Car-Free living with Car-Sharing

Sure, hybrid cars are great, but what if you don't even really want a car, except for those special occasions.

In many large cities, public transportation is often faster and more convenient than driving. Unless, you have to go to the grocery store, of course.

Renting a car is typically expensive for a trip where you only need the vehicle for an hour.

Enter Zipcar. A car-sharing service in Cambridge, Zipcar offers 400 cars to 30,000 customers in Boston, Washington, and New York.

Flexcar, another car-sharing company out of Seattle, has 350 vehicles serving 25,000 customers, spread on both coasts and many places in between.

For about $10.00 an hour, including gas and insurance, you can make a reservation via telephone, and these car-sharing companies will hook you up with a car parked near your neighborhood, usually just a couple of blocks from you location.

A lease on a new car, insurance, etc. can often run near $1000.00 per month. If you are tired of this monkey-on-your-back, give car-sharing a try.