A mother who needs her car to take her young daughter to medical appointments has had to give up driving due to Australia’s cost of living crisis.
Meg Laidlaw of Bendigo stopped driving when she had to pay an $8,000 bill to have it serviced and registered.
The single mother of four’s car first broke down in January 2021, and since then the Ford has had repeated problems, rendering it useless, needing new tires and collecting dust.
According to Finders According to Consumer Sentiment Tracker, Ms Laidlaw is not alone, with as many as nine million Australian drivers choosing to skip trips to the mechanic in an effort to save money.
A whopping 79 per cent of Australians reported being somewhat or extremely stressed about their financial situation in April 2023 – up from 75 per cent at the same time in 2022.
Single mother of four, Meg Laidlaw, has had to make a choice between caring for her children and getting her car roadworthy again
The Ford Falcon’s balding tires have made driving unsafe, forcing Ms Laidlaw to opt for public transport instead
“(The car) broke down in January 2021 and ever since then I’ve been relying on family, who borrow their cars to get to important appointments,” Ms Laidlaw told Daily Mail Australia.
“It ended up costing myself $1,900 and in the end the total repair bill was $8,000.
“After I got it back from the mechanic, the fan belt broke, we fixed it, and then two weeks later the tensioner gave way and it sat in my driveway for a while until my dad fixed it temporarily.”
Ms Laidlaw has to make special medical trips to Melbourne to support her children and says the extra travel costs have become impossible even with the car moving.
“I have to travel into the city for medical appointments for my daughter, travel two hours for an occupational therapist and speech therapist for my other children, and travel an hour for a pediatrician,” she said.
‘Those kilometers add up, both in terms of fuel, tires and engine wear.’
After her story first appeared online, Ms Laidlaw said she was approached by a kind-hearted stranger who had been in a similar position.
‘I had a lovely lady in NSW who contacted me and offered to pay to replace my tyres.
“I’ve taken up the kind offer as much as I’ve been stubborn. She kept insisting and was just so nice and said she said it was not a commitment.
“She has been in my position before and can now make a difference.
“Truly an angel is a disguise!”
Finder’s research found that one in seven Aussies have even started cutting back on doctor and dentist visits as the cost of living rises.
In addition, 27 percent of drivers – equivalent to 5.4 million drivers – said they would drive less in the next six months.
Ms Laidlaw has to travel between Bendigo and Melbourne for medical appointments: ‘Those miles add up, both in fuel, tires and wear and tear on the engine’
Up to nine million drivers choose to skip trips to the mechanic in an effort to save money
For Ms. Laidlaw, cutting back on medical bills is not an option, which only delays repairs on her car.
Over the next two weeks, she said she will spend $900 on three trips to the Royal Melbourne Children’s Hospital, an amount that does not include transport costs between Bendigo and the city.
“When you have children with special needs, you’re choosing between an important pediatrician appointment or your registration,” she said.
‘Public transport to and from the city is a mess, especially if you are elderly, have a pram or wheelchair.
“Shopping now causes anxiety and I’m not the only one who feels this way.”
Half of Australians say they limit eating and drinking out of the house, which can help with household costs, says Sarah Megginson, Finder’s money expert.
“Reducing unnecessary expenses such as expensive gym memberships and eating out can have a significant long-term impact,” Ms Megginson told Daily Mail Australia.