Many of us feel the high costs of owning and operating a vehicle. This site suggests we drive too much...

http://www.pfadvice.com/2007/04/20/you-drive-too-much-how-to-solve-that-problem-save-money/

Can you cut down on your vehicle use? Do you think giving yourself a fee would help you to keep your useage down?

 

It is a way to make you aware, I guess!  Perhaps you could also pay yourself the money for not used gas!

We are very lucky to live in a land that is flat, so we bike a lot. Shopping, going to family,day  trips, etc. all on bikes. We have a very small car, so low in taxes and usage. We only buy gas about 9 or 10 times a year. If I go for groceries I sometimes see a certain car in the beginning of my trip; by the time they parked their car we are leaving the shop already! Too many people and too many cars in a limited space!
We all hear that gas is very cheap in the US, we pay  about $ 7,25 per gallon. Although it is a fairly high price, it doesn't stop people driving a lot, even for small distances (less than 2 miles). I think the price will go up in future years, because we will all have to pay for CO2-control.
 

That article was right on time for me.  I live within walking distance of a Walmart, a Dollar General store, the bank and so many other places, and there's a bus stop very close to my front door that will take me to the next town if I really get cabin fever.  I also enjoy walking and need the exercise (who doesn't?) so I've been doing my best to leave my car in the garage most days of the week.   Plus I own a bike I seldom use.  I'm lucky in that I work from my home also.  I keep warning family members that when my little car quits running I'll probably not be buying another one, and they look at me like I'm nuts.  I've done so much unnecessary driving all my life, since I was a teenager, for business and pleasure that I really believe I could truly be content without the car - at least I think so, ha-ha.  I tell my mother (who's also within walking distance) that when the time comes, we will take her where she needs to go in her big old car that has very few miles on it...

 Oh, and for a "retirement"  vacation trip years down the road, I figure I can call a cab, board a plane or train and take a long vacation, no car needed. 

I live in a very rural area, approx. 5 miles from town.  So walking is out of the question.  However, we use a cash envelope system for budget items, including gasoline, and have tightened it up enough that there is little to no "wriggle" room in the gasoline budget.  If we drive too much we use up our allowed gasoline $ before pay day--lesson learned the hard way!  I know how many times I have to drive into town for work purposes and choose those days to go to the grocery store if needed, to pick up perishables, etc.   We will be moving into town in the near future and I can't wait to be able to walk and bike ride for work and errands. 

Dollar wise, yes our gas is lower. Due to differences in our country, we'd likely have to compare other things to see the impact of that on the whole. But I suspect that we do indeed have lower costs, the amount Americans drive add up to some high monthly costs.

 

Rolo,

I live in a rural area myself. I have to go out of town to do much of my shopping. Mom and I go grocery shopping together. We spend most of the day in the city getting it all done in a once a month trip for me. 

Many around here take jobs that require some long commutes and the only options are driving. Few are able to work out carpooling. Last year my husband had a four hour total drive time to get to and from the office. I hated tallying the gas expenses.

   

 

I live in a rural area as well, the nearest town is 16 miles away. I am very lucky that my kids are able to take swim lessons 3 times a year 6 miles away at a ski/golf resort's pool.( My oldest son is working towards his red cross lifeguard certification. )  It's the only thing we can do that close to home!

We have quite a few vehicles now, I've always wondered which were needed or not after dh got a company paid truck. The Chrysler listed is now dead, needing a transmission:

           CAR                           LICENSEp/yr                  INSUR.p/m                        MPG

1. 1998 Chrysler T&C                   $135                              $36                                  18

2. 1995 GMC Jimmy                     $79                                $34                                  22

3. 1986 VW Golf                           $34                               $38                                  38

4. 1997 Dodge Ram 1500               $84                               $27                                   11

It's difficult to know where to cut back. the Chrysler doesn't have Ins or a plate on it now while we figure out what to do with it. It's definitely the nicest car we've ever had but certainly the costliest in fees and repairs. I drive my son's 5 speed VW Golf whenever I can, but if I go into the Traverse City, I take the Jimmy because i don'tlike shifting so much...I always seem to stall it at the worst possible time! And we do so much hauling with trailers for hay, wood, etc that it pays to keep the truck. Plus dh usus it for his side work, so that pays for itself.

In the end, I just try to drive less.

Michelle, those license fees seem high to me, ouch.

We have three vehicles:

1999 Ford Ranger- This is my husband's work vehicle. He has a loan on it with 18 more months to go. I don't recall what we paid for the license.   

1998 Pontiac Transport- this is our family vehicle. We just paid the license fee and it was $60.

1995 Ford Ranger- This is my husband's former work truck. He moved up to one with jump seats that gives him more cab room. It's for my daughter to learn to drive and then we will use it as a trade for something more suitable for her. The license was $20.

 

 

Must be a Michigan thing with the fees. The VW is old enough that the state goes by the weight category. Sometime after 1986 the State went to basing the license registeration fees on the value of the car when it was new. The more expensive of a car when it was made, the more the license fee is. Doesn't matter if you bought it 10 yrs old, it still goes by the cost when it was new.

BTW, I only carry PLPD the basic ins. required by the state on all vehicles because they were paid for and had no liens. If I had full coverage on any, it would triple the cost per month for that vehicle's insurance.

Our insurance on the van and newer/larger truck is $200 a month. The little truck is not in use at this time so we opted to save by not having a tag or insuance until our daughter gets her license.