..that it's wise to only have one vehicle. DH forgot something for work that he needs or he'll get into trouble, and I have no way to get it to him. Living next door to my in-laws, I've always been able to use a car of theirs (they have 4 cars and only 3 drivers in the house), but this morning, BIL is sleeping like a dead man and not answering the phone or the door, and I have no key to get in (yea, I've made like 6 copies - think I have any of them? nope) and no key to take BIL's car. Not that it matters b'c I don't have a carseat (ours is in the car and my MIL has one in her van). It's so infuriating. I always get frustrated when something like this happens, or when I want to just be able to go to the store and get my groceries without having to be on someone else's schedule, or having to go back and pick up DH from work b'c I dropped him off to do what I had to do. Reassure me that it's all good to have only one car. I try not to get all tangled up in being stuck in the house and I do my best to ignore my mom's comments on how she would have gone mad if she didn't have a car available when us kids were growing up.. we don't have the $ to have a second car, and that's just that. Sorry - it's just frustrating. I don't want DH to get in trouble (his boss is a jerkoff who likes to take advantage of any little thing DH doesn't do perfectly) and I can't do anything about it. I'm stuck at home, no way to help. Grrrr...

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I know how fustrating this is. When my husband drove through a flooded street in my mini van and completely killed it, I was stuck for almost 2 months without any way to get around except to ask my mother in law to take me now and again to the post ofice or grocery store because we just couldn't afford another vehicle.

Maybe you guys can come up with something, where two days a week, you drive your husband to work, then have the car for yourself to do all your errends or running around. I know it would be a bit of a hassle, but then, you could try and start planning things, and not only might that make you feel a little stressed out about getting done what you need to get done, but your husband would know that on Tuesdays and Thursdays, say, you are the one with the car so he'd best take everything he needs, and on his car days, he would need to drive home on lunch or something to get anything he's forgotten, if he can't find someone to take it to him. and I say him, because I know as much as you want to help him, and you're the first person he'd call, sometimes it's just not always possible, like today when you BIL is sleeping like the dead, and you don't have your carseat.

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"And the state of his bathroom -- I'm not one to gossip, but there are things crusted on his sink that have not simply developed intelligent life but have in all probability by now evolved their own political systems." Cain describes Abel in in SANDMAN #70

ummmmm... It's better for the environment! I'm sorry, I know when these things come up, it can be VERY frustrating. Is there anyone else nearby who could take it to him so that you don't have to deal with the carseat issue? Do you have an airhorn to wake up BIL? I hope your day improves!

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Mommy to Bryce 2/20/2005 and Skye 3/4/2008

I hear you -- we're down to one car right now. Well we have two cars but one is parked in the garage until we decide what to do with it. Ya that would also be the one car that we're making payments on! Bleeping car!

I'm attempting to be optimistic about the whole thing; it's better for the environment, more exercise for me and the kids, I'm not spending as much money because I'm not out running around, my mom is pretty helpful about loaning me her car when I really need one and sometimes I am able to take my husband to work and keep our car. But other times, like when it is pouring down rain and I have to walk through a field to pick my daughter up from pre-school, with the baby who is screaming in his pack or I think winter is coming and our dead car is our snow car -- I can't help but think, it sucks being with only one car!

I have learned one thing though! I will NEVER have a car payment again!

i'm sorry your having a crappy day and you can't wake bil up. is it possible dh can come home at lunch and pick up what he needs or does he have a long commute? we have 2 cars but i feel sometimes like we only have 1 because right now i can only allow myself 10 bucks a week for gas and with prices the way they are i get to go to town one day a week(i have to drag my kids all over they don't like it trying to get everything done in 6 hours) otherwise i would not have enough gas to get ds to and from school. so i can totally see how you would feel trapped at home cause i do and i have a car. sorry i hope your day gets better.

I think it's fine to only have one vehicule. You are probably just having a bad day

Don't listen to what other people say, they are not in your shoes. Your mother's life and your life are two separate things. We decided this summer to go with only one car. People in our family also made comments like I would be stuck home or that we could never manage. We are managing just fine thank you!!

Two days a week I drive my DH to work or he takes the bus. On those days I keep the car so I can do errands and activities with the kids. It's works fine like this for us.

Hope your day gets better,

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Marie - SAHM of DS Benjamin (april 2004) and DD Rose (march 2006).

We only have one car right now. We do borrow my in-laws truck from time to time but basically it's just one set of wheels. It can be a pain in the arse but hey if you can't afford but just one that is just the way it is. Luckily my DH works from home so that saves us tons of dough and arguments. I feel for you Girl. It sucks and thats that. As for your mom, well she has her opinion but unless she wants to donate a set of wheels she should try not make you feel worse. Moms do sometimes though. They cannot help themselves and I am quite sure I will be thorn in my daughters side for a long long time...LOL!

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- Kathleen

I am one of the people in the world who grew up with one car and survived!! LOL My father was in the army and we lived on various bases, with only one car. You are doing the right thing for your family. Let the comments roll off your back and think of the money you are saving. It is inconvenient at times no doubt, but the sacrifice is worth the savings.

Good for you for living with what is right for you and your family!!

Theresa

If having a second car is not an option, try not to stress over it. Let comments roll off your back. If haviing a second car is an option, but one you would like to avoid, calculate the daily cost of that second vehicle. Make a guess by totalling the registration and taxes, insurance, approximate gas and maintenance and car payment. If you can really afford another car, put that amount into a cookie jar everyday. When the need arises CALL A CAB! The money is there and you probably won't use much of it. At the end of a year, take the family on a trip or something. If you can't come up with the money, of course, you can't afford a vehicle. Maybe you could have an emergency transportation cookie jar with some money in it. It might make you feel better.

You think you're stressed now, think of how stressed you'd be every month for years trying to come up with the money for that second car payment!