I hateeeee not having a car

[canadascouponeer]

Ughhh I know I'm not the only one who absolutely hates bussing, and wish they had a car. Before, in the fall when I started couponing, the weather was still sort of okay. Now that it's become mega cold in the winter I find it more and more of a drag to shop. I literally have to force myself to go use my coupons so they don't go to waste LOL. Don't even get me started on not being able to carry that much, and having to use a rolling cart, sigh. I wish I could afford to have a car. There are some days where I just want to throw my whole coupon binder away and go on a couponing hiatus LOOOL.

[torontogal12]

I am a public transit person, like you.

I try to stock up as much as possible in the fall so I only get the essentials in the winter.

Also, look into buying stuff online in the winter so they deliver food to you! Well.ca and Walmart.ca will ship groceries.

-30 is not a time to be heading for deals! I hear ya!

[Candini]

I hear you. Two years ago I saved every dollar I could to make sure I could drive in the winter.

Maybe we should make some kind of forum in locals, like a coupon-group-car pool lol

[francine1985]

We walk everywhere unless the weather is really bad then I either stay home with the kids and dh walks by himself (to the store anyway he usually takes a bus back because it's too long to walk heavy groceries back.) or we all take a bus there and back.


i do sometimes think it would be nice to have a car (especially in the winter) but at the end of the day I honestly think it isn't worth it. IMO cars tend to make people lazy (like driving half a block to a convenience store or driving to a gym 5 minutes away.) aside from that cars are over priced, then you have to pay for insurance, gas, maintenance...

[roseofblack25]

I'm a transit person too and I'm generally fine with it until winter comes and then I absolutely hate it! Waiting in the cold for a streetcar/bus sucks especially if you have bags with you! But I know in the long run having my monthly metro pass is probably still cheaper than the insurance, repairs, gas, etc for me to own a car in the city.

[torontogal12]

The worst part: transit n00bs. They use it maybe 10 days a year and have no idea where to go, hold up the driver/doors so no one else can get on, and then everyone else is stuck out in the cold because they couldn't ask once everyone else was on or were too lazy to look it up before they left

[SunandMoon]

I'm a transit person too and I'm generally fine with it until winter comes and then I absolutely hate it! Waiting in the cold for a streetcar/bus sucks especially if you have bags with you! But I know in the long run having my monthly metro pass is probably still cheaper than the insurance, repairs, gas, etc for me to own a car in the city.

I totally agree. Winter time is the worst to pick up groceries especially when it pours. My groceries end up soaked!!! I also need to carry around a trolley whenever I'm buying gigantic packages of flour and anything heavy for that matter. Otherwise, I like taking the transit because it's cheaper and eco-friendly.

[roseofblack25]

The worst part: transit n00bs. They use it maybe 10 days a year and have no idea where to go, hold up the driver/doors so no one else can get on, and then everyone else is stuck out in the cold because they couldn't ask once everyone else was on or were too lazy to look it up before they left

I can't hate on those people only because I know not long ago I was totally that person...and I used to forget to look before getting on the streetcar/buses to make sure they were going the right direction. Usually doesn't matter much if you are staying within the downtown core, but when you are going further out west or east it's good to pay attention to which streetcar you need to take which I learned my lesson after trying to get to Etobicoke one day and getting on the wrong Queen streetcar LOL!

I totally agree. Winter time is the worst to pick up groceries especially when it pours. My groceries end up soaked!!! I also need to carry around a trolley whenever I'm buying gigantic packages of flour and anything heavy for that matter. Otherwise, I like taking the transit because it's cheaper and eco-friendly.

I work near a No Frills so it's easier and cheaper for me to go do groceries after work since the only place near my place is a Sobeys Urban Fresh and they are expensive and the produce is usually nasty looking. It's okay since I'm pretty much a straight streetcar ride home and a short 5min walk, but I find it easier in the summer when I'm not all bundled up and there is no snow/slush on the sidewalks. It's easier to handle bags and not worry about mitts, scarves, hats, coats, etc etc getting in the way! I don't use the carts since I just do small shopping trips. A couple bags worth of groceries and if I have to I will go a couple times a week just to keep it from being too heavy. I get on the streetcar practically across the road from the grocery store anyway to come home so making multiple trips isn't really out of my way at all. I buy my flour at shoppers when it goes on sale since it's about a 5min walk from my place. Much better than hauling it home from the grocery store and the Sobeys near me only carries cake flour for some stupid reason!!! I guess people around me don't bake?!

[MrsSunshine]

I totally hear you.. a year ago. my car was in the shop for nearly 3 months.. I literally..dragged my cart through slush, ice and snow every other day to have enough groceries on hand at home.. omg i actually had to nap by the time i got home.. it sucked.
while i do appreciate my car. its still a PITA to clean off this time of the year.. and to be honest.. some days i dont' even bother.
if i didn't have the medical issues i do.. i would totally get rid of my car completely. but by the time i have walked the 'circuit' at our local mall to get all my shopping done. im in so much pain.. trying to get a little exercise.. y bother.

