Car Free in Raleigh

So, we bought a car. And not just a car… something that could rightfully be called a small SUV. A 2004 white Saturn Vue.
It’s a bit of a long story, but the isolation was getting to be too much for me.
I hope to continue to make lots of “car free” trips and to pull my […]

[Read more →]

We enjoyed a nice holiday with my parents, who came down from Pittsburgh. It was strange to have access to a car for several days in a row.
We went to a lovely Christmas Eve vigil mass, although we would have preferred Midnight Mass. But, having a toddler and lacking our own car, we made do […]

[Read more →]

Confession time.
In addition to not owning a car, we also don’t have a television. We sold it about three years ago and never looked back.  We have more free time and are able to limit our (and our son’s) exposure to advertising.
Side note: By “advertising,” I don’t just mean commercials. I mean the more insidious […]

[Read more →]

Many books on living without a car reach for the “compromise” of a “car-lite” lifestyle; use your car as little as possible, but keep it.
There are a few reasons why I don’t think that’s the ideal situation.

It’s darned near impossible to be disciplined enough to do it. (See anecdotal story below.)
You maintain many of the […]

[Read more →]

New 2000 Ford Focus sedan, extended warranty, all fees, and financing on a 5 yr loan (paid off in 3.5 years)
~ $17,000

Insurance, 8 years
~ $6,489

Registration
~ $264

Taxes
~ $544

Gas
~ $12,760

Oil Changes
~ $814

New engine
$2333

NCSU Parking Pass (2 semesters)
$287

Speeding tickets (3)
~ $450

A/C […]

[Read more →]

Malachy and Seamus have a few suggestions for you.

[Read more →]