(Brady Bunch Theme Music): Here’s a story, of a one car family!

After a little bit of talk (we’d discussed it multiple times), we finally made some big changes in the lifestyle of our household. Here’s the Cliff’s Notes version:

1. We sold our Mazda

2. Justin bought a bus pass and a bike

3. It works!

I put the Mazda on craigslist and kslcars.com at 5:00 p.m. on a Tuesday evening, I had an e-mail a few hours later from a mother who brought her daughter to my office Wednesday morning at 9:30, and by 10:00 it was unofficially sold! They wanted dad to buy off on it, and he was expected home from a business trip that evening… the next day, I was taking the bus home!

So, to our Mazda now residing at Utah State University, thank you for 5 1/2 dutiful years, for helping me survive a rear-end collission, for only needing an alternator, a brake job or two and a couple of sets of tires! You were a good car for us.

So, I totally love taking public transport! I know that may sound goofy, but it’s darn true. Perhaps it is the element of structure that exists there… I have two chances each hour to catch a bus 50 yards from our front doorstep that will deliver me to the light rail train, which gets me to work in exactly 30 minutes. Or perhaps it’s the fact that people actually greet each other with “Good morning!” Certainly, I smile because I know it’s saving us money, too.

With the proceeds from the sale of the Mazda-ratti, we were able to pay off what we owed on the Camry, so one payment GONE. Then we were able to discontinue the insurance, another hug e savings. Of course, no more gas or oil changes for car #2, no annual registration, and the list goes on… Even accounting for a $67 monthly bus pass, we estimate our savings to be at least $400/month!

So yesterday, after lots of online looking and an afternoon of test riding Friday, I stopped in a bike shop in South Jordan on our way home from Utah County, and long-story short came out with my new ride! What an awesome bike it is… I even did a test ride down to the office (and rode the Trax back up ‘cuz I was exhausted) after getting it home.

In case you didn’t know, bikes have become so popular once again, each shop I visited told me the same thing about their ’09 models that just started hitting their shops: they’re 20% MORE expensive across the board! Ergo, my decision to nab the last ’08 of the model I wanted (last one in my size), was a simple one!

Anyhoo, it’s good to feel (and save) a little green.