[Shwa Girl]

Ughhh I know I'm not the only one who absolutely hates bussing, and wish they had a car. Before, in the fall when I started couponing, the weather was still sort of okay. Now that it's become mega cold in the winter I find it more and more of a drag to shop. I literally have to force myself to go use my coupons so they don't go to waste LOL. Don't even get me started on not being able to carry that much, and having to use a rolling cart, sigh. I wish I could afford to have a car. There are some days where I just want to throw my whole coupon binder away and go on a couponing hiatus LOOOL.

This may make you feel better:
1. with the freezing temps., the car seemed to cry and almost would not start
2. the back door is wonky because of the ice and freezing.
3. spend a long time chipping "ice sheets" off the car
4. with all the salt and slush, the car is so dirty, if you mistakenly brush against it, that's for your coat/ your pants
5. gas is about $1.27/L

[Minou]

The weather's bad here tonight. I really want to go to Target tomorrow morning to see if they have a better deal on clearance Christmas items. If I'm snowed in, I may be desperate enough to take a transit bus!

[GoddessDigi]

I have a love/hate relationship with our car.
I love being able to go places without relying on my father-in-law, or others (even though I 'rely' on my husband, since I am legally blind and have no peripheral vision in my left eye, so not like *I* can drive, anyway). But I've noticed that, in the almost year since we've had a car, I have gotten soooo lazy. I will have my husband drive to avoid walking.
I love not having to go out in the snow, like I used to. There is NO con that goes with that one lol.
Gas money! And insurance! All together, every month, with just gas and insurance, $500. And if we need tires/oil change/something or other...well, crap. Whereas, bus tickets/passes used to run us about $150 or so a month, sometimes less, sometimes (rarely) a tiny bit more.
Even though we've moved, my kids can stay in the daycare that they've been in since they started (DD- back in June, DS- back in November). So, while before, it was kinda sorta walkable (like...25 mins walk), now it would be more like...35-45 mins walk. So if we didn't have a car, I would have for sure had to switch them, or take them out all together (and their speech is improving so much, I would HATE to do that).
And last, for right now, I'm not supposed to be doing much walking, anyway. I get dizzy if I stand too long, most likely would pass out if I had to go back to walking almost everywhere. (And I go for another post-op on Wednesday, so I really need to talk to him about that...)


So biggest con, stupid gas and insurance. That is all.

[torontogal12]

Sure, but when I go on a new route I always look it up first!

And I get that it's cold, but let everyone in first and then ask!

I can't hate on those people only because I know not long ago I was totally that person...and I used to forget to look before getting on the streetcar/buses to make sure they were going the right direction. Usually doesn't matter much if you are staying within the downtown core, but when you are going further out west or east it's good to pay attention to which streetcar you need to take which I learned my lesson after trying to get to Etobicoke one day and getting on the wrong Queen streetcar LOL!



I work near a No Frills so it's easier and cheaper for me to go do groceries after work since the only place near my place is a Sobeys Urban Fresh and they are expensive and the produce is usually nasty looking. It's okay since I'm pretty much a straight streetcar ride home and a short 5min walk, but I find it easier in the summer when I'm not all bundled up and there is no snow/slush on the sidewalks. It's easier to handle bags and not worry about mitts, scarves, hats, coats, etc etc getting in the way! I don't use the carts since I just do small shopping trips. A couple bags worth of groceries and if I have to I will go a couple times a week just to keep it from being too heavy. I get on the streetcar practically across the road from the grocery store anyway to come home so making multiple trips isn't really out of my way at all. I buy my flour at shoppers when it goes on sale since it's about a 5min walk from my place. Much better than hauling it home from the grocery store and the Sobeys near me only carries cake flour for some stupid reason!!! I guess people around me don't bake?!

[joandstef]

I know exactly what you mean. When I first moved to toronto, I was a transit person. Took the TTC everywhere. It was ok as the winters were very mild. I stocked up on pantry items during when the weather was bearable and only bought groceries where it was accessible indoor such as the metro at college and yonge or longos in the path. I might not have been able to save as much but I figure it was ok since I was saving all other times.In this minus 20 plus weather, I think it is worth it to spend a little extra as the rest of the year you will watch for the sales.

[Crochetlady]

If you live in a rural area like we do you have no choice. The closest town that has 2 grocery stores is 20 minutes away. If I want to shop at anything besides Food Basics or Zehrs I have to drive 45 minutes. If the weather is bad we stay home. I am thankful for the attached garage so I don`t have to clean off the car.