A change in commute
As A~ and I (A~, that's my wife, in case your a relatively new reader.) made our decision years ago to live a little differently from everyone else around us we had to make some serious decisions. I guess to be fair we didn't really decide to "live differently" from our neighbors, that was just the end effect of our actual decision which was to live on one income so that she could raise our children. Anyway, as I was saying, we had to make some choices that it seems many others didn't have to make. For instance, driving around in a $2000.00, 1989 Toyota Camry for nearly 7 years until at 199,400+ miles it decided to crap out on me this past Friday.
Now, to be fair to the car, it's been a really really good car. The only work it's needed in those 7 years has been an alternator, a belt and some oil changes. As for the "crapping out on me...", I think it's probably just the thermostat that froze up.
So then, back to making decisions. One of the lessons that we've learned, and if I can pass anything on to anyone it's this, is to not just deal with what's happening today but at what may happen tomorrow as well. It was in that mode of thinking that A~ and I decided that this spring it was a good time to make some changes in my commuting to work routine. The timing couldn't have been better. We planned either this weekend or next to head out and pick up my new commuter vehicle. It ended up being this weeked.
And here it is... well, here THEY are. It's still flippin freezing here in Utah and as I think you can tell from the picture we're still getting snow days, so in the short-term I'll be driving the truck to work. I only have a 5.5 mi commute so it's not too bad, either for my pocketbook or the environment, but as least it'll only be short-term.
Here's another shot of the new scooter. I have to say it's even more fun to drive than I thought it would be.
I filled it up after picking it up this weekend and it set me back a whole $1.92 to top off the massive 1.59 gallon tank which should take me in the neighborhood of 140 miles. The plan for at least the next year is this. I'll drive the scooter for probably 7 months out of the year and the other 5 I'll drive the truck. We're budgeting 20/month for my gas whether I'm driving the scooter or the truck. The logic is that the two will balance each other out over the course of the year.
As for the Toyota, it's fate is still up in the air. This is the perfect time for it to crap out on me, as it is just coming up for inspection and registration. for now, it'll stay in the garage for a bit, but soon it'll start getting worked on. I have a nearly fourteen yr old that thinks he's gonna be 16 sooner than the laws of time will allow. He and I will work a little on it here and there if I can determine that it's repairable and it should be ready to go by the time he is. That's just another part of thinking ahead. Like I was saying, that's one of the best tips to living frugally that I could ever pass on.
All the best to you all.
P~
Now, to be fair to the car, it's been a really really good car. The only work it's needed in those 7 years has been an alternator, a belt and some oil changes. As for the "crapping out on me...", I think it's probably just the thermostat that froze up.So then, back to making decisions. One of the lessons that we've learned, and if I can pass anything on to anyone it's this, is to not just deal with what's happening today but at what may happen tomorrow as well. It was in that mode of thinking that A~ and I decided that this spring it was a good time to make some changes in my commuting to work routine. The timing couldn't have been better. We planned either this weekend or next to head out and pick up my new commuter vehicle. It ended up being this weeked.
And here it is... well, here THEY are. It's still flippin freezing here in Utah and as I think you can tell from the picture we're still getting snow days, so in the short-term I'll be driving the truck to work. I only have a 5.5 mi commute so it's not too bad, either for my pocketbook or the environment, but as least it'll only be short-term.Here's another shot of the new scooter. I have to say it's even more fun to drive than I thought it would be.
I filled it up after picking it up this weekend and it set me back a whole $1.92 to top off the massive 1.59 gallon tank which should take me in the neighborhood of 140 miles. The plan for at least the next year is this. I'll drive the scooter for probably 7 months out of the year and the other 5 I'll drive the truck. We're budgeting 20/month for my gas whether I'm driving the scooter or the truck. The logic is that the two will balance each other out over the course of the year.As for the Toyota, it's fate is still up in the air. This is the perfect time for it to crap out on me, as it is just coming up for inspection and registration. for now, it'll stay in the garage for a bit, but soon it'll start getting worked on. I have a nearly fourteen yr old that thinks he's gonna be 16 sooner than the laws of time will allow. He and I will work a little on it here and there if I can determine that it's repairable and it should be ready to go by the time he is. That's just another part of thinking ahead. Like I was saying, that's one of the best tips to living frugally that I could ever pass on.
