 car families?
Our thoughts are - a relatively extreme sacrifice in the short term for (hopefully) extreme long term gain. Obvious savings, more money to pay down some debt really quickly.
Problem - we are both still paying on our cars. I mean, as long as we got what we owe on them then it's not a big deal. Especially since we both drive Scion's on those retain their value like champs.
It's just an idea we're throwing around because our work schedules would allow for some flexibility so that I could drop DH off at work & pick him up. I mean, of course things wouldn't be easy at first and at times we may have to make a choice not to do something because we both need the car, but I think the $$ savings far outweigh those "maybe" things.
Thoughts??
Re: one car family
We're kind of a 1 car family.
DH's truck ("Blue") is on her way out...poor old girl! She does start, but spends most of her days in the garage where she's safe and can't break down on us. But if needed, we can drive her...which happens maybe twice a month.
DH and I carpool to work. Which luckily we can do right now. And days that I'm off work and he isn't, I kind of like not really having a vehicle because that means I can't leave the house and go spend money (I'm quite convinced that it costs me $100 to walk out my front door). Of course...there's also no way in the world we could afford another car payment right now!
So maybe you could even consider getting a little "clunker" just in case one of you would really need to go somewhere. I think we paid $800 for "Blue" and that was 5 years ago. But like I said...we don't really need it.
PS
I call "Blue" by name & refer to "her" like this because I am also quite convinced that she hears me when I talk bad about her...and that's probably why the check engine light comes on when I drive her!
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DH and I were a one car family for a few months last summer when he totaled his car, but we probably didn't feel the full effects since he worked OOT Mon-Fri. During that time I would drop him off at the train station Monday mornings and pick him Friday evenings. While working he would get rides from co-workers or use the work shuttle.
Financially and environmentally it's a great idea. We used those months to save for a down-payment and shop around so that we got a great interest rate when he did buy his current car.
It was hard on us every once in a while because we are both pretty independent people. He wouldn't want to visit my family or do stuff with my friends every time I did, so when he was home by himself without a car, he felt kinda trapped and I felt guilty.
I'd say if your schedules work and neither of you have a problem being left at home from time to time (aka, not restless like my DH) then go for it!
If we moved into DC I would sell my car. I'd be able to get everywhere I need to be via public transportation.
You say that this is short term, so you'll have to consider whether you'll actually save money in the long term. If you sell it now and then want another car in a few months it could be a big hassle and not much of a savings.
When I say short term I mean, short term as in right now, maybe for the next couple of years, in relation to the rest of our lives. i.e.: getting out of debt a lot faster then we would with 2 car payments, therefore opening up more opportunities (like moving out of state, etc).
When DH's car dies we've discussed becoming a one car family. Right now we are lucky that Aaron drives his grandparents old car and his parents still pay the insurance on the car (it's not a cute car, but no complaints here). The only problem we will run into if we become a 1 car family are my odd work hours and traveling. The bus system where we live isn't the best and many of the houses we are looking at don't have a bus stop close by.
If I didn't travel so much for work I really think we could do it!
We've been a one car family for 4 years...granted about half of that time we lived in the city of Chicago and we only used our car when visiting friend/family in the burbs. Now that we've been living in the near burbs almost 2 years it's kind of annoying for me. Monday - Friday I take the train to and from work and we live walking distance from the train station. DH drives to work and 2-3 times a week works the 2-9pm shift...that's when I feel stranded sometimes. And it really gets to me in the summer when there is lots more that I'm wanting to do. I also feel like all my errands have to be done on the weekend since that's the only time I have full access and time for the car.
Don't get me wrong it's an added expense we do not have with just having 1 car and we've saved loads of money not having to pay 2x gas, 2x monthly payments, etc. I have been thinking about getting my own car lately, but I am not sure if I'm willing to have my expenses be even tighter than they already are now.