Will and I are car-less. I haven’t owned a car since 2005 when I handed over my Ford Taurus (the first and only car ever in my name) to my parents.
I live in Chicago, so this isn’t all that remarkable to me (or many people I deal with on a day-to-day basis), but, in America at large, Will and I are odd ducks.
Let’s address some of the common questions people have when they hear I don’t own a vehicle.
How do I get groceries?
Seriously, this is the most-common question I get about my car-lessness. Peopod, people. They deliver. Heck, everyone delivers (and usually for free!). Also, I walk to Whole Foods or Trader Joe’s – both very close – and pick up items needed for that night’s meal.
How do I visit my parents?
Both Will and I have parents who live in the suburbs of Chicago. When we head out to see them, we rent a car by the hour through IGo, a car-sharing service. It’s cheap (-er than owning a car), green, and convenient. The car we use most is stored a few blocks from our condo. We don’t pay for insurance or gas directly (both are included in our membership fee) and we’ve never had an issue getting a car when we need it. Even on Thanksgiving.
How do I go on trips?
Just last weekend Will and I went to North Central Iowa for a wedding. For that – and all trips outside the Chicagoland area – we rent a car through Enterprise. Why Enterprise? They are close to us. Also, they used to have a guy who worked there named Brian Butler and that is almost my Dad’s name, so that was amusing.
IGo cars are meant for smaller trips, so that option isn’t ideal for out-of-state forays. For big, overnight ventures, a “standard” car rental is needed. Sure, this costs money, but far less than owning/maintaining/insuring a car on our own. I believe we’ve rented from Enterprise twice since 2010 (both for out-of-town weddings, by the way).
Additional benefits:
We rent out our parking spot, so yay, money, and we get to feel vaguely green and smug.
(Just kidding about the smugness.)
Obviously, not everyone can get rid of their car. It would be completely impossible in most smaller towns and incredibly difficult in most suburbs. Everywhere I go on a daily basis is either walking distance or accessible via Chicago’s public transportation. This is really not a sacrifice, more of a common bonus to city-living.
Fun Sidenote #1: I rarely drive. Whenever Will and I are in the car together, he’s driving and I’m providing commentary, directions, and general liveliness. I had to rent a car in Houston in 2011 and it was the first time I’d been behind the wheel since 2008. Danger zone. My coworker eventually took over and I resumed my preferred position in the passenger seat.
Fun Sidenote #2: My Dad lives in the suburbs and he and my Mom share one car. She takes it to work everyday and my Dad takes care of all his business on foot. Go, Dad!
KimberlyRose says
In my experience, “green” and “delivered groceries” really don’t go hand in hand. Someone’s still driving the groceries to your house and then going back to the store. I don’t think it’s at all odd to not have a car, but I didn’t see anything in your list that suggests you use less gas than a city dweller with a car.
Sara {House Bella} says
The way I read it, I don’t see that Helena equated “green” and “delivered groceries.” Just that it’s a common question, and that’s how she gets her food. She only mentions green in the general context of not having a car. Go Helena!
KimberlyRose says
In my experience, “green” and “delivered groceries” really don’t go hand in hand. Someone’s still driving the groceries to your house and then going back to the store. I don’t think it’s at all odd to not have a car, but I didn’t see anything in your list that suggests you use less gas than a city dweller with a car.
Helena says
I was just being cheeky about the whole smug, green thing. Sorry if that didn’t come across. To be clear, Peapod delivers multiple people’s groceries at once (you schedule a time, they make a route that goes by your place and other Peapodders in the area – including some right here in my building), so it is, objectively, greener. I agree, however, that if one person were going from the store to my place for ONLY my groceries, it would be no different than if I made the trip myself.
Matthew says
You know what’s green and smug? Jedi who carry green lightsabers. I hate them. Blue is a far superior color for a lightsaber.
Helena says
I would have a green lightsaber. I like green.
Matthew says
Well aren’t you special?
Sara {House Bella} says
The way I read it, I don’t see that Helena equated “green” and “delivered groceries.” Just that it’s a common question, and that’s how she gets her food. She only mentions green in the general context of not having a car. Go Helena!
Theresa says
Good for you, Helena! One less car = better for everyone. I’m almost 31 and have never owned a car, and I hope and pray that I’m lucky enough to never need one. My trusty three-speed bicycle (and one-speed when I was in Chicago) was enough to get me to places the El/tram/train/bus can’t, and as for groceries: if it doesn’t fit in my backpack + front bike basket, I probably shouldn’t be buying it. (In other words: juice is *heavy* and has calories I don’t need, so I never, ever buy it…unless I’m with my boyfriend and he wants to walk it to his place.)
