For us we are only saving $50 a week and we did buy new bikes, so right now we are in the red. The plus for us is it FORCES us to work out. Plus we have extended the oil changes out to time limit vs. mileage so we are saving some money there. But it is still hard to get ourselves to do it. We scrapped riding to work and now do a hybrid commute:
-If it is DH's day he comes with me to work and rides the 7 miles to his work. He then rides the 28 miles home in the evening.
-My Day he drops me off at work and I ride the 27 miles home in the evening.
I loved the energy from riding to work but I didn't like getting up early, the stress of "what if I have a mechanical, etc" or the baby wipe bath. So this is a great compromise and still means we only drive the truck one day. With my husband driving a large pick up we need to be doing something and biking home is more fun than pure carpooling.
I wouldn't beat yourself up, commuting doesn't work for everyone. It sounds like you would have to make a lot of sacrifices to do it and honestly I wouldn't make that many myself. On the clothes, you can use them other times but it is still a large expense. Although you can find technical clothes at Walmart for shirts, etc. Maybe you can just do it on the days the kids aren't going to school?
Amanda
2011 Specialized Epic Comp 29er | Specialized Phenom | "Marie Laveau"
2007 Cannondale Synapse Carbon Road | Selle Italia Lady Gel Flow | "Miranda"
You don't have to be great to get started, but you do have to get started to be great. -Lee J. Colan