My wife and I recently cut back to having only one car instead of the two we have traditionally owned.  This isn’t the first time we’ve gotten by with just one car, but it is more difficult.  The last time we lived downtown in a small city and could easily walk to shopping, restaurants, and entertainment.  After we moved to the suburbs, we decided that a second car was necessary.

Our regression to one car had nothing to do with gas prices, cost of insurance, or anything like that.  We’re going to be moving again and took a recent opportunity to move the car ahead of time.  So now, until we move, we’re living far from everything with only one car.  You’d probably think that we really only need one car since I telecommute to work.  In some ways, only having one car would be easier if we both worked.  At least in that case we could ride together (or carpool with co-workers) to get to work.  At the office there was a cafeteria, social interaction, etc.  Once my wife drives away each day, I’m essentially stranded.  There is nothing within walking distance and although I could ride my bike, the weather (and coming winter) make that less of a reliable solution.

What having one car has already taught us is that planning ahead is critical.  Not only do we have to be sure that there’s food in the house, we also need to coordinate our schedules and activities around that one car.  Cutting back to one car will save you money in the obvious ways, but this extra planning can help you to save even more.  In the past, I may have eaten lunch out occasionally which is no longer an option.  My wife is also less stressed out on the days when she needs to leave work by a certain time due to my schedule needing the car.  If you’ve tried everything else and need another way to save some money, ask yourself if your family could survive with just one car.  You can practice before selling your car to see how it would work.  It may seem impossible to live without a second car, but once you remove the mental block, it may become much easier than you imagined.