Helena says
Haha, I used to time when I bought laundry detergent for the same reason. Powder is lighter than liquid, but it’s still a lot of space/weight for one item!
Theresa says
Good for you, Helena! One less car = better for everyone. I’m almost 31 and have never owned a car, and I hope and pray that I’m lucky enough to never need one. My trusty three-speed bicycle (and one-speed when I was in Chicago) was enough to get me to places the El/tram/train/bus can’t, and as for groceries: if it doesn’t fit in my backpack + front bike basket, I probably shouldn’t be buying it. (In other words: juice is *heavy* and has calories I don’t need, so I never, ever buy it…unless I’m with my boyfriend and he wants to walk it to his place.)
Theresa says
Good for you, Helena! One less car = better for everyone. I’m almost 31 and have never owned a car, and I hope and pray that I’m lucky enough to never need one. My trusty three-speed bicycle (and one-speed when I was in Chicago) was enough to get me to places the El/tram/train/bus can’t, and as for groceries: if it doesn’t fit in my backpack + front bike basket, I probably shouldn’t be buying it. (In other words: juice is *heavy* and has calories I don’t need, so I never, ever buy it…unless I’m with my boyfriend and he wants to walk it to his place.)
Helena says
Haha, I used to time when I bought laundry detergent for the same reason. Powder is lighter than liquid, but it’s still a lot of space/weight for one item!
Helena says
I was just being cheeky about the whole smug, green thing. Sorry if that didn’t come across. To be clear, Peapod delivers multiple people’s groceries at once (you schedule a time, they make a route that goes by your place and other Peapodders in the area – including some right here in my building), so it is, objectively, greener. I agree, however, that if one person were going from the store to my place for ONLY my groceries, it would be no different than if I made the trip myself.
carolyn says
Equally awesome tool in getting errands done, the granny cart! That’s not the official name, but I got one at The Container Store and love it!
*I should disclose that I do have a car, but that does not detract from how awesome a cart is.
Helena says
I think granny cart is what the official name SHOULD be! That’s what we call them!
carolyn says
Equally awesome tool in getting errands done, the granny cart! That’s not the official name, but I got one at The Container Store and love it!
*I should disclose that I do have a car, but that does not detract from how awesome a cart is.
Helena says
I think granny cart is what the official name SHOULD be! That’s what we call them!
carolyn says
Equally awesome tool in getting errands done, the granny cart! That’s not the official name, but I got one at The Container Store and love it!
*I should disclose that I do have a car, but that does not detract from how awesome a cart is.
Helena says
I think granny cart is what the official name SHOULD be! That’s what we call them!
renita says
I wish I could at least take public transit to work. Unfortunately, while it’s theoretically feasible, it would take me two trains, a bus and roughly three hours.
So, car it is.
I actually envy you for the most part, though I do like having my car for grocery store trips and visits to various in-laws, friends, events, etc. (and while I’d love for you guys to come out and visit us, I would feel guilty making you rent a car for that purpose…)
groceries aside, I loved being carless for my semester in Manhattan, I gotta say…
renita says
I wish I could at least take public transit to work. Unfortunately, while it’s theoretically feasible, it would take me two trains, a bus and roughly three hours.
So, car it is.
I actually envy you for the most part, though I do like having my car for grocery store trips and visits to various in-laws, friends, events, etc. (and while I’d love for you guys to come out and visit us, I would feel guilty making you rent a car for that purpose…)
groceries aside, I loved being carless for my semester in Manhattan, I gotta say…
renita says
I wish I could at least take public transit to work. Unfortunately, while it’s theoretically feasible, it would take me two trains, a bus and roughly three hours.
So, car it is.
I actually envy you for the most part, though I do like having my car for grocery store trips and visits to various in-laws, friends, events, etc. (and while I’d love for you guys to come out and visit us, I would feel guilty making you rent a car for that purpose…)
groceries aside, I loved being carless for my semester in Manhattan, I gotta say…
Hemborgwife says
We are carless as well and I love it, we take the bus grocery shopping and to the mall and other then that we walk. It works for us now in the town we live in and when we move in the future our goal is to only ever have to have one car if we need one at all.
Hemborgwife says
We are carless as well and I love it, we take the bus grocery shopping and to the mall and other then that we walk. It works for us now in the town we live in and when we move in the future our goal is to only ever have to have one car if we need one at all.
