Hypothetically, would you travel 1hr 40 minutes to work (only for one year)...

Ricochet J

Ricochet J

Ricochet J

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Joined
29 Jun 2004
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...to save on living expenses?


So lets say you live where you are. And you have the job you've always wanted. It's 1 hr 40 minutes away. Would you drive to work (rather than moving to location) to save on living expenses? Taking into consideration rent etc are already paid for where you already live? Also taking into consideration the employment is only for one year?


Discuss :)
 
Depends. My commute takes 1:15 every day (sometimes more depending on traffic).

Its gets to you after a while, but saying that I've been doing it over 2 years now. When I moved, I chose to live near my friends and family not work.

I intend to work closer to home, but there's not many jobs nearby. I live in quite a rural area and my line of work usually involves working at a company HQ, most of which are going to be city based.
 
Depends if you'll be better off, I accepted a job for an extra £10k that would have been an hour and a half drive around the M25, didn't stay very long as I got offered a new job at my old company 5 days later :p
 
Sure. Done longer than that before. But my 'cento is insanely cheap to run.
 
whitecrook said:
cost/benefit
Click to expand...

75.5 miles. 151 miles in a day, 755 miles in the week. Taking today's fuel prices, £1.20/L of diesel fuel. And taking a ballpart figure that a 50L tank of diesel lasts 600 miles.

It'll roughly cost £75.50 a week in fuel, or £302 a month, or £3926 a year.

A 1 bed flat costs £500/month in rent in the particular area. That's £6000 a year.

Driving to work, as apposed to living at the area of work would save £2074 a year.
 
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Well, cost / benefit is one thing.

Time is another. Is an extra 3.5 to 4 hours of your day worth the difference in living costs. Essentially you are working 50% longer than your paid hours. What is that time worth to you?
 
only you can make the judgement call on if its worth your time - if you can commute on public transport that can make a big difference (depending on the journey) as you effectively have the time to do whatever you want - watch films, read books etc.

In a car your somewhat limited (i love my Audible subscription these days!). I do an hour+ each way by car and it does get to you sometimes, doesn't help that I do a 6-7 hour day at work but i enjoy the job and i like living out of the city...

on your calculations is that £500 per month more than living at home? you'll have extra overheads beyond that, bills, food etc. but you are buying back 3.5 hours a day, that's a week a year...
 
Unless it was a large increase in money, no

It's not the driving / travel, it's more the time not spent at home
 
Well i worked 45 mins from home for 5 years. Loved my job for the first 3 years never minded the commute great time to wind down. Then I got made redundant and took up a position in a company near my last one and for the remaining 1.5 years I hated it got paid very little the rising fuel costs so in the end I took a job 10mins from home and wow. More time to do stuff at home less fuel expense the list is endless im also able to go to nights out as its commutable by bus. its saved me in car maintance cost as thats another thing you havnt factored in.

Also remember what happens if they say we want to employ you full time?
 
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As bug has said, you should factor in the extra time it takes from your day. How much better off would you be if you worked 50% more hours where you are? How happy are you in your current job? Also, what does the future hold where you're at now compared with where you might go?
 
I moved up from 20 minutes to 40 minutes each way due to work relocating, and its not that bad now i'm used to it, the car needs driving anyway hardly gets used as i car share.

But I think I would draw the line at an hour each way, anymore than that and I would look at relocating somewhere nearer or changing jobs.
 
Done this for 18 months but then as a contractor with a young family thats the sacrifice you make. Leave the house at 6am and get back for 5-6pm.
 
For the job I've always wanted? Sure but then I've a feeling you are being a bit misleading with that - its not a 100k+ a year job is it, therefore it probably isnt the job you've always wanted.

I was able to find a job with a 4.5 mile commute and now i have that, this aspect of work is worth much more me than a paltry few grand a year. The ability to leave the office and be at home 10 minutes later is fantastic. The ability to not have my car choice restricted by endless miles of commuting is fantastic. The ability to have my average weekday waking hours spent with MORE than 50% of them at home instead of either at work or going to work is fantastic.
 
Depends on the saving. I made a 100 mile daily commute along the M25, which regularly took in excess of 1.5 hours each way, in order to continue living at home at zero cost. I'm not sure I would have done the same for a £100 saving.

EDIT: £2000 a year saving... not worth it unless there are other reasons to stay.
 
My commute is 90mins door to door, doesn't really bother me as it is mostly spent on a train so I can read a newspaper, book or chill out.

If I was home earlier I would probably spend more time watching the TV, so I am not to fussed.
 
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