How you can be car-free and carefree

Mulling a move to the big city? Or just closer to work? If your new digs are conveniently located, you may find that you no longer need your car. But giving one up is not for the faint of heart. With a car comes freedom and the ability to live life on your terms, so why would you want to be car-free? As it turns out, there may be some very good reasons to trade in your junker.

Got extra money? Not if you own a car

Cars aren't cheap. And while they may be considered an asset, they're a depreciating one. Even ignoring what happens to the price of one when you drive it off the lot, once you factor in the normal costs of use, like gas andoil changes, not to mention winter tires (an expensive fact of life for most Canadians), you start to realize how significantly owning a car can set you back. Bonus: if the unit you're renting comes with a parking space and you don't have a car, you may even be able to make some money off it by renting it to someone else in your building.

Shrink your carbon footprint

If you're a steak lover, a frequent flier, or (sometimes) buy more than you should, chances are, you have quite a formidable carbon footprint. Since you're already responsible for all that extra CO₂ that's floating around in the atmosphere, think about doing the planet a favour and going car-free. Not only is walking and biking better for the earth, it's also better for your waistline, considering that many of us work notoriously unhealthy sedentary jobs.

Learn to love sharing

So you're interested in a car-free lifestyle, but still find yourself occasionally in need of one. Instead of signing on for the obligations of owning one, why not sign up for a car share? For a small membership fee, you can enjoy a selection of cars and pay only for the hours you're driving. Forget about insurance, most carshares cover that, and some even include gas and mileage credits too. Who says you can't have it all?