Woman Moves to Give Up Her Car and Save Money

Joolz Christie made a big decision when gas prices started going up. The 57-year-old woman moved from her house in the countryside to a small village. She wanted to live closer to shops and services so she could ride her bike instead of driving her car. Christie now bikes everywhere and has completely given up her car.

Christie first moved to the Scottish Highlands from England many years ago. She loved the beautiful mountains and the friendly community there. But her house was miles away from the nearest shops and services. This meant she had to drive her car almost everywhere, especially when her two daughters were young. Her car became a necessary part of daily life.

During the COVID-19 lockdown, Christie discovered a love for cycling. The roads were empty and safe, so she started biking for exercise and mental health. She even became a cycling trainer for a program called Breeze. But when lockdown ended, the main road became busy and dangerous for cyclists again. There were no bike lanes, and the road was winding and unsafe.

Christie decided to solve this problem by moving to Muir of Ord village. After 23 years in her rented house, she bought a new home in December. The new house put her close to shops, bus stops, and train stations. A few months later, she ended her £156-per-month car lease. Now she bikes to the grocery store, to work, and anywhere else she needs to go.

Gas prices in the UK have reached very high levels recently. A liter of petrol now costs about 160 pence on average. Prices went up because of conflicts in the Middle East that affected oil shipping. About 20 percent of the world's oil normally passes through an area that has become blocked. This has made many people look for ways to avoid buying expensive gas.