(no subject)

[kalibex]

Had a zipcar again today (Mazda Matrix this time) - went shopping at Whole Foods, Trader Joe's, and Balducci's.

I like, finally get it: 'shop in bulk via zipcar, once a month!'*


*me, to me, earlier today.

I've been running around telling people at work how I'm gonna save up to get a car for next year. But now I'm not so sure (in flux about everything these days).

What else could I be doing with the $ I'll save for a car?

Also, some day, I want to have a little shop.

Comments

[redstarrobot.livejournal.com]

Livin' in a city or zipcar region, it might make more sense to keep going the zipcar route. Aside from the money to buy a car, I think the average price of ownership is $6k a year, so a zipcar once a month is nothin'. Especially when you consider where gas is going.

[kalibex.livejournal.com]

I really shouldn't have been surprised at all to hear this stated outright, but here, Chase noted the behavior modification component of the zipcar concept. Okay, I wasn't surprised, more like, "Oh. Right. Inevitably less casual, mindless car-use."

[sunfell.livejournal.com]

You could be putting that money into a ROTH IRA or some sort of long-term savings, saving up for a home or land, or paying down debt- if you have any.

While I enjoy having my own car, and being able to go anywhere I want when I want, I do it with the stark realization that it costs me around $500 a month- including the car payment, insurance, gas, and money saved for maintenance. My city doesn't have Zip cars, or decent public transportation. I have to have a car to get around. Yes, there's a grocery store within walking distance, but its a store that serves the subsidized apartments nearby- which means that the prices are high and the selection- particularly the produce- is really lousy. They have a captive audience and take shameless advantage of them. I'd rather drive the 4 miles to Wal-Mart or the 6 miles to Kroger, where the selections are better.

I could think of a lot of things I could do with $6K, including paying my own debt down, and putting a down payment on a house. Or taking decent vacations, getting better furniture, etc.

I need to find a way to add $500 a month to my pockets.