DH and I get to experience "one car"

[Deleted]

DH was in a wreck several weeks ago, and we just dropped his car off at the BMW Collision Center.

If he wants a car tomorrow, he has to drop me off at work.  I have a weird schedule.  I have to be at work by 7:10.  I like to be at work by 6:15.  Kids start showing up around 7:00 a.m. to ask me questions because they know I am here.  I like the other 45 minutes to do stuff like make copies, grade a few make-up tests, answer emails, etc. 

I'm being nice and waking him up at 5:55 and giving him until 6:20 to wake up and take me to work.  That will really mess with my schedule, but I know it will be hard on him.  I will actually drive (15 minutes), and he will drive back.

I'm interested in this experience because I would like DH and I to get down to one car when I retire in five more years.  I don't mean the day I retire, but rather which car dies soonest after that won't be replaced. 

Do any of you retired people do one car?  I know a car is "freedom," but he actually goes almost nowhere during the day.  Of course, I go nowhere except to work.  On the weekend, we go wherever together, or one goes and the other stays home.

Experiences?  Opinions?

[lazysundays]

I didn't get a drivers license until I was in my 30s and 7 months pregnant. Before that, it was no car at all in my mom's household. When we first moved to this area, I picked the job then I looked for an apartment along the bus route. I worked evenings so I took bus in and hubby picked me up at night. Then when we bought the house it got a bit more tricky. Dh would come home for lunch break to take me to work and pick me up at night. He still wouldn't let me drive solo with baby until baby was 5 months old. For first 2 months of daycare: pick up mom and baby, drop off kid at daycare, drop me off, swallow lunch and then pick up kid after work and then pack up sleepy baby again to pick me up late at night. Luckily the kid finally got sick at daycare and he realized the logistics of getting me so I can be the one home w kid was ridiculous. I already forgot how we did it, but I finally drove with my baby. I was comfortable and finally so was he.

[The Walk of the Penguin Mich]

We survived with one car for over a year before we went to get mine.  If I needed the car that day to go to PT, it was MY responsibility to get my butt out of bed and dressed so I could take TD to work.

IMO, if he is not up and ready when you want to leave for work, then he doesn't get the car.  Simple as that.

[midjd]

We were a one-car family for about 6 months while working almost 150 miles apart...I did most of the driving since DH worked a 13hr shift and I worked 8.

We got up at 4:30, left at 5, I dropped DH off a little after 6, drove 2.5 hours to work, got off at 4:30, and picked DH up at 7. Home by 8, dinner and bed.

It was very difficult, but we managed. The days DH worked and I was off, I usually chose no car vs getting up at 5 to drive 2 hours...

[8 Bit WWBG]

We've never been a 2 car family.  Most of the time its not a big deal, but yes, there have been occasions where someone had to make an accommodation for the other.

[Deleted]

We were a 1 car family for 2 years upstate NY when my wife was going to grad school.

We managed to make it work somehow... And I got her a car the first chance I got.

[mmhmm]

When hubs retired at 62, we only had one car and were able to manage things pretty well.  I worked 3 12-hour night shifts, so he had the car all day to do whatever he liked and I drove myself to work at 6:20pm and came home at 7:00am.  My work schedule made it easy to get along with just one car.

[taz157]

Apr 20, 2014 19:14:48 GMT -5 midjd said:

We were a one-car family for about 6 months while working almost 150 miles apart...I did most of the driving since DH worked a 13hr shift and I worked 8.

We got up at 4:30, left at 5, I dropped DH off a little after 6, drove 2.5 hours to work, got off at 4:30, and picked DH up at 7. Home by 8, dinner and bed.

It was very difficult, but we managed. The days DH worked and I was off, I usually chose no car vs getting up at 5 to drive 2 hours...

First off: Then: That's alot of driving. I'm glad to hear you made it work, but wow!



My MIL got in a car accident almost 2 months ago and she's currently not allowed to drive. The earliest she can drive again in early June. The car my MIL drove was totaled in the accident. My FIL likes to have more than 1 car in case something's wrong with a car, at least he has the option to drive the other one. They ended up replacing the car last week. My MIL did make a comment this morning about her not being able to drive and FIL driving every where. It's kinda getting on both their nerves that she can't drive yet. At times, he's ready and she's not or vice versa or he doesn't want to leave and she does or vice versa. FWIW, both of them are retired.

[resolution]

We have always been a two car family, but when it snows he takes my car to work because his truck can't make it up the hill to get home.

