The U Pass

[crookedking]

just get a student loan to cover it.

[Erin]

^ What if I'm against loans?

[Carrie]

its just something that one needs to deal with. if you can't opt out of it, then you should try to use it so that it isn't wasted.

plus I think you can claim it on your taxes.

[dabbler]

Originally Posted by Erin

^ Yeah, that would bother me. I don't mind helping people out, but what if I can't afford to pay that? What if my expenses won't allow for an extra $125 every 3 or 4 months?

it is once a year, and a smaller fee to cover summer term if you are enrolled. not every 3 or 4 months.

[Carrie]

^ per semester, only valid through one semester

[ebbomega]

Originally Posted by Erin

^ Yeah, that would bother me. I don't mind helping people out, but what if I can't afford to pay that? What if my expenses won't allow for an extra $125 every 3 or 4 months?

Sell your car.

Or better idea: use transit to commute, save money on gas. It's a minor inconvenience but to be honest budgeting causes inconveniences for every student.

[Pussy*Kat]

Why is everyones first response to sell their car?

[ebbomega]

Heh, just as I ammend it. =P

[Disco_Whore]

Originally Posted by Pussy*Kat

Why is everyones first response to sell their car?

Cause that's the same response you'll get if you're applying for a student loan and you have one.

[Carrie]

I tried to take the skytrain after the parade of lost souls, I even bought a transit fare.

at that moment, we got a call and our ride was downstairs. I gave away the transit fare to someone in line to buy one.

[Pussy*Kat]

Originally Posted by Disco_Whore

Cause that's the same response you'll get if you're applying for a student loan and you have one.

Um, I have been approved for a student loan while I own a car.

[Erin]

Originally Posted by ebbomega

Sell your car.

Or better idea: use transit to commute, save money on gas. It's a minor inconvenience but to be honest budgeting causes inconveniences for every student.

My car is $50 in gas every 2 weeks and $175/month insurance... and I can go anywhere I want whenever I want, I get there faster with heated seats and a stereo. It also takes me right to my door. My car is amazing on gas, it actually saves me money to use my car. And it's convenient.

[Carrie]

when I applied I didn't have my car, but I got the car half way through my second semester.

I ended up dropping out of that program though... so I dislike loans for things that are uncertain.

[ebbomega]

Originally Posted by Erin

My car is $50 in gas every 2 weeks and $175/month insurance... and I can go anywhere I want whenever I want, I get there faster with heated seats and a stereo. It also takes me right to my door. My car is amazing on gas, it actually saves me money to use my car. And it's convenient.

And if you only ever used your car to go out and used the bus to commute you'd probably spend $50 in gas every month.

My point is that there's always alternatives. What bugs me is that you didn't mention anything about carpooling. What bugs me further is that most of these car owners that are also students don't carpool either, but feel well within their right to complain about the U-Pass.

I don't see anything about the U-Pass that says "bad idea" except that the only way to make it work is that everybody has to pay for it. It encourages people to be environmentally conscious, and it lets students that don't have the privilege to be able to afford a car get a little bit of relief.

[Carrie]

I drive Jim around a lot, is that carpooling?

[Erin]

Originally Posted by ebbomega

And if you only ever used your car to go out and used the bus to commute you'd probably spend $50 in gas every month.

You're right. I would save $50/month. How much is a bus pass again?

[ash1ee]

my reasoning for getting rid of my car is simple. i only drive it max 5 times a month. and probably a few of those times it is because it is raining or we have alot of groceries. which i could walk.

yes i love it. but it was costing me too much for how little i used it.

if i didn't live dt. or worked more than a 10 min walk away..things would be different. but even now...i walk the 15 mins over the burrard bridge to save the hassle of plugging a stupid meter every 2 hours. or even finding parking close by.

i'm not ruling out getting another one in a year or so. but i'd like to try being carless for at least 6-12 months.

if i'm that desperate to drive somewhere i have options.
a)borrow from a family member
b)rent. it's less that $50 a day.
c)i work for a car dealership.

[ash1ee]

Originally Posted by Erin

You're right. I would save $50/month. How much is a bus pass again?

i never knew just how expensive they were!

[Erin]

Originally Posted by ash1ee

i never knew just how expensive they were!

I know, but I don't live downtown. I live in Burnaby and I actually get my money's worth.

If I lived downtown, it would be sold faster then it would take me to type this post!

[cubed]

Originally Posted by ash1ee

c)i work for a car dealership.

I think you need to "borrow" a DB-7 and we need to go for a drive.

[Pussy*Kat]

Originally Posted by Erin

I know, but I don't live downtown. I live in Burnaby and I actually get my money's worth.

If I lived downtown, it would be sold faster then it would take me to type this post!

I honestly cant wait to move both of my jobs downtown (march cannot come fast enough).

My car sucks 800.00 a month out of me :( I want that for shoes.

[Erin]

Originally Posted by Pussy*Kat

I honestly cant wait to move both of my jobs downtown (march cannot come fast enough).

My car sucks 800.00 a month out of me :( I want that for shoes.

Holy crap! That's waaaaaaaay to much money!!

[ash1ee]

Originally Posted by Pussy*Kat

I honestly cant wait to move both of my jobs downtown (march cannot come fast enough).

My car sucks 800.00 a month out of me :( I want that for shoes.

mine is that without gas.

i want that for vacation savings.

[Carrie]

so far this month it's been 442.84 .. last month was 412.26

[Erin]

Mine is between $375 and $400/month. Glad I didn't buy a BMW!! :)