And now for the number we’ve all been waiting for….$456.73. That’s the total amount spent on gasoline for my car in 2008. This includes two round-trips to Cleveland and a round-trip to Toledo.
For those following my COTA Challenge you’ll remember that the it started last January when it was announced that the oil companies had earned record profits. It wasn’t that I was against profit making, rather I was tired of hearing people complain about it. The biggest complainers where those who were contributing the most to the profit making. The goal of the COTA Challenge was two-fold. 1) to see how much money I could save by eliminating use of the car whenever possible and 2) to have a way to bow-out of the ‘gas is too expensive’ bitch fest.
In January 2008 I decided to take the bus to work whenever it was convenient. I began comparing the cost per trip for driving to work and using public transportation. Public transit trips were slightly less expensive than driving. I was using a monthly transit pass so I leveraged it by taking the bus to work even when it wasn’t convenient. Over the course of the year, my idea of convenient changed.
I used to think that catching the 05:50 bus to work was inconvenient until I learned to grab forty winks along the way. I used to think that I was missing out on valuable time at home because my commute by bus is 55 minutes each way. Between books, pod casts and mobile e-mail, it has become the best “me” time of the week. I no longer have to navigate between stressed-out commuters and lined-up on/off ramps.
Learning to shop local was another benefit of using public transit. When convenience meant not having to play dodge-ball on the freeways I decided it was easier to take the bus or walk when shopping. The concept also led to less spending. You can’t buy what you can’t carry. The additional walking allowed me to lose twenty pounds within four months.
There were a couple times that I cheated and used the car when I had to pick up things for the yard or house. There are times that I have to use the car to get to and from work and I’ll stop along the way just because I’m already out.
Over the course of the year I’ve met more of my neighbors and see them more often. If we’re not on the bus together, we often cross paths along the way. I’ve made a couple new acquaintanceships with regular riders. I’ve never been late to work because of public transit.
I did get caught in a down pour one afternoon on the way home from work. I was soaked. Soaked to the degree that it looked as if I’d just emerged from the ocean. It was that day that one of the State’s economic advisors introduced me to Cleve Ricksecker when we bumped into each other on the #16. On more than a few occasions starry-eyed sub-urban drivers have nearly nailed me in crosswalks, likely because they’re not expecting pedestrians.
Life is far less stressful and I’ve got more money in the bank than ever before because I’ve reduced the need to buy gasoline. The car will be paid off in less than a month and that will equate to more savings. Because I’m not driving all that much, I don’t have to think about buying another car for years – and ideally, never again. The way I figure it, the savings allow for an additional trip to Europe each year and a few more weekend trips to Chicago via Amtrak or MegaBus.
Congrats on making it through an entire year. It’s not easy to have such a level of dedication and perseverance, and I loved reading about your stories along the way.
You inspired me to get back on the bus again, and while I’m not quite as dedicated of a rider, it’s provided us with a fresh look at our local bus service and saved us some money to boot.
Keep up the great work. Looking forward to more updates through 2009!
How much money did you save, actually?
I can only document what I’ve spent, but not what I’ve saved because I’ve never kept detailed records of my transportation costs.
I used to drive to work five days a week. Now its maybe once a week. Sometimes I’d go for a drive just for the sake of going for a drive. Now I go for walks instead. Sometimes I’d go shopping at any one of the Columbus shopping malls. Now I only go to the shopping centers that I can get to via public transit.
The limited amount of miles put on the car over the past year meant only one oil change and added life to the break pads. If I had to guess at the savings based on these things alone, I’d guess the savings to be around $2000 and that’s just between gas and basic maintenance for the car.
An interesting factoid from a former Columbusite now living in Tokyo:
Tokyo has more miles of train track and bus line per capita than any other city on earth. Very few people rely on cars for any of their transportation needs here.
So, what do you do when you buy something while out shopping that is too big to carry?
Takkyubin. (“Talk-you-been”)
Simply take your purchase to any major retailer, convenience store or any number of neighborhood businesses to drop it off with a little address card that the drop-off location provides. Fill it out and Takkyubin will come pick your stuff up and deliver it to your house the next day.
It usually costs me no more than $25 to ship 100 pounds of luggage. It’s always next-day delivery, intact and on time.
If you go up to that shopping center near Old Henderson Rd. and the DMV with all the Japanese shops (grocery, restaurant, gift shop, cafe and cram school), I believe either the cafe or cram school offer Takkyubin service back to Japan. You might be able to get more information there.
Congratulations Jeff!
We spent $2,446.05 US last year in fuel. The total vehicle costs, excluding fuel was $2,369. I believe Consumer Reports is right on when the say the average cost of maintaining a vehicle each year is about $5,000. You’re doing a great job! Now if I can reduce my $1,274.44 cell phone service.
Steve
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