I feel trapped in the house when he takes the car, even though I have no actual desire to go anywhere in the snow. However it doesn't bother me enough to get up early and drop him off at work.

[MarleyKeezy78]

We were a one car family for almost four years. We had sold one before buying our house so we had more money for the home buying process and we live within walking distance to everything in town (including Dr's) so it wasn't a problem. We just bought a second car at the end of February because DS is starting kidergarten in the fall and so was needed. 

[Deleted]

never been a 1-family car.  When I was married if one car was going to be out of commission for more than a day, we rented a car (usually paid for by the person that hit us and caused us to need body work).

[Cookies Galore]

We have one car today while hubs is getting his car inspected. We could be a one car family if we wanted but I'd hate it. I have to nag him to get out the door on time so I can make my train. 7:03 is not on time when I say we leave no later than 7:00! Minutes are precious.

[Blonde Granny]

We've tried going to one car a few times. Our only accomplishment was to put 12K on it in 3 months. We quickly went back to 2.

Some of my concerns about doing it are things like: we have a flat tire and it's discovered 30 minutes before a Dr. appt. Or, I'm alone at the mall, have car trouble or accident & need ride home.....yes that'll work well.

So again now, we are back to 2: What is considered "mine" is a new midsize SUV with 4WD. His is a little 2 seat Mercedes SL convertible. This really does give us the best of both worlds. A great SUV for travel and the little one to take on picnics or just to put the top down in early evenings to go get ice cream.

[zibazinski]

Why didn't BMW give you a loaner?

[swamp]

Apr 20, 2014 18:13:48 GMT -5 @southernsusana said:

DH was in a wreck several weeks ago, and we just dropped his car off at the BMW Collision Center.

If he wants a car tomorrow, he has to drop me off at work.  I have a weird schedule.  I have to be at work by 7:10.  I like to be at work by 6:15.  Kids start showing up around 7:00 a.m. to ask me questions because they know I am here.  I like the other 45 minutes to do stuff like make copies, grade a few make-up tests, answer emails, etc. 

I'm being nice and waking him up at 5:55 and giving him until 6:20 to wake up and take me to work.  That will really mess with my schedule, but I know it will be hard on him.  I will actually drive (15 minutes), and he will drive back.

I'm interested in this experience because I would like DH and I to get down to one car when I retire in five more years.  I don't mean the day I retire, but rather which car dies soonest after that won't be replaced. 

Do any of you retired people do one car?  I know a car is "freedom," but he actually goes almost nowhere during the day.  Of course, I go nowhere except to work.  On the weekend, we go wherever together, or one goes and the other stays home.

Experiences?  Opinions?

Make him take you on time. He can nap later. It's a couple days. He can suck it up.

[NoNamePerson]

When I first married we had one car but then I didn't have a drivers license. I got license and husband got a company car. We had 2 cars the whole time married, me with mine and him with a company car.

At one time I had two cars - just me! But I should explain that I bought a 280zx 5 speed and had to learn to drive it so kept my automatic for a couple weeks till I could shift and work clutch in our heavy traffic. Who buys a car they can't drive     ME!!

[Deleted]

Apr 21, 2014 7:33:08 GMT -5 zibazinski said:

Why didn't BMW give you a loaner?

This isn't the service center, but the collision center.  They offered to rent us a car, but it was a hit-and-run/uninsured motorist claim.  We already have to pay the deductible.

[Deleted]

Apr 20, 2014 18:53:31 GMT -5 The Walk of the Penguin Mich said:

IMO, if he is not up and ready when you want to leave for work, then he doesn't get the car.  Simple as that.

I agree.  DH and I were a one-car family for 10 years.  He was semi-retired and worked form home; I could work from home pretty much any time I wanted. On the extremely rare days when we both needed a car we rented one.

When I had the old job he drove me to work (30-minute commute).  I'd start work at home at 7:30 AM and go into the office when he was up and ready to go.  Current job: 45-minute commute and they made it plain that I was expected to be in the office.  That got more complicated- I took the car most of the time and DH drove me when he needed it. but sometimes I wake up at 5:30 and my brain won't shut down and I'm in the office at 6:30.  The work is more demanding and the interface from home is clunky.  If I have software on my hard drive trying to access files on the server it doesn't work because we use Citrix.  We also seem to have to work around more doctor and dental appointments.  Finally, DH said it was time to get a second car.  Much as I hated to spend the $$$, he was right.  We bought a YM-approved used car off rental from Enterprise.