All the best to you all.
P~
Labels:
frugal living
12 comments:
Here in Germany, you would get 2500€ (2000$?) for your old car if you bought a brand new car. It is thought to be a stimulus for the car industry, but sometimes it is also called "Environment bonus". How ridiculous is that?
A scooter, how exciting. I've always wanted a cute pink Vespa (but they're a bit pricey). I work from home though so I don't commute. My occational trip in to the Post Office & bank would not warrent a scooter. Too bad.
sweet eco-hog dude!
on another note, if you can figure out what is wrong with the toyota and get it running you might be able to get $500 for it. Even a toyota on death's door still has ridiculous market value for some reason.
That looks like a fun ride! And, what a good deal on gas. $20 a MONTH ~ a WHOLE month?! Excellent!
The truck I can understand, but with only a 5.5 mile commute, why the scooter? Did you ever consider a bicycle? Much better for you and much better for the world around you. Give it a try sometime. You may find you like it.
So nice to hear of another family who puts family first. We made the same decision 4 1/2 yrs ago with the birth of our first of two children and most people think we are insane. We have a 1991 Ford Windstar minivan and some kind of Honda motorcycle that my husband drives to work. His commute is about 20 miles non interstate and he has earned the recognition at work because unless it is treatening icey conditions he drives the motorcycle so that the children and I have access to the minivan even though a majority of the days it just sits in the garage (he would hate we need it in an emergency). The scooter looks great, I think I would do that long before I jumped on the Honda! I just want to thank you also because after reading your post we have at least quadrupled our gardening for this year. I really enjoy your blog and its nice to know we share something else now...
Jo,
way down south
I love your old toyota. Thats what my husband drives!! I think his is the same year too!! I do like the scooter, i'd like a pink one(funny, i just saw C.R. likes a pink one too!)myself! Hubby also has a truck in great shape thats an '86!! We love liven like no one else, so that one day we can LIVE like no one else :-)!tp
Our stalwart little corolla just hit 208,000 miles. Unfortunately, it also just started to make suspicious noises...
Hilde~ Guess all gov's are trying to find a way to keep us spending huh?
C.R.~ Yeah...A~ kept pointing out the cute little pink ones. too funny that tp want's one as well...must be a lady thing?
k~ As I said, I think the problem is just the thermostat. Hopefully I'll be able to get it running for my sons. I just know there's another 20,000 in her.
Melissa~ I hope it works out that way. If nothing else I gotta have a plan.
Brad~ I actually have ridden to work for the last couple of years, a little more each year. I really enjoy it for the excersise and the gas savings, but my wife was a wreck about it. Here's the thing, we live in a transition zone between suburbs and rural areas and the infrastructure is not very condusive to biking. Much of the way I had to hug the shoulder of the road that didn't even have curbs let alone bike lanes. This is a good comprimise to conserve resources and still let me get a little fresh air on the way home. I'll just have to get my biking in as a family around our trailway systems.
Jo~ thank you so much for your kind words. I wish you the best with your expansion and look forward to you letting me know how it goes.
Villiage Farmer~ yeah, you've gotta love those little engines that could don't ya?
Hey P~-my hubby told me last night his Toyota is an '87 with over 210,000!! I bet she does have some more in her!!! Best wishes for a good repair :).tp
We gave up on two of our three cars and are now living with only one car. It hasn't been near the "trial" I thought it would. I bike and take the bus as needed, my DH takes the bus/light rail to college regularly. It takes some organization to plan who has the car when, but seriously, it hasn't been near as big a problem as I thought it would. And WOW have we saved money! Too many people think one car per driver is the only answer to transportation problems.
Great mileage. We too drive old vehicles with HIGH mileage but they are PAID for. I could easily work more hours but instead my priority is with my family. The more you make the more you spend!
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