I remember a few years back hearing another mom talk about being a one car family. At the time I couldn’t imagine not having my own car to go places while Pablo was at work – I was so grateful we had two cars.

Fast forward a few years and now we’ve been a one car family for almost a year now. Though I’m looking forward to eventually owning a second car again, I’ve gotten used to this new normal and have discovered some good things about being a one car family.

Today I wanted to share some of the pros and cons of being a one car family plus some tips for how to make it work!

Pros and Cons of Being a One Car Family

Pros:

There are a lot of financial benefits to being a one car family!

• Only one car payment (or none at all if your car is payed off!)
• Less money spend on registration fees/taxes, service/repairs, and gas
• Less money spent shopping (because let’s be honest, less opportunities to shop = money saved)
• More money to put towards savings (or to pay off debt)

Cons:

• Scheduling appointments and such can be a bit complicated
• You’re in a bit of a pickle if your one car breaks down
• No car to use if there’s an emergency in the middle of the day

Despite the great money saving pros that I mentioned above, I don’t LOVE only having one car. There have definitely been times where I want to pull my hair out because I feel stuck in the house with the kids all day, every day. But as I’ve grown more accustomed to being a one car family I’ve figured out some things that make life a bit easier.

Tips For Being a One Car Family

Make a daily schedule

When you know you’re going to be home all day with the kids, make a schedule. It doesn’t have to be anything rigid, but having a flexible schedule of how you’re going to spend your day helps things go smoothly and not drag so much.

Take advantage of your neighborhood amenities

We really appreciate being able to walk to our little neighborhood pool during the hot summers here in Texas. I feel comfortable taking all three kids by myself now that Caleb and Sofia are confident swimming around with their puddlejumpers.

Have friends over

Play-dates are so nice for changing things up and giving you and your kiddos some much-appreciated company!

Utilize educational shows 

Or non-educational ones, I won’t judge! 😉 Let’s be honest, some days a little screen time for the kids can be a life saver.

Ask for a ride

Really want to get out of the house with the kids? Plan ahead and ask a friend to give you a ride! (Just make sure you have the kids’ car seats!)

Use weekends wisely

When you know you won’t be getting out at all during the week, use the weekend to visit the library, grab craft supplies and what not, and most importantly make sure to stock up on snacks, haha.

Plan times to get away alone

It is SO refreshing whenever I am able to get away alone for an hour or two (and I know this is true for all moms!) I am often able to go out for a couple hours on Sunday afternoons to blog, and sometimes I will go do the grocery shopping alone when Pablo gets home from work.

Have a plan for emergencies

We had a tornado warning a few weeks back while Pablo was at work. We currently live in a mobile home which is not safe during tornados, but I was thankfully able to call my dad to come grab me and the kids. When you’re a one car family it’s definitely important to think through what you’ll do and who you’ll call if there’s an emergency.

Are you a one car family? How do you make it work? I’d love to hear your tips so please share in the comments!