Is 100 miles a day too far to commute?
- Thread starter Five_Star
- Start date
But using quality of life argument, what's best living somewhere 'nice' that means you have a commute, or living somewhere 'not nice' but being able to stroll to work? Plus it's not always that easy, what if you have a wife who works somewhere that by moving closer to your workplace would mean she would need another job? What if closer to your work means massivley increased living costs with rent/house prices?
Everyone is different and will want to do it differently, there is no right or wrong answer. All those above factors need to be thought about, and most people will probably have different answers as to what they would do.
For me I'd rather live somewhere I want to and commute to a place of work rather than my work choose where I live. I know I'll have to compromise by doing this, and that compromise is a lower salary than if I were to move up to say Bristol or along the M4 corridor, which I don't really want to.
It's funny at work sometimes when people ask where you live, and then their reaction is ooh that must take you ages to get to work (Torquay to Exeter, not exactly far!). Yet they don't realise it can take just as long to get from one side of Exeter to the other in the mornings!
I've got everything crossed at the moment though on a role I'm waiting to hear back on which would be ideal, work from home when not needing to be on a customer site.
Last edited:
Yeah that's true, the calculations are only relevant if you did have the choice of something on your doorstep too.
It also depends on what you're trying to get from your job. If taking the further job means that your career will progress much quicker, and that this is something that you care about, then the pendulum swings that way. If you're just doing it to pay the bills, then the lower paid job on your doorstep makes more sense and leaves you with more time for yourself.
Depending on circumstances too (E.g. new family), things are always subject to change.
Exactly, I used to work 8 til 4.30 with a 10 mile commute from north cambridge into town. That could regularly take me longer than driving from cambridge to luton and was far more stressfull sat in an endless queue.
That's not a commute in the same sense though. Your job is wherever your current site is and that changes often. You get to choose where you work.
Having a single static place of work is different.
Andhow much in parking? Bristol parkway is the best part of £7 a day
Nothing to park.
I wouldn't do it. It's not the just cost of travel that puts me off (you've got to calculate for a lot more than just petrol), but the time wasted just sat in a car is ridiculous. Then there's the invariable traffic issues, weather problems etc that just add to the journey.
I used to commute 100 miles each way 3x per week with one job and then 35 miles each way for two years with another. Long commute to work sucks unless you really have to do it. Fortunately I had company cars both times and a decent petrol allowance. Without this it would have cost far too much.
Now I commute 20 miles each way which is still a little much imo.
I used to commute 100 miles each way 3x per week with one job and then 35 miles each way for two years with another. Long commute to work sucks unless you really have to do it. Fortunately I had company cars both times and a decent petrol allowance. Without this it would have cost far too much.
Now I commute 20 miles each way which is still a little much imo.
That helps
If train tickets were more like oyster cards they would have been a good option for me
Yup it's just not doable, hence I doubt I'll go for a role that's a perm office based one in Bristol.
I don't think distance is the key issue - time and money is.
I'd be okay with 45 mins each way and not too much stop start. So far as money is concerned it would have to be worth a few k more to me than staying closer.
Of course there can be short term considerations such as not being able to get a training or junior role near home, you could spend 1 year putting up with a commute and then use that experience to find another job.
I'd be okay with 45 mins each way and not too much stop start. So far as money is concerned it would have to be worth a few k more to me than staying closer.
Of course there can be short term considerations such as not being able to get a training or junior role near home, you could spend 1 year putting up with a commute and then use that experience to find another job.
Some really good options here, I think it'll be easier for me to decide if the travel is worth it when I interview next week. One position is in Newcastle (the wrong side of the Tyne for me unfortunately) and the other just outside York so opposite directions from each other.
As suggested I'll be trying the routes at fairly standard times so leaving the house at 7am to see what the traffic is like.
I'm happy about the dual carriageway section of the A19 and the A1 (although it can get very busy) its certainly preferable to the single carriageway congestion around York.
Of course these are all irrelevant points if I don't get either job but glad to see its not impossible.
As suggested I'll be trying the routes at fairly standard times so leaving the house at 7am to see what the traffic is like.
I'm happy about the dual carriageway section of the A19 and the A1 (although it can get very busy) its certainly preferable to the single carriageway congestion around York.
Of course these are all irrelevant points if I don't get either job but glad to see its not impossible.
Last edited:
Soldato
- Joined
- 8 Mar 2006
- Posts
- 13,300
- Location
- Near Winchester
I personally, wouldn't want to do more than 200 miles a week, doing about 100 miles now.
If you can do 40mpg this will cost you about £65 a week plus probably about 25 hours of your time, you'll need to leave home before 7am, and you'll return home after 7pm.
Do you want to spend more than 1/7th of your week travelling and eat more than £3,000 of your salary?
If you can do 40mpg this will cost you about £65 a week plus probably about 25 hours of your time, you'll need to leave home before 7am, and you'll return home after 7pm.
Do you want to spend more than 1/7th of your week travelling and eat more than £3,000 of your salary?
Permabanned
- Joined
- 9 Aug 2009
- Posts
- 12,234
- Location
- UK
hellz no. I did a 20 mile commute and that got pretty annoying at times.
I do a 60 mile commute monday to friday, soon to be 64miles when we move to a new datacenter. The extra 4 miles doesnt bother me as the driving will be easier, on the motorway, come off, down a sliproad and im there. The current 60 mile commute is a pain as its abit of motorway, up hills, down hills, traffic, stop start
Been doing this for over a year and a half, my previous job before that was a 50 mile round trip for 4 years
MK4 Golf GT TDi - avg 45-55mpg - spend around £135 on fuel a month
Been doing this for over a year and a half, my previous job before that was a 50 mile round trip for 4 years
MK4 Golf GT TDi - avg 45-55mpg - spend around £135 on fuel a month
Last edited: