Counting the cost of car ownership

Look out of your nearest window, and there’s a good chance you’ll see several expensive tonnes of metal, glass, and plastic sitting idle. In fact, I am doing that right now. It wasn’t always this way for me. In the early phases of my investing journey, I managed to avoid the expense and responsibility of owning my own car. But I could only hold out so long. And between work trips and the need to transport kids quickly and safely, the debate now isn’t whether we need a car – it’s whether we need a second. Unless you live in a big city with a spiderweb of public transport routes, car ownership can feel mandatory. But I’m employing every strategy I can think of to avoid ponying up for an extra vehicle. And with all the app-based doorstep deliveries and on-demand transport options around now, that’s much easier than in the days of the Littlewoods catalogue and the milkman. A car costs more than the metal Cars are deeply personal. One person will swear by their 17-year-old Nissan, while…