Experiences – Life – Inspiration 🇨🇭🇯🇵

I haven’t owned a car in years — and honestly, that turned out to be one of the best financial decisions I’ve ever made.

My first car was an old Alfa Romeo I bought for €2,500. It lasted two years, with about €1,000 spent on maintenance. Then someone crashed into the back of it, and I received €1,500 from insurance. Instead of fixing it, I sold the damaged car to the same dealer for €750 and pocketed the insurance money. That’s when I decided to go carless for a while.

I could bike to the office, and eventually, I got a company car. That was great — someone else paid for everything: the insurance, maintenance, and depreciation. The only downside was that private use was heavily taxed, as is typical in the Netherlands, where the government is king in taxing the working class.

When my position changed and no longer required a company car, I handed it back. The company offered to sell it to me, but I declined and went for a private lease instead. I chose a lightly used VW Up for €300 per month, which included service and insurance. Gasoline was the only thing I paid for.

Buying the same car would’ve cost me nearly €15,000 upfront. Instead, I paid €300 per month for four years — €14,400 in total — and never worried about repairs, depreciation, or surprise costs.

That’s when it really clicked: cars aren’t assets; they’re liabilities. They lose value the moment you drive them. Leasing, on the other hand, gave me freedom and predictable expenses.

Fast forward to Japan — my wife and I now lease a Honda Freed for about €350 per month since last April. And once again, it turned out to be a great decision.

Last May, the engine broke down in the mountains because of an oil leak. If we had owned the car, we’d have faced a big repair bill and all the paperwork with insurance. But since it was leased, everything was handled for us. No financial stress, no wasted time — just a quick repair and peace of mind.

And as I’m writing this now, I’m sitting at the car dealership during our annual check and maintenance, sipping a hot coffee while everything is taken care of for us. Talking about convenience.

Leasing has made our lives in Japan easier and worry-free, confirming once again that owning a car isn’t the only path to comfort or freedom. Sometimes, letting go of ownership is the smartest investment of all.