Can you live with just one car even if you live in the countryside? | I'll share our family's approach

"You can't live without one car per person, right?"
Living in the countryside, it's not rare to hear that kind of talk.

When I was a child, too,
my parents each owned a car,
so I thought that was just normal.

However, I currently live with my family in a suburban area where cars are said to be essential, but we only own one car.

Of course, there are times when I feel inconvenienced.
Even so, our family makes the choice not to increase the number of cars.

The reason is that I realized a car is not just a means of transportation,
but something that has a major impact on household finances.

In this article, I would like to talk about "the impact of cars on asset formation"
based on my experience of spending over 15 years each in Tokyo and the countryside.

I hope that by the time you finish reading,
there will be a change in your "way of thinking about expenses during asset formation."

Cars are the fourth largest expense after the big three

When it comes to asset formation,
housing costs, education costs, and retirement funds are common topics, aren't they?

But actually, cars are also a very large expense.

• Vehicle cost

• Automobile tax

• Vehicle inspection (Shaken)

• Voluntary insurance

• Gasoline costs

• Tire replacement

• Oil changes

• Parking fees

Just by listing them like this,
you can see that cars aren't just bought and done with,
but that money continues to flow out just by owning one.

Car prices are soaring now,
and there are even used cars with purchase prices no different from new cars.

For example, if you add one car with a purchase cost of 3 million yen, 40,000 yen in auto tax, 100,000 yen for inspection, and 5,000 yen per month for insurance, and use it for 10 years while considering parking/gas/oil change costs, the "total is 6.4 million yen."

On an annual basis, that's "640,000 yen in annual expenses,"
and furthermore,it's calculated as being added as "fixed costs."How to think about fixed costs ↓

What would happen if you could invest that money instead?

I calculated the car maintenance costs roughly as an image,but when you think that just letting go of one car can secure funds for investment,it starts to look like a significant impact.

If you invest that saved 50,000 yen per month in an index fund with a 5% annual return for 10 years, it becomes about 7.76 million yen.
Just by freeing up one car, you become able to build assets for the future.
That became a major motivation for me to consider it when moving.

Of course, cars are important things that make life convenient.
However, I think it's worth considering once whether it's "really the number of cars you need."

How our family lives with just one car

However, some people might think,
"It's impossible to live with just one car in the countryside."

I thought so too at first.
In reality, here is what our family kept in mind while living with just one car:

• Sharing schedules as a couple

• Doing all shopping at once

• Utilizing bicycles or walking for nearby trips

• Giving each other rides when absolutely necessary

These are the kinds of adjustments we made.

When the pandemic made it okay for me to go into the office only about once a week, I decided to move to the suburbs, about two hours away from the office.
However, I prioritized finding a property within a 10-minute walk from the station.

As a result, even considering rent plus car expenses, it is cheaper than the average rent in Tokyo, and I also enjoy the welcome benefit of using the car for shopping to reduce the burden of carrying heavy loads.

There are some inconveniences, but if you look at it positively, I started walking to nearby places and getting natural exercise, and by sharing the car schedule with my family, we naturally started talking more.
Strangely enough,
it wasn't as difficult as I had first imagined.
In fact, I think it's all good: more family conversation, reduced wasteful spending through bulk shopping, and regular exercise!

In fact, my parents, who live even further out in the countryside than I do, are both working and own two cars, but my mother commutes to work by bicycle, so they end up using almost only one car.

Even if you need a car for your daily commute, there is always room for "optimization," such as making the second car a light vehicle (kei car) or considering a used car.


"With the right mindset and determination, you can control your spending more than you think."
That is something I felt strongly.

How to think about spending when building assets

I believe the most important thing in household budget management is not "enduring small expenses," but

"optimizing large expenses."Skipping coffee at the convenience store. Not buying your favorite snacks. Of course, these have an effect. But if that endurance becomes a source of stress, it won't last long.

Rather than that,

• Housing costs

• Cars

• Insurance

Reviewing these large expenses is overwhelmingly more effective. And the leeway created by that can be used for things like time with family or hobbies—


"things you truly value."
Asset building is not about sacrificing the present. It is about improving the future while"enriching your current life as well."


That is why I value the approach of "thinking carefully about large expenses" and "not forcing myself to cut out small joys."

Summary

Cars are convenient, but they are also a larger expense than you might think.

• Cars continue to incur maintenance costs even after purchase

• Just thinking about whether you really need that many cars can change your household finances

• In wealth building, optimizing large expenses is more important than small savings

• You don't have to force yourself to cut back on your current quality of life

For me, switching to one car not only increased the speed of my wealth building, but alsobecame a catalyst for thinking about what I really want to spend money on as well.

I try to think of it as “not sacrificing a car, but prioritizing time with my family and future options”.

If you are currently thinking about replacing or adding a car, please try calculating the total costs, including maintenance, just once.

I'm sure your perspective on money will change a little.

Thank you for reading until the end!
I hope this article is even a little bit helpful for your life.

If you resonated with the idea of reviewing your fixed costs, including maintenance, it would encourage me if you could leave a like, follow, or comment with your thoughts.

*This article does not recommend the purchase or sale of any specific stocks or financial products. Investing involves risks, including the loss of principal, so please make final investment decisions at your own responsibility.