One one hand, it's good to have him available to run errands during the day.  On the other hand, he seems to be running up a lot of grocery bills, which are only slightly offset by lower totals on our regular weekly shopping.  It was a good decision but we saved a bundle over those 10 years by having only one car.  After I retire I might be open tp trying it again.

 

[sesfw]

We are retired and absolutely no way could we do with just one car. Quite a few years ago he wanted to cut down on auto insurance cost and suggested we get rid of one car (my truck). I told him he could get rid of his van any time he wanted to. Haven't heard another word about it since.

He does a lot of volunteer work as a docent at Phx Art Museum and I do a lot of volunteer work around town here. We need both vehicles, and we carefully plan when one has to go in for servicing.

Besides that, I don't like the way he drives. ..........

[The Walk of the Penguin Mich]

Apr 21, 2014 9:43:47 GMT -5 @southernsusana said:

Apr 21, 2014 7:33:08 GMT -5 zibazinski said:

Why didn't BMW give you a loaner?

This isn't the service center, but the collision center.  They offered to rent us a car, but it was a hit-and-run/uninsured motorist claim.  We already have to pay the deductible.

Don't you have car rental on your insurance?

We did drop it on our insurance, but we have 3 cars right now so there really is no need for it as we always have a spare.  I may reconsider if the oldest car kicks the bucket as it's 12 years old and is pushing 200K miles.

[The Walk of the Penguin Mich]

One one hand, it's good to have him available to run errands during the day. On the other hand, he seems to be running up a lot of grocery bills, which are only slightly offset by lower totals on our regular weekly shopping. It was a good decision but we saved a bundle over those 10 years by having only one car. After I retire I might be open tp trying it again.

That's what I do here. In fact, last week I cycled all 3 cars through the mechanic for oil changes and it pretty much killed the day.

But since I have been doing all of the cooking and grocery shopping, it has cut down on our eating out about 90%. When I was incapable, TD would come home from work and be too tired to cook and clear up. It has also increased our grocery bills, but probably not by as much as our restaurant meals!

[lynnerself]

On snowy days, I can't drive my car (Miata). So DH drops me off at work and picks me up. Fortunately that's only a few days each winter. We could probably do this all the time if we wanted. But we chose not to.

We will keep both cars after retirement. But the convertible (my daily driver) will get used a lot less in the winter.

But maybe more in the summer

[HoneyBBQ]

I have this weird independence thing. I HAVE TO HAVE my own car. I dunno why. I just do.

[raeoflyte]

Dh and I shared a car for a couple years and it was awful.  Its taken 17 years for him to start getting out of bed on his own without me asking, fighting, begging, etc. but we weren't there yet and that was a huge struggle. If I could go back in time I absolutely should have just left when it was time and left him to deal with no car.  

I hope it works better for you.  

[wyouser]

It's a pleasant thought......but....living in Wyoming near very active grandchildren....one vehicle wouldn't cut it. We are split up almost every weekend usually a couple hundred miles apart (or further). Because they are in different sports and of different ages they end up in different towns on the same day.  

[Anne_in_VA]

We only have one car now, but I can't drive anyway so it's a moot point.  I work from home a couple of days a week and have someone who drives me in on those days. We don't have good public transit here and I wish we did because I really wish I could go places without having to find someone to drive me.

I'm supposed to get cataract surgery in the next year or so and I'm hoping that I can drive again. If I can, then I'll get a car for me to use when I want to and for back and forth to work. I'd love to be able to go somewhere without having DH or one of the kids take me.

[Blonde Granny]

Don't put off your cataract surgery unless you really really have to. I'm just thrilled with my results and having 20-20 vision is a real plus.

[Deleted]

We did fine today, but that's because DH couldn't sleep so he was up when I got up at 4:30.  He has acid reflux pretty badly, and his pills didn't help.  He said he and the dog tried to nap all day, but Abby was better at it than he was.

He went to bed at 5 p.m. for a "Nap."  It is more than an hour later, and he is still asleep.

I suspect I will get to school early every day this week because he will have messed up his sleep pattern. 

[Anne_in_VA]

Blond Granny - My eye doctors say I'm not ready for the surgery yet - they've said it'll be at least a year and maybe 2. We'll see. I'm really starting to notice how little I can really see - especially small things and things at a distance.

[Blonde Granny]

If it was me, I'd get another opinion. Surgery has changed so much, why put up with poor sight?