The Family man and E biking

[banbury frank]

Hi

I have started this new Thread


So members can input there advice to other members

It Is a fact off life that fuel prices are going to keep rising

wages are NOT a lot off members will find no pay rises if not a pay cut to keep there jobs

In the last 12 months shopping at the local super market has gone up by up 50%

so where do you find that money

One answer is get rid off the second car and travel to work on a Electric Bike

Comments Please

Frank

 

[amigafan2003]

I don't really need to find it from anywhere - after bills, mortgage, food etc all paid for I have around £1500 cash spare a month.

If it has to come from somewhere then I'm probably saving around £100 less a month than this time two years ago.

 

[mike_j]

Well when you are retired and see your cash savings earning less than inflation at best and securities dropping like a stone (though it doesn't seem to stop the financial sector pocketing obscene bonusus) you wonder whether all that saving was worth it.

 

[Scottyf]

We got rid of my car and I cycle. Partners car is newer and more economical in the city and general traveling. Saves a bit but for now what I've saved in fuel I've spent on batteries and cycling bits.
I have no where near the free cash as others.

In the end I rented out my house moved to the city, changed jobs, cycled and now looking at a newer job.
House was paid for by me but with the new apartment my gf pays a bit and it's all class a electrics and windows and is mega cheap to run!

Fuel as pointed out by flecc is the same in money percent terms as it was 40 years back.

 

[dmcgoldrick]

ebike is an alternative way for me to make the short journey to work and also for leisure riding.
the bike running costs are £25 per month based on battery replacement every 2 years irrespective of mileage and an annual service. depreciation over first 3 years is £50 per month.........after which time i would expect a residual value at approx 25% of purchase price assuming it was in good condition and had not become obsolete due to technology advances......
as i dont have a second car and could not replace the journeys i make in the car by using the ebike, then the ebike falls into the category of a luxury item rather than a cost saving alternative mode of transport.....

 

[Scimitar]

I still need a car/van on the road for work purposes, but the ebike has assumed a role of nipping to the village/nearest small town for top-up shopping (papers, fags, milk, etc), thus saving me a fair bit of money on fuel and wear and tear on the car. The village is 5km, the town 8km distant, so the mileages add up rapidly.

 

[OldPedaller]

The e-bikes are for leisure for us these days, but if we still lived and worked in the city I know I'd definitely use the e-bike as an alternative to the frustration of crawling in and out of work by car in the rush hours.

It's not just the fuel costs; it's the pleasure of whipping past all that queuing traffic!

 

[bert11]

I started a thread about costs / payback. I found 2.5 years until I saw any saving on my £1.5k. And in this climate it's probably best to keep the capital. Driving a citroen c1 was a better money saver for someone who still needs to keep a car

 

[Scottyf]

Depends how much your inital outlay is in the first place. 1.5K is pretty hefy.
My inital layout considering all bits and pieces such as new tools and electronics equipment - Nearer the £600 mark.

However its turned into some kind of strange hobby with a mix of electrics i am interested in (Becoming more useful each year with the advancments and in my life time will be used more and more so) and cycling as I like to keep fit.