Hellobee Boards Topic: Do You have 1 or 2 cars?

Hellobee Boards Topic: Do You have 1 or 2 cars? https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Wed, 20 May 2026 09:53:48 +0000 BSB on "Do You have 1 or 2 cars?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-have-1-or-2-cars#post-2158240 Mon, 27 Apr 2015 11:00:50 +0000 BSB 2158240@https://boards.hellobee.com/ We have two cars and probably always will. We live in the suburbs and I could take the bus to work but there are some days where we both need our cars. Keybee on "Do You have 1 or 2 cars?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-have-1-or-2-cars#post-2158153 Mon, 27 Apr 2015 10:14:29 +0000 Keybee 2158153@https://boards.hellobee.com/ Thank you for the feedback! Down grading one car is a good idea. DH just needs a commuter car. Rainbow Sprinkles on "Do You have 1 or 2 cars?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-have-1-or-2-cars#post-2156841 Sat, 25 Apr 2015 12:25:59 +0000 Rainbow Sprinkles 2156841@https://boards.hellobee.com/ We are in a similar situation, live in the suburbs with family close by and some parks and coffee shops within walking distance. Still, no way I could handle only having 1 car. DH is gone 12 hours a day at least and I need the car to do all the grocery shopping, run the kids to activities and classes, take them to Dr appointments, and other usual errands. Also, for my mental health. I need to get out daily, and if it was raining and we didn't have two cars that wouldn't be possible. CakeLady on "Do You have 1 or 2 cars?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-have-1-or-2-cars#post-2156819 Sat, 25 Apr 2015 11:30:13 +0000 CakeLady 2156819@https://boards.hellobee.com/ We had one car for a long time, when i changed jobs we decided we really needed a second car for things like daycare pickups. Since it doesn't get nearly as much use we chose a pretty basic used car. The monthly payments are small and it gets the job done. Could you downgrade/downsize one of your cars to still have the option to drive but spend a little less? MOMTOLITTLEB on "Do You have 1 or 2 cars?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-have-1-or-2-cars#post-2156798 Sat, 25 Apr 2015 10:33:49 +0000 MOMTOLITTLEB 2156798@https://boards.hellobee.com/ We have 2 but both are paid off. We both work but my husband has a work vehicle so we could make it work with 1 family car. The problem is the work truck can't have a car seat so I'd do all drop offs and pick ups. I think I'll always have my own car in addition to the family vehicle but if I was a stay at home mom, my husband's job would allow us to be a 1 car family. They'd also have to double his salary- we live in an expensive area! yoursilverlining on "Do You have 1 or 2 cars?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-have-1-or-2-cars#post-2156761 Sat, 25 Apr 2015 09:30:10 +0000 yoursilverlining 2156761@https://boards.hellobee.com/ 2 and that is non-negotiable. I would definitely feel smothered and trapped if I was SAH with no car. I don't live in a walkable area, but even so, I'd like to have a car on hand, just in case. lemondrop on "Do You have 1 or 2 cars?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-have-1-or-2-cars#post-2156605 Sat, 25 Apr 2015 00:59:22 +0000 lemondrop 2156605@https://boards.hellobee.com/ I couldn't, but we don't live in an area with much public transportation. We have one newer family car and a much older one that is only the commuter car already paid off. Paying only one helps the budget a lot, but a surefire way to make me crazy is to strand me at home with no means of escape. Charm54 on "Do You have 1 or 2 cars?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-have-1-or-2-cars#post-2156335 Fri, 24 Apr 2015 16:55:39 +0000 Charm54 2156335@https://boards.hellobee.com/ 2, but the 2nd car is not used often, only to get DH to work or if he needs to go somewhere and DD and I are already using the other car sarac on "Do You have 1 or 2 cars?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-have-1-or-2-cars#post-2156329 Fri, 24 Apr 2015 16:52:04 +0000 sarac 2156329@https://boards.hellobee.com/ My family is a one car family, but we both bike extensively with and without our kid. If you have the option to bike or walk most of the year, I'd say do it for sure. It doesn't sound like you do, though, if you're out in the burbs. I know that I would feel just terribly trapped at home if I didn't have some easy way to get out most of the year. Mrs Hedgehog on "Do You have 1 or 2 cars?