Cars, Gas, & Transportation
Used Cars
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The used car market is insane and will continue to rise as tariffs, inflation, and low inventory continue to climb.
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You can play the game of looking for a good deal on a used car on Facebook Marketplace, Craigslist, or Offerup. Your mileage may vary drastically, but you might be able to find the needle in a haystack.
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If you are under a time constraint and need a decent used car sooner rather than later, then I'd highly recommend looking at both Enterprise Rent a Car and Hertz used car sales:
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https://www.enterprisecarsales.com/
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https://www.hertzcarsales.com/
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Both companies match Kelley Blue Book, which is the perennial used car value resource.
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Salvage Vehicles
Many people find bargains with Salvaged or totaled cars. These cars have their risks, but you may ultimately find a fantastic bargain for a car that otherwise is absolutely safe to drive after the necessary repairs are made.
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How to Travel Cheaply Without a Car
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Electric Scooters
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The way out of dealing with a car, maintenance, insurance, accidents, and the potential of theft is by going with an electric scooter.
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Look for an electric scooter with a solid braking system, suspension, and at least a 40 mile range on a full charge.
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This is the electric scooter I recommend right now at Best Buy:
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This scooter is currently on sale for $800 and has great reviews. You really do need to spend closer to $1000 for quality, but it will go a long way.
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Always get the 2 year warranty as you can imagine these battery and drives are not going to hold up. The warranty guarantees you can get the initial investment back and get another one to meet your needs.
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2 years of transportation for $1000 is not a bad investment compared to the tens of thousands one would spend on a car over that same time frame. The trick is to utilize a bicycle, walking, the train, a trolley, or Amtrak to further fill in the gaps for your transportation needs.
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Bicycles
I absolutely love bicycles and have relied on them pretty exclusively during my college years.
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I cannot recommend using a local bike shop at the insanely inflated prices being pushed by these manufacturers.
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If you can find a good markdown on a bike at your local bike shop, then by all means pursue that. Having the local bike shop's support is valuable, especially when you're starting out in the sport.
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For anyone else that's a bit more intermediate and experienced when it comes to bikes, I'd highly recommend getting your bikes from Bikesdirect.com
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Bikes have become so astronomically expensive for basic components that I can't recommend Bikesdirect enough if you're looking for a basic entry level road bike with Shimano Claris components to get you to your destination as quickly as possible for the money.
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The best budget road bike for the money would be this one at $800:
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It comes with an aluminum frame, carbon fork, and Shimano Claris groupset. I'm not a huge fan of disc brakes on every single road bike on the market today as they're a pain to dial in just right, but that's the industry trend for you.
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It's clear that spending a bit more gets you a much better bike and experience on the road.
You can spend $1000 and get Shimano Sora components and great DT Swiss wheels with this option:
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If you can find a decent entry level road bike with Shimano Claris components for around $800 at your local bike shop, then go that route.
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If you're looking for a bike you can comfortably lock up outside and do errands with, then consider a single speed or fixed gear bike if your commute/route is not very hilly.
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Bikesdirect has this option for $330 as a solid single speed option. You will need to replace the tires immediately upon getting the bike, but for under $400 to get a bike to lock up outside for errands and commuting, you can't do wrong.
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Another option I implore you to check out would be the Mini Velo:
https://www.bikesdirect.com/products/mercier/nano.htm
The smaller wheels and compact frames make them quick, nimble, and perfect for urban riding. Definitely worth looking into as a cheaper commuting option if you do need gears.
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Electric Bikes
I'm not the biggest fan of electric bikes given their costs, lack of range on a full battery, cheap components, and a severe lack of warranty and customer support for these electric drives.
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If you have to charge the battery overnight just to get 20 miles of range, that's just not practical for the enormous costs of these bikes, which can easily go over $2000. Stick with an electric scooter for under $1000 with a warranty from Best Buy.
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If you have a good electric bike, then absolutely rely on that for commuting, recreation, and basic transportation needs.
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Electric bikes can be incredibly fun, but the costs and battery hassles deter me from recommending them as a long-term, efficient, and economical means of transportation compared to an electric scooter or even a regular bicycle.