If you had 2 kids and were a stay at home mom, WYR share a car with working husband or have your own?

Question

Husband works 12-14 hour shifts as a first responder and sometimes is on night shift for months at a time. His usual shifts are 6 AM to 6 PM or 8 AM to 8 PM. His job is 30 minutes from our home so he never leaves the car here, mainly because I don’t want to get up at 4:30 with him to drive to his job to drop him off, then pick him up later as well. 
This means 6-7 days a week I am trapped in the house with both kids. Can’t go anywhere unless he’s home or has a day off (once a week). The only places we go are on neighborhood walks, the neighborhood pool and to their school bus stop down the street. This also means if my kid is sick at school (hasn’t happened yet at least) I would have no ride with my other child to go get her.
I want another car for myself but having trouble justifying the $350 for added on car insurance/car payment, as well as $50-100 in gas a month. Buying a car outright isn’t an option unless I wait a few years. 
What would you do? Would you rather have less extra money a month but freedom to drive, or share a car and save $?

Answer

I would finance a much cheaper car to lower the payments.  I am a sahm but it would be a huge pain to schedule every single dr appt and shopping trip around my SOs work schedule.  Plus, it’s important to have in case of an urgent situation.  I know it takes my SO ages to get out of work and home even when something urgent is going on.

Answer

I mean sacrafices have to be made. You probably should get up and drop him off a couple days a week so u can have the car........ meanwhile be working out a plan and looking at cheap used cars under 3,000 tht may be vry cheap to add to insurance. Spend reasonably within your means... no need to add a hefty finance car expense. Look and see used cars thats within reason..., and in meantime get up 1-3 days a week and run erons or do what’s needed to support the family.

Answer

I was/am a SAHM and always had a car until it broke down last year in March. I was now stuck at home with a 2 yo and a newborn and it was horrible. I was trapped and it added to my post partum depression being stuck in the house all day everyday. My angel of a grandmother bought me a used car 5 months later. Those 5 months were absolutely terrible. I feel so much better ever since then. It really does suck not being able to go to the store/friends or fams house/ drs appointment, etc, when you want/need to. 
I would definitely try to get a cheap used car if yall can afford it.

Answer

I have my own, but we could manage with just 1 if it came down to it

Answer

We had separate cars before i became a SAHM so we already had the extra. We ended up actually switching cars. He takes mine to work because its better on gas and i take his because i dont go places

Answer

Could you look for a cheaper car? Or look for a job you can do from home part time. My lease was up on my vehicle during lockdown while I was transitioning to sahm I wanted to keep my suv so I started a home baking business and I pay for my vehicle from that. I couldn’t imagine not having one I take my daughter too many places while my hubby is at work to only have 1.

Answer

If you have the money for a second car, I actually think it’s important to have one. What if something happens and you need to take your child to the hospital or urgent care or even just a dr appt? You can’t always expect someone to be able to drop everything for you to get you where you need to go (not saying you do). I grew up with this mentality though. My parents never left each other without a vehicle no matter what the situation was even if they had to borrow one from my grandparents.

Answer

In your situation I would want my own. Obviously depending if we can afford it.

If you had 2 kids and were a stay at home mom, WYR share a car with working husband or have your own?

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