Matthew says
You know what’s green and smug? Jedi who carry green lightsabers. I hate them. Blue is a far superior color for a lightsaber.
Helena says
I would have a green lightsaber. I like green.
Matthew says
Well aren’t you special?
Helena says
I would have a green lightsaber. I like green.
Paige {This Texan Wife} says
I drive a Jetta TDI, which is fairly green already. We talked about only using this car when we sell my husband’s truck, but after looking at our time (value and available time) it just didn’t make sense to us. I miss living in a city where public transport is so accessible and easy to use! Good for you guys!
Helena says
Yeah, it’s definitely only possible in certain areas. We have great public transit here!
Paige {This Texan Wife} says
I drive a Jetta TDI, which is fairly green already. We talked about only using this car when we sell my husband’s truck, but after looking at our time (value and available time) it just didn’t make sense to us. I miss living in a city where public transport is so accessible and easy to use! Good for you guys!
Helena says
Yeah, it’s definitely only possible in certain areas. We have great public transit here!
Helena says
Yeah, it’s definitely only possible in certain areas. We have great public transit here!
Sara {House Bella} says
Living in rural Idaho car-less isn’t an option, but we were a one car family for years. We still carpool every day, and our second car – our backcountry beast – gets driven less than 2000 miles a year (it’s only used when we go back on high clearance, 4 wheel drive only roads). So, hooray for being greener! No car is definitely a perk of city life, and I’m jealous.
Sara {House Bella} says
Living in rural Idaho car-less isn’t an option, but we were a one car family for years. We still carpool every day, and our second car – our backcountry beast – gets driven less than 2000 miles a year (it’s only used when we go back on high clearance, 4 wheel drive only roads). So, hooray for being greener! No car is definitely a perk of city life, and I’m jealous.
Sara {House Bella} says
The way I read it, I don’t see that Helena equated “green” and “delivered groceries.” Just that it’s a common question, and that’s how she gets her food. She only mentions green in the general context of not having a car. Go Helena!
John Anderson says
Helena – awesome post and nice work. We’d like to ditch our car but with the baby we haven’t been able to make that jump. SD has a nice program like iGo (Car2Go) that has a fleet of electric vehicles you can rent by the minute, hour, or day but they don’t have any with a backseat so we can’t use with the baby, for now.
Hope all is well and thanks for writing!
John Anderson says
Helena – awesome post and nice work. We’d like to ditch our car but with the baby we haven’t been able to make that jump. SD has a nice program like iGo (Car2Go) that has a fleet of electric vehicles you can rent by the minute, hour, or day but they don’t have any with a backseat so we can’t use with the baby, for now.
Hope all is well and thanks for writing!
Vanessa says
I sold my car almost a year ago and have never regretted it. I love not having to worry about vehicle maintenance or expenses!
Vanessa says
I sold my car almost a year ago and have never regretted it. I love not having to worry about vehicle maintenance or expenses!
lizzie says
i just moved to chicago. literally just, as in days ago. and i gave my beloved prius to my parents back home in california. so far i must admit it’s been pretty liberating to take public transportation everywhere.
and i absolutely feel a little more green and smug too 😉
xo, lizzie
lizzie says
i just moved to chicago. literally just, as in days ago. and i gave my beloved prius to my parents back home in california. so far i must admit it’s been pretty liberating to take public transportation everywhere.
and i absolutely feel a little more green and smug too 😉
xo, lizzie
lizzie says
i just moved to chicago. literally just, as in days ago. and i gave my beloved prius to my parents back home in california. so far i must admit it’s been pretty liberating to take public transportation everywhere.
and i absolutely feel a little more green and smug too 😉
xo, lizzie
human hair wigs says
850531 446575Hey, are you having issues with your hosting? I needed to refresh the page about million times to get the page to load. Just saying 626702
love doll says
464022 210889Wow ~ Very good stuff ~ Come and have a look at MY ?? 518971
ragdoll cats for sale says
886634 336717Glad to be one of numerous visitants on this amazing internet site : D. 638377
Robotic Process Automation in Banking says
808397 130092I truly like this weblog internet site, will surely come back once again. Make confident you carry on creating quality content articles. 343512
Fun88casino says
934558 464609The next time I just read a weblog, I really hope which it doesnt disappoint me up to this one. Get real, Yes, it was my choice to read, but I personally thought youd have something fascinating to convey. All I hear can be a handful of whining about something you could fix within the event you werent too busy trying to discover attention. 672881