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-have-1-or-2-cars#post-2156261 Fri, 24 Apr 2015 15:43:10 +0000 Mrs Hedgehog 2156261@https://boards.hellobee.com/ We have always had 2 cars. Our area doesn't have public transit and neither one of us can walk to work. Plus, I never want to be stuck without a car if there is an emergency. We wouldn't be able to get things done and both get to work with just 1 car. Keybee on "Do You have 1 or 2 cars?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-have-1-or-2-cars#post-2156051 Fri, 24 Apr 2015 13:24:24 +0000 Keybee 2156051@https://boards.hellobee.com/ Thank you for all of the feedback! I am thinking about keeping both for now and seeing how often I use the car and how the finances go with the other changes we have made. It seems nice to have just in case, but I also like the challenge of trying to live without it. I may also add that although I do drive, I don't like to. I often ask DH to do things for me or wait until he comes home so he can take me. Baby Boy Mom on "Do You have 1 or 2 cars?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-have-1-or-2-cars#post-2156034 Fri, 24 Apr 2015 13:19:14 +0000 Baby Boy Mom 2156034@https://boards.hellobee.com/ If I lived in the suburbs we would definitely get a second car. We are in the city so it's easy for me to do mostly everything walking or on public transportation but in the winter sometimes just waiting at the train station for 15 minutes was so miserable that I opted to not venture too far from the house. I would think about where you're going to be going on a weekly basis- shops, library or museum, play groups? And then think about how you could get there. illumina on "Do You have 1 or 2 cars?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-have-1-or-2-cars#post-2155976 Fri, 24 Apr 2015 13:00:04 +0000 illumina 2155976@https://boards.hellobee.com/ The first 16 months of life as a SAHM we only had the one car. It only worked out because DH worked from home most of the time and if he needed to go anywhere for work, he rented a car. Now DH commutes 3-4 times a week so we needed another car for me. One of the main reasons I need my own car is the weather...most of where we go during the day is within walking distance but it rains so much that I wouldn't want to all of the time! birdofafeather on "Do You have 1 or 2 cars?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-have-1-or-2-cars#post-2155965 Fri, 24 Apr 2015 12:57:06 +0000 birdofafeather 2155965@https://boards.hellobee.com/ we used to live in a walkable area, but not with easy public transportation and i couldn't do it without a car as a WAHM. DH's job was impossible to get to with public transportation, so 1 car would not have worked for us! Anagram on "Do You have 1 or 2 cars?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-have-1-or-2-cars#post-2155960 Fri, 24 Apr 2015 12:52:51 +0000 Anagram 2155960@https://boards.hellobee.com/ We are a 1 car family, but we live in an urban area. My husband takes public transport to work, and I drive (out to the suburbs) for work, so I'm the one that does LO's daycare drop off/pick up and runs errands after work. deerylou on "Do You have 1 or 2 cars?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-have-1-or-2-cars#post-2155954 Fri, 24 Apr 2015 12:50:39 +0000 deerylou 2155954@https://boards.hellobee.com/ We're currently a one car family, and it worked seamlessly while my husband was within biking distance, to work. He has recently accepted a position that requires a lengthy commute, so it's gotten more challenging, and we are car shopping, but not with urgency. We live in a small town, but have quite a bit within a short walking distance - parks, library, restaurants, markets, drug store, beach, pool, museum, etc. The doctor is semi-walkable, but a quick cab ride away, if it's urgent. It's totally fine in the spring and summer months; I love to walk. However, unless we move closer to DH's work (which we're strongly considering), we need a second vehicle to get us through the colder seasons. I'd also feel more comfortable having unrestricted access to a car, going forward. Is it doable? Absolutely. It just depends on where you live, and how realistic you feel it would be to walk/bus everywhere. Make sure you have a plan for potential emergencies. That aside, I will tell you getting a kid and their circus tent of necessities into a car > getting it all in a stroller. That part sucks, so be comfortable with minimalism. looch on "Do You have 1 or 2 cars?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-have-1-or-2-cars#post-2155946 Fri, 24 Apr 2015 12:47:27 +0000 looch 2155946@https://boards.hellobee.com/ @MaryM: basket of your stroller, or one of those little wheeled carts. I didn't own a car until I was almost 37 years old, so I learned lots of little short cuts. Greentea on "Do You have 1 or 2 cars?