Hi, All,
I'm grateful for having been offered what I consider the opportunity of a lifetime. I have been admitted to my favorite PhD program. The package far exceeds my wildest dreams. However, I'm starting to feel some trepidation around successfully engineering the logistics of it all.
Because my new school's parking rate is very high for me ($80 per car per month * 2 cars per month = $160/month = nearly $2,000/year), I am trying to figure out a way to reasonably avoid bringing my car to campus in Southern California in the fall. Here's my situation:
(1) I will live in family housing since I have two toddlers. My husband will live with us when he is in town (60% of the time). I can walk to my classroom, and I can walk my kids to their full-time school. (We cannot save money by get subsidized child care as my husband makes too much to qualify but not enough to retire on (become a stay-at-home dad).
(2) My husband is a touring musician who sporadically spends approx. 40% of the year on the road. He needs a car to drive from our current apartment in Southern California (not near my new university) to Las Vegas, where he spends approx. 30% of his time, and move heavy equipment. He cannot easily get a more mainstream job that would allow him to stay in town. (His very specialized skills cannot be used in many places/capacities.)
(3) Off-campus housing (within 20 miles) is very expensive!
(4) Grandparents like to visit and sometimes care for kids. One set of grandparents lives 10 miles away. Another set lives 33 miles away (a 50-minute drive outside of rush hour but a 90-minute+ drive during rush hour).
(5) Living with grandparents, due to health and space issues, is not an option, unfortunately.
(6) Although the university is offering me a reasonable amount of funding, the amount cannot and was not meant to support a family. I have some savings but will likely have to use some loans.
(7) I cannot imagine deferring entrance into a doctoral program as I am already in my forties! I could not have kids until this late in life as the opportunity to have kids, namely a willing partner, did not present itself until late in life. Thus, it's now or never!
Can someone in my situation get by without a car? What might be the best way to arrange trips off campus for my kids (to see doctors in case of emergency), buy groceries with kids in tow, etc. in SoCal without a car?
Also, any suggestions on how to successfully progress in a doctoral program while supporting dependents?
Thanks!
If it's UCLA, it's simple without a car. If it's USC, it's a different story. More details about the campus, please....
Have you explored car sharing, such as using Zipcar. If it is offered in your area, you might even get a discount... many universities offer special rates if you sign up through them and they usually have a few vehicles on campus. It's not for your everyday driving needs, but a once a week shopping trip and the once in a while trip to the grandparents should be just fine.
Also look into grocery delivery. Paying the $10 deliver fee that safeway charges, might be cheaper than paying for parking + the expense of owning a second car.
I think you can do it! Maybe you find a place where you can leave your car for a while (maybe grandparent's house) and try it, before you make it final and sell it.
I envy you! I am just getting ready to go back to school and would love to go on to a postgrad and PhD program. I think you can absolutely do it! And the fact that you are tells me that maybe I can, too!
Good luck.
The $80 a month for parking is worth it for the emergency use and convenience factor when you have two little ones. Your husband's car could likely be stored off campus or parked in free parking when he is in town. But you will have enough time management challenges. You do not need the additional burdens when he is on the road. School is an investment and loans, while daunting, will be worth it. Invest in yourself and the quality of the time that you will have with your family during your program. Enjoy and study smart, not hard. B
When your husband is in town could you keep one car at the granparents who live ten miles away? You and your children could meet him there and pick him up. Does the university ask you to submit a license plate number? Good luck, this sounds like such an exciting opportunity!
You cannot live without a car in Los Angeles, period. Lived here all my life. Missing Persons wrote a song in the 80's about it, "nobody walks in L.A" is 100% accurate. You can kid yourself if you want, but you need a car here in this town.
Ina's on the money as usual :)
Zip Car and delivered groceries will take care of 99% of your needs. As I'm sure you're aware... university campuses are like little universes unto themselves. It's quite possible never to leave them. If the kids' school is within walking distance to your home, then that covers the majority of your needs right there.
Obviously, in case of emergency, and no zipcar available... you have 2 options: borrow a neighbor, or hire a cab. Same token, students usually get breaks on bus passes, and most universities these days have a dedicated ZipCar lot, or several spaces in every lot dedicated to them.
Congrats on your acceptance!!!
It IS possible to get around without a car, it's just not quite as easy, especially with two toddlers. It also depends a lot on which school you're going to, as some schools have a lot more things in walking distance than others.
If you want to send me a private message and tell me which school it is, I can give you some more specific advice.
You need a car. If there are any apartment complexes nearby for college students or even senior citizens, you could put up an ad to rent someone's parking space.
