Commute- How far is too far?

smifffy1989

I am looking at a potential new job which will bring in a nice healthy salary increase cira 25%+. In addition to this I will have a company car, with all fuel paid for ( I do pay tax on this, but its worth it).

However in doing so I will increase my commute to 120 miles a day!

My current daily commute is 20 miles and takes maximum 90 minutes in total. (Traffic can be bad in city centre)

I may be able to work offset hours to take advantage of quieter times maybe 7:30-3:30, or perhaps ask to work from home on a Friday.

Most the commute will be on the M1, and google maps suggests that it will take 2 hours 20 mins.


Is this too far? How far have you commuted to work? Was it sustainable? Did it have an effect on your family?

FBaby

So you'd have to leave at 5:00 every morning and won't be home before 18:00 every day? It would have to be an incredible job and would have to have much more energy than I have to cope but some do it. In the end only you and your partner can decide if it is worth the extra money.

reehsetin

I do an hour and twenty minutes ish - and that's on the train not driving. There's no way I would drive 2 hours twenty each way. If the job's that good is it feasible to move closer?

sinizterguy

75-90 mins each way is the maximum I would consider.

Any more and you spend almost as much time in the car as at work. I would like to get home and spend some time with the kids too.

PasturesNew

I know somebody who does 170-180 miles/day commute, at their own expense and in their own car - the employer changed the terms of the expenses system as there were times when it could be claimed as they don't work from an office, but across two counties. It's not even on a motorway either, job is located where the nearest motorway starts.

flea72

reehsetin wrote: »

I do an hour and twenty minutes ish - and that's on the train not driving. There's no way I would drive 2 hours twenty each way. If the job's that good is it feasible to move closer?

I think its 2hrs 20 round trip, not each way. As the OP said 120 miles journey a day

So just over an hour commute. Leave home at 7am would give allowance for holdups, to be in office for 8.30. Still gets home by 7 in evening, so 12hr day tops, including travel.

Yes, driving is tiring (espec if stop/start), but its not excessive, espec if decent car is provided and increase in wages compensates a bit for loss of hometime.

gettingready

Is the 2 hours 20 minutes each way or total?

I commute around 1 hour 30 min to 1 hour 45 mnutes each way so 3-3.5 hours per day in total and it is only from one side of London to another and on public transport.

It is doable and I do it as the money is not just good, it is excellent.

If your 2 hour 20 minutes is each way and driving - no way.

What about finding a room there on a Mon-Fri let and go back to family at weekends? That is if you REALLY want this particular job.

GRM

In my late twenties I commuted 230 miles a day, usually 3 or 4 days per week, took 3.5 to 4 hours a day.

It's possible and I did it for three years for the salary and the career opportunities. Not sure I could that much driving now - I now spend a similar amount of time commuting by train for pretty much the same reasons....

gettingready

flea72 wrote: »

I think its 2hrs 20 round trip, not each way. As the OP said 120 miles journey a day

And I have a feeling it is each way as how could the OP possibly do 120x2 so 240 miles (round trip) in 2 hours 20 minutes without getting tickets several times?

I do nto drive but with speed limits etc 120 miles in 2 hours 20 minutes (so one way) sounds about right, no?

But OP says 120 miles per day so perhaps it is 60 miles each way?

Hmmm

OP - can you clarify please?

pimento

I do a 90 min each way commute by train and tube and from December when we move offices, it will be a 110 minute each way commute.

You do what you have to do.

macca1974

So are you saying it is 2 hr 20 in total or 2hr 20 each way? If the first, then I think that is probably manageable as long as it is realistic and you aren't going to drive down the M1 for an hour and then get stuck in traffic for ages getting to wherever you are going.

2hr 20 each way (or maybe 3 hrs each way in traffic) would be too much for me as I would be leaving before the kids got up and then getting home knackered maybe an hour before they went to bed.