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-have-1-or-2-cars#post-2155945 Fri, 24 Apr 2015 12:47:07 +0000 Greentea 2155945@https://boards.hellobee.com/ Yup. I am pro 1 car as long as you have a place to walk to in order to have human contact. I didn't for the first 9 months and THAT was hard, but DH was done at 2 pm so we did a lot together. Now I live where I can walk if I get cabin fever. DH just recently switched his shift at work to take public transit so technically I have the car but don't use it. I'd honestly rather walk! Keybee on "Do You have 1 or 2 cars?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-have-1-or-2-cars#post-2155944 Fri, 24 Apr 2015 12:46:17 +0000 Keybee 2155944@https://boards.hellobee.com/ @marym that is a good point. I was thinking I could walk to the store, but then I'd have to bring it all back. DH is good at grocery shopping and general errand running on his way home. Keybee on "Do You have 1 or 2 cars?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-have-1-or-2-cars#post-2155941 Fri, 24 Apr 2015 12:44:47 +0000 Keybee 2155941@https://boards.hellobee.com/ @peasinapod We live in a 4 season climate. Winter can be pretty rough. Peasinapod on "Do You have 1 or 2 cars?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-have-1-or-2-cars#post-2155938 Fri, 24 Apr 2015 12:42:54 +0000 Peasinapod 2155938@https://boards.hellobee.com/ What is the climate like where you live? I don't drive and I was pretty wimpy about leaving my house all winter. But in a nice climate with a good stroller I think you'd be fine without a car with what you've described. Although it makes weekends busy for running all the errands you need a car for. Keybee on "Do You have 1 or 2 cars?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-have-1-or-2-cars#post-2155937 Fri, 24 Apr 2015 12:42:53 +0000 Keybee 2155937@https://boards.hellobee.com/ @fancyfunction I would consider driving DH to work. Maybe not daily, but on days when I had something planned that involved the car. MaryM on "Do You have 1 or 2 cars?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-have-1-or-2-cars#post-2155932 Fri, 24 Apr 2015 12:41:46 +0000 MaryM 2155932@https://boards.hellobee.com/ If your husband is driving, will he also do the grocery shopping? I think a car is most convenient for not just hauling people, but stuff... How would you get "stuff" around? looch on "Do You have 1 or 2 cars?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-have-1-or-2-cars#post-2155928 Fri, 24 Apr 2015 12:40:59 +0000 looch 2155928@https://boards.hellobee.com/ I lived in a similar kind of situation when I was home with my son, if I had to go anywhere, I needed to take public transportation because we only had one car and my husband took it to work. It worked out great for me, I didn't miss the car at all (in fact, I have only recently in my adult life owned a car). fancyfunction on "Do You have 1 or 2 cars?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-have-1-or-2-cars#post-2155924 Fri, 24 Apr 2015 12:39:55 +0000 fancyfunction 2155924@https://boards.hellobee.com/ For me, as a SAHM, I couldn't imagine not having a car. There was a week where my husband's car was in the shop and he had to use mine which was torture! Would you consider driving your husband to work sometimes then having the car for the rest of your day when you might need it? Foodnerd81 on "Do You have 1 or 2 cars?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-have-1-or-2-cars#post-2155920 Fri, 24 Apr 2015 12:38:43 +0000 Foodnerd81 2155920@https://boards.hellobee.com/ We only have one car, but we live in the city and Dh takes public transportation or walks to work. In your situation you would be home without a car? That seems pretty difficult if there aren't many places you can go without a car. But I have lived in cities with easy public transportation for the last 12 years so I might be imagining it as more difficult than it really is! Keybee on "Do You have 1 or 2 cars?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-have-1-or-2-cars#post-2155913 Fri, 24 Apr 2015 12:34:55 +0000 Keybee 2155913@https://boards.hellobee.com/ We are expecting our first and I would like to stay home so we are making some big changes to our finances. Right now we have two cars (we are still paying on both) and we are thinking about going down to one. We live in the suburbs and all of our family is within 15 minute drive. There are a few stores, restaurants and parks within a mile. There is not public transportation that goes to DH's work, but there is a train stop within walking distance from our home that goes to our pediatrician and downtown. Dh's work is about a 25 minutes drive, he currently works a swing shift. What do you think, does anyone in a similar situation only have one car?