The Castle's Transportation

What did the Castle occupants spend on auto expenses this year?

Every year for the last few years I have broken down our annual expenses on auto to an average monthly figure to see how much we are saving by driving paid-for cars.

This year our total cost was $3488.41 for the year, and

$290.70 for the average monthly expense.

This includes:

• insurance
• gas
• car washes
• repairs
• tags
• license stuff
• safety inspections

Why do I bring this up to you?  There is strong evidence that driving older, paid-for cars is more of a savings than having one, (or Heaven forbid, more than one) car payment, plus all the expenses I just laid before you.  Even with hefty car repair bills, you can come out ahead by keeping the car you already have, rather than springing for a new, debt-ridden ride.

In the past, we have had major repairs to our vehicles.  We have replaced clutches, axels, and fangle-dangled parts I don’t even begin to understand where they are or what they do on our cars.  We have replaced timing belts, serpentine belts, and more.

We drive our cars to their death.  Death for our vehicles usually come in the form of being totaled in an accident (not always a reflection on our talent and skills).  That happened with the three cars we have lost in our marriage.  We have not, together, ever “just bought” a new-to-us car.

As a result of our ways, we have very reasonable car costs throughout the years.  Sure, it hurts when you plunk down $1000 or more on repairs; but for us, our beaters are sure saving us some bucks!