Should I stay or should I go?

skintchick

I have a slight dilemma I need help with.

For the next two weeks I have work in London, and possibly for a third week.

My brother has offered me his spare room to stay in so I have a shorter and cheaper commute (figures to come below). BUT I am not sure because a) I will have to take my entire wardrobe with me 50 miles round the M25, b) I have a cat and don;t entirely trust my lodger to remember to look after her and c) it might well cost me more in food to be there as i already have my food in here.

If I stay at home, then my weekly train ticket is £79. I have to get the 7.36am train and am likely not to get home until 9pm at the earlies.

If I stay at my brothers', my weekly train ticket is £31.60 and I can get the 8.21 train, and will get back to his by 8pm.

However, if I stay at his, then for each week I also have the cost of driving to his house on the Sunday evening, and back to mine on Saturday morning, total 100 miles each week, which is about £10 petrol.

Plus the issue of food (he shops at M&S!)

I'm not sure the saving is worth all the hassle of worrying about my cat, driving back and forth each weekend, not being in my own home, having to take all my clothes, etc.

What do you think I should do? (Bearing in mind I don't desperately need every bit of cash I can get, although obviously being self employed it would be nice!)

louise30_2

stay at home! I too often work long days and there is nothing better than slumping into your own bed or having a hot bath at home. plus you cat will be there to greet you!

peterg1965

How well do you get on with your brother?
Is he likely to offer you food for the week? I wold if it was my brother staying with me.
Your entire wardrobe for one week...!!!!!!!!!! as a bloke I am definately not quailified to comment on that one!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

skintchick

peterg1965 wrote:

How well do you get on with your brother?
Is he likely to offer you food for the week? I wold if it was my brother staying with me.
Your entire wardrobe for one week...!!!!!!!!!! as a bloke I am definately not quailified to comment on that one!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I work in magazines, darling, I have to look fashionable! How can I possibly know what I'll want to wear each day? :rolleyes:

He will probably be getting home later than me so I don;t know about food. He just buys those microwave steam meals!

Tondella

Can you ask him how much he would like you to contribute to the food shop? It might help your sums? Sounds to me like you don't want to go though. It's an extra two hours commute per day, for the next (possibly) three weeks. You could always try commuting from your own home for one week, and if it gets too much/train is too unreliable, you could take your brother up on his offer for the second and third weeks?

dinkylou

If you are really really skint at the moment then stay at his but if you aren't that bad, stay at home.

I personally would stay at home and maybe stay at his if you have to work late one day?

Tondella

skintchick wrote:

I work in magazines, darling, I have to look fashionable! How can I possibly know what I'll want to wear each day? :rolleyes: /QUOTE]

Dahrling! is the notion of a capsule wardrobe now defunct???? How would you pack if it were fashion week in Milan?? You could always turn it into one of your freelance articles - suitcase living for the itinerant fashion worker!!!

skintchick

I used to do the commute every day for over a year, so I know what it's like and I'm not hugely bothered about doing it for a short period of time.

My bro is very keen on me staying with him, and I am less keen for the various reasons I said, but then it does mean an extra £80 in my pocket if I stay with him.

I just can't decide! I am depressed and on medication at the moment and I can;t make big decisions!

snoozer

You really sound as if you want to stay at home. Why not do that for the first week then if the long days exhaust you stay with your brother for the rest of the time.

skintchick

Tondella wrote:

Dahrling! is the notion of a capsule wardrobe now defunct????

Yes!! That's such an 80s concept, sweetie!

researcher

I'd commute home - and use the train time to relax and unwind. Having worked all around the world I definitly wouldn't bother with the hassle of staying away if I really didn't have to.