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I’m having second thoughts about giving up my car for Lent. Not because of my business trip to Los Angeles that will pose a particular public transportation challenge, but because a video shoot I’m doing that was moved from today to next week and the location is three hours away!
Three hours by car, that is. By bus, train, and foot I’m guessing it will take me five hours to get there. I need to be on location by 10 a.m. Yikes! It’s an all day shoot so I won’t start my trek home 5 p.m. Double yikes!
Also, it’s supposed to snow Thursday. Yikes, yikes, yikes.
I can throw in the towel, brace myself for a long commute and stick to my pledge, or exempt myself from autolessness for work. Thoughts?
Welcome to Bargain Babe! I’m Mara, and I’m so glad you’re here. I am an obsessive bargain hunter and penny pincher, and I am determined to live a full life without EVER paying full price.
What about a Zipcar membership/rental?
Or iGo or any of the other car sharing arrangements?
Would that work and meet your public transportation needs since its car sharing?
For heaven’s sake, cut yourself some slack. You didn’t plan this. Life just happens. Drive your car, forgive yourself, and add another day on the end..
This concerns your livelihood so an exception should be okay in your God’s eyes. Consider doing something extra for lent to make up for this exception.
What is your goal? If it is to save money, what is your time worth? How much money could you have make doing what you do with the time you waste giving up your car? Did you save less money than you lost by using your time differently?
Why not just give up eating lobster instead?
Oh, Bob. No need to be a snarkapotamus. 🙂
I think this situation would count as an extenuating circumstance. How often is life black and white?
Be like the Amish and have a friend chauffeur you around in your car. That way you can say you “Gave up driving your car for Lent” and it will be the truth 🙂 ”
ps. about my facebook comment about Shell gas on Thursday being .05 off, I don’t know if its a nationwide or regional deal or what.
@Connie That’s an interesting solution! ZipCar could be considered public transportation, I guess, because everyone shares the cost. 🙂
@Wil and @Fran Yeah, maybe I should cut myself some slack. I can always make it up on a Sunday.
@Bob Beecher Thanks for making me laugh out loud! And just yesterday I saw a lunch special for a bowl of clam chowder, a salad, and a 1 1/4 lb lobster for $16!!!
@Chris Thanks for the Shell update. I will look into it.
Life does happen, no matter how we try to control it. Since you don’t have a 9-5 office job, you can’t expect things to happen on a schedule. I think you decided on giving up something that was unrealistic. Perhaps you should have just given up your car for social activities instead. The original concept of Lent was to give up certain food(s) that were a luxury, or a craving, with the intention of building better character. Over time, these goals have changed to include everything from store-bought items to, as in your case, driving a car. How about just focusing on making each day of Lent more special for someone, rather than doing without something that doesn’t make all that much difference in the long run, and certainly not in the lives of others. And now Auntie Ellie will step down off her soapbox!
do it! You said you would and we’re counting on you. I think a zip car works ’cause it’s close to public trans.
Do what eases your stress level. Stress makes us ill. Give yourself some extreme self care!!
Definitely cut yourself some slack on this one – time is money and also it’s not worth it to heighten your stress level. Make up for it some other way this week.
I think it would be fine to use your car for long excursions, but give up for general daily use. I so wish I lived somewhere that I could do that. We are in a suburb over 2 miles from the bus line with very limited bus routes. The majority of our roads are not made for bicycling either.
And, of course, tell us what you ultimately decide.
Somehow I doubt of God had in mind that you should drive yourself nuts by not driving…She’s not nuts, after all.
Zip car if it makes you feel better.
Or quick switch of Lenten vows: it’s only Ash Wednesday, for hevvinsake, and so not too late to reconsider. I love EllieD’s idea.
Well…Giving up something for lent is supposed to be a sacrifice. It wouldn’t be a sacrifice if it was easy….
I say forget it and use your car
I would try it for fun. Maybe allow yourself to use your car for certain reasons. I think that would be a cool thing to write about down the road. also, I think it frees up time in many ways. Let us know what you do.