The war in Ukraine and Russia is, definitely, affecting many countries around the world even if the actual fighting is only between them at this time. If you want a more detailed discussion of how this war is affecting the supply and price of oil products, I recommend that you read this article and this article.

Have you checked the latest price increase in fuel?

I saw a meme being circulated on Facebook in the past months that says if men want to bring their girlfriends or wives to an expensive place, bringing them to a gas station is one option these days.

These rising oil prices make you think if you should have a vehicle or just use public transportation.

Let me share 3 reasons why I think having your own vehicle is a must for families right now even with the high price of fuel.

#1 Reason: In case of emergency

During emergency cases, if you have your own vehicle, you have a vehicle that you can use to bring a patient to the hospital immediately. Having quick and easy access to a vehicle when someone is having a hard time breathing or having a medical emergency of any kind is crucial. Every minute literally counts! Yes, you can call an ambulance or taxi or borrow a neighbor’s vehicle. But, at the time that you need it, you are not guaranteed that you can find one right away. Even before the pandemic, getting a taxi ride, especially during rush hours, could take an hour or longer. That is already a matter of life and death for a patient. The sooner that you can access a vehicle and bring the patient to the ER or the hospital, the sooner that the patient can receive the medical assistance that he/she needs.

#2 Reason: For safety or less exposure to possible sick people or carriers of the virus

Not all jobs can be done from home. there are still people who need to go to workplaces because of the nature of their jobs. You can choose to take public transportation like the bus, train, or taxi. But, buses and trains are now packed again to full capacity. The risk of standing or sitting next to a possible sick person or carrier of the virus is high. Taxis may not be crowded but we are not really sure if the drivers are able to sanitize their vehicles after every passenger. We are not also sure if the driver is also not a carrier or sick. It is really much safer to ride in your own vehicle that no other passengers use except you and your family members.

Moreover, if you and your family need to go somewhere, you and your children will not be exposed to other people who will be using public transportation. Remember that young children have the tendency to touch many surfaces and their faces or put their hands in their mouths even with many reminders not to do so. That’s simply their nature. Thus, if you want a safer way to travel with your family to appointments, school, or anywhere, having a family vehicle is still the best.

Recently, our family had some field trips and outings. It was a big blessing that we have our own vehicle. We didn’t have to worry about bringing too many things for our trips or about how to commute from our place to the hotel, historical landmarks, or farm that we wanted to visit. We didn’t have to worry about being exposed to other people who will be commuting with our family. It was not only safer. It was also less stressful for parents.

#3 Reason: To save time and money

I mentioned earlier that it can take so much time to search or wait for a vehicle, especially during rush hours. The fare is also high when you try to get a taxi during rush hours. I remember when I was still single and was commuting. A big chunk of my monthly income goes to my taxi fare. I didn’t like standing in trains where people are like sardines and are too close to each other. It was very uncomfortable for me.

And time lost is time spent. Our time is our most precious resource. Those precious minutes or hours could be spent doing something productive, doing your job, resting, or spending time with your family.

Now, how can you afford to buy a vehicle during a health and financial crisis?

I have some tips for you.

Tips When Buying a Vehicle

1. Calculate car loan payments that you can afford to spend each month.
2. Do your own research on what kind of vehicles and models can help you save gas and would fit your needs and budget. Some are choosing smaller cars now with better gas mileage. You may read about this here. Some are choosing electric cars or hybrids.
3. Calculate the fuel consumption for the kind of vehicles that you are considering and see which would best fit your budget and lifestyle.
4. Check out good second-hand or used vehicles. I have friends who even though they have the budget for a brand new vehicle opted to buy second-hand ones so as to save money.
5. Compare prices from various dealers or sellers.
6. Factor in maintenance costs in your planning or budgeting. You may use this site to compute for the cost of maintaining a vehicle.

I hope this post helps you in planning for your car or vehicle purchase. Feel free to share your thoughts in the comments about this article. I’d love to hear from you.