Of the things you can cut away to save money, a car is probably near the top of the list. If your car is extremely important to you, you might want to consider some of these negatives about owning one:

- You have to go change oil, tires, etc. on a regular basis, draining your valuable time every day.
- Random things might break that will leave you annoyed and pissed off, especially when it costs a lot (like a transmission), you’re short on money, and you need to use your car right away.
- When you move, you’ll have to find some way of transporting your car, or selling it at a hefty discount.
- You can’t take your car with you when you go on vacation (especially if you fly overseas), so you’ll have to pay additional transportation costs.
- You increase your chance of having some sort of accident if you’re tired and you need to the person driving the car.
- If it gets scratched, dented, or something happens to it, you might not feel good.

When you add it all up, even if it does save you some money (which it probably won’t), it’s an emotional drag that you can’t afford. After all, when you’re annoyed or pissed off, it’s hard to focus on other things that could save (or make you more money) over the long run.

Here’s a few ideas if you’re planning on going carless:

Public Transportation - It’s a great way to help out with the environment and also not have to worry about stuff like driving when you’re really sleepy, etc.

Most of the savings when it comes to getting a car is that you can get from place to place quickly at will. All you have to do in this case though is have a bit more planning. Have something to do on your way to work, whether it’s returning some letters, etc. Hey, 20 minutes on the train is just as important as 20 minutes at work. This is probably the easiest way to save a big chunk of change. Plus, public transportation can be a good way to just get some peace and quite.

Carpool - If you’re looking for a bit more flexibility, it’s always a good idea to carpool with your friends. Give them some money every month and just have them pick you up on their way. Not only is it cheaper and more environmentally friendly, you get to have a nice traveling companion vs. going it alone.

Taxi - This is a convenient way to use some of your budget when you’re on a trip or to use in conjunction with the other methods. Unlike when you have a car, this “have a car anywhere anytime” thing falls within your transportation budget, so it’s a good option to have in case some of your other methods don’t work out.