I spent an hour or so today laying out our transportation options for next winter, and we were able to agree unanimously:
We're not getting a car, but we are investing in a really sturdy 2-kid stroller, accessories, thermal cover, and better winter gear for the adults.
We were leaning toward this last week, but there was a slight hitch when we realized that the double stroller wouldn't fit through our condo door. However, we figured that we can see if we can keep it under the storage locker of our parking space. We'll offer the renters a discount if that's an option and they're willing to share. If it doesn't fit or they don't want to do that, we'll just stop renting it and keep the stroller there anyway. (It's in a garage, so relatively secure and out of the elements. We'll look into a wheel lock or something.)
We considered but dismissed taking a taxi during the winter and taking our carshare service during the winter. They both seemed like they would take a lot of wrangling and arranging; you can't set up recurring orders for either. We didn't really consider getting a daycare parent to take AA because it seems like a hassle getting someone else involved, especially since we had four other viable options that seemed better.
I'll paste our calculations and thoughts below, but a few advantages to our decision that aren't reflected there:
- We can pay for nearly all the expenses with the Amazon.com gift cards we've been collecting from credit card offers.
- We can still sell all of the accoutrements later at not much loss of value if we decide we made the wrong decision.
- I get a good amount of exercise by being forced to walk to daycare every day. Even more when it's winter! I would almost certainly need to implement an exercise regimen to make up for it.
- We just don't WANT a car! AS was saying that she really agreed with MonkeyMama that it seemed like an extreme solution in proportion to the problem. I agreed, but said I was worried for a couple days that we were being extreme NOT having a car. One of our very frugal friends wrote on my Facebook post to say "Yes, it's reasonable for a family of five to have a car." But then AS and I realized that people would say that about ONE person. Not many people know if they could survive happily without a car because they've never tried. We have, and we like it.
That said, here's the dorky spreadsheet I made to help us consider our options:
OPTION 1: Buy car
1x cost: purchase $6500
1x cost: smaller 2-kid stroller $200
Total: $6700
Monthly: gas $30
Monthly: insurance $120
Monthly: repairs EF $100
Monthly: tags/fees $15
Monthly: lose parking income $85
Savings: $90/month Hourcar -$90
Total monthly: $260
First year total cost $9820
Second & subsequent years $3120
Pros: more/easier mobility
Pros: could sell car in 4 years
Cons: most expensive out of pocket
Cons: most expensive annually
Cons: costs are unpredictable
***
OPTION 2: Buy bigger stroller & cover
1x cost: chassis, jogging attachment & bike attachment $795
1x cost: thermal cover http://www.strollerideas.com/waaslawistco2.html $150
1x cost: bivy $80
1x cost: bunting bag $85
1x cost: infant sling $85
1x cost: baby supporter $50
1x cost: winter gear for adults $450
Total $1695
Monthly: lose parking income? $85
First year total cost $2715
Second & subsequent years $1020
Pros: Cheapest annually
Pros: Could sell eventually
Cons: Most effort/hardest to get to/from daycare
***
OPTION 3: Take taxis
1x cost: 2-kid stroller $200
Daily: to daycare $6
Daily: from daycare $6
22 weekdays/month = $264
Max 6 months/year
First year total cost $1784
Second & subsequent years $1584
Pros: one-way rides
Cons: pricier than Hourcar
Cons: pickup timing unreliable
***
OPTION 4:
Take Hourcar
1x cost: 2-kid stroller $200
Daily: to daycare $4.50
Daily: from daycare $4.50
22 weekdays/month = $198
Max 6 months/year
First year total cost $1388
Second & subsequent years $1188
Pros: cheapest first year of all options
Cons: must pick up/drop off same place
Cons: availability?
Decision on the car question! (at least for the short term)
March 4th, 2012 at 08:15 pm
March 4th, 2012 at 08:57 pm 1330894678
March 4th, 2012 at 09:17 pm 1330895825
You are also in a good position to live without a car. That wouldn't fly where we live, so for us a car is a need.
March 4th, 2012 at 10:44 pm 1330901048
Wait - so whose idea was it to get a really nice stroller? Genius!
March 4th, 2012 at 10:46 pm 1330901204
March 4th, 2012 at 10:48 pm 1330901316
March 4th, 2012 at 10:52 pm 1330901533
March 5th, 2012 at 02:38 am 1330915108
March 5th, 2012 at 02:41 am 1330915304
March 5th, 2012 at 03:16 pm 1330960577
MonkeyMama, you're right -- it was NT who brought up the fancy stroller! I went back through the replies to my other posts. There's been so much great input from all sides that I got mixed up.
Nonetheless, you can still take credit because your cautionary comment was a catalyst for us brainstorming other options.
March 5th, 2012 at 04:27 pm 1330964840
It helps that most Minnesota sidewalks are at least somewhat maintained. We broke a stroller axle in the ice in London where no one shovels or salts.