To answer your final question...it's pretty darned hard to be in an advanced degree program and give your family the amount of time they previously enjoyed. There will be compromises on all sides. The thing to realize is that it will not last forever. Keeping your focus tight on getting your coursework completed and your children well cared for will require strong organization. Make sure that you have the best software for working on your dissertation that has full editing capability. That will save you time when you get to the hardest part of your upcoming program.
Good Luck...you CAN do this!
you need a car down here. just factor that into your expenses.
Part of your decision may be based upon specifically where your school is located in So. Cal. For example, if UCLA, you might not need a car since it's considered a relatively safe area for walking, businesses are close by, medical center is close, etc. If you are at USC, which is considered more urban and closer to LA's sprawling downtown, you probably should keep a car (look into alternate parking options as mentioned by other posters below) since walking substantial distances for various stores and services might not be as easily and safely accessible. If you are in Orange County, such as at UC Irvine, you will also likely need a car since that campus is quite spread out and the shopping, services and medical centers are somewhat more remote. Also, with two toddlers you may want to explore the many child-friendly entertainment options in So. Cal (museums, aquariums, beaches, etc.) that are typically much easier to get to by car since parking is often very easy (and/or free) and especially if it would be at all problematic for you and your young children to wait for public transportation.
Hi! Congrats on the PHd program! Personally, I think you're just going to have to pay for the parking, even if it's expensive. You have two young kids, and I can't imagine getting by without a car in LA--especially with your husband gone so much. I think it's well worth it for your peace of mind!
Lynne-
Congratulations on your acceptance and a great package! That is quite a feat. Something that popped into my mind was what if you kept one car on campus and parked the other at the close grandparents house? I'm not sure where in So Cal you'll be but I assumed LA/Inland Empire, which does not give you great public transportation options and can be downright dangerous in the wrong areas. Also, with two toddlers, I would not want to be without transportation if there were a medical emergency.
I'm sure you will figure it all out. And, again, congratulations.
S.
PS I think I'm really jealous... ;-)
Are you by chance attending USC? If so, there are private parking garage options that are much more affordable than university parking. Parking at the Shrine is pretty affordable, and so is parking the the old May Company (university owned) parking garage. The only problem with the May Company parking garage is that you have to take a shuttle to get there. It is quite far from campus.
Forgive me if my information is dated. I am about 15 years removed from college! I think most So Cal colleges have various private parking garage options that are cheaper than university parking though. Maybe you can ask someone in your department about it. Or maybe you can pay someone in the area to let you park your husband's car in their driveway when he is in town. Good luck to you. Someday, everyone will be calling you Doctor Lynne ;-)
Congrats! I see a couple of people mentioned the zipcar...if you're going to UC Irvine, where I work, they do have it or a very similar program. I would def. check into that option. Frankly, w/ two young kids, you're going to need a car. So Calif. is a bear to get around w/out one :) Good luck and how exciting!!!
Having two toddlers of my own and on ocassion choosing to limit use one of the two family cars (parking is difficult in our neighborhood) it can be difficult. You can certainly get by, in fact many less fortunate families don't have a car at all, but it would increase the amount of time it takes to get anywhere. In the event of an emergency, you could probably ask a neighbor/friend for a ride. However for the usual errands, playdates, shopping it would be far more beneficial to have your second car. Have you considered storing your second car with the grandparents who are closest? (10 miles away). That way you wouldn't have to pay the monthly parking rate, but is close enough to take a short bus ride and pick up your car.
Congratulations on your acceptance to a doctoral program.
Hi Lynne,
Congratulations on your opportunity. You are a true inspiriation.
I moved to LA 11 years ago from CHicago. I'm used to city life, with great public transportation (buses, trains, subways, etc) and really expected LA to be the same. In CHicago (like NY), you do not need a car if you live in the city. However, LA is very different. In my opinion and experience, you definitely need a car...especially if you have children.
Where will you be going to school? USC? Feel free to email me if you need more specific information and referrals.
Good luck with your new journey!
R.
When I moved to LA in 1996 from NYC without a car (who needs one in NYC?), I was in shock! The transportation system was HORRIBLE! Now I have a car, and cant imagine my life without it. I did spend 5 years here in LA without a car and it is SUPER easy now to get around town. I work in Westwood and if you are going to UCLA you will not need a car. USC as well. You can get around without a car. You can have groceries delivered, and in some stores, they offer transportation home for free if you spend $25 in groceries. There is also the Red, Green, Blue, and Gold line. And all of the metro rapid buses, that have the ability during rush hour to keep some lights green longer. It will take an adjustment, but it will be worth it in the end.
Congratulations!
