Worth having longer commute for more bang for your buck?

divadee

SailorSam wrote: »

Did you say how long it took you now ?
If it's say 20/25mins and you're not happy. I think 45mins isn't a lot extra if you're going to have a better quality of life.

In my old house it took 20 mins. We are now in rented and it takes 10 minutes walk or 4 minute drive but this is only short term let until we buy somewhere.

vansboy

I dont envy people working in London, for instance, who, I always thought were crazy to get up at silly oclock, then herd into a train, then be shoved around, then work, then home late as well.

When I was fortunate enough to be working, I would consider the journey, from a lovely small village, into the 'big' town, as 'my time'. It took about an hour to drive and if things had been a bit of an unpleasant time at work, I could go an even more scenic route home and wind down.

Then things changed, was going to move so would have been half way between my work and hers, which actually made me think that I would miss the drive!!

I do like driving, though. Would never be able to have even thought of the journey by public transport, let alone enjoy it!!

There will be extra financial costs involved, plus loss of time with family, but if you do it right, then you will be MUCH better off, than living where you dont want to be!!

VB

StumpyPumpy

One of my former jobs involved a commute of 35 miles each way. It started off taking around 45 minutes but ended up taking longer and longer. In the end, I had to leave home at 7:30 just to make reasonably sure I was in the office by 9am. Most of the time I'd be there just after 8:30 but sometimes I was in well after 9. Longest commute home for those 35 miles was 6 hours!

The other problem with a long commute if you are driving is the longer it is the more likely you are to caught by a delay. And different people have different thresholds to what length becomes intolerable. I first changed jobs to one with a more flexible start time but even that wasn't helpful when the commute started to average at around 75 minutes. Other people will say more is fine, others less, you only really know when you try it for yourself.

SP

savingfortomorrow

It depends on so many factors.

Is your job potentially movable or are you trained for one specific location job ie pilot has to work from an airport but a nurse can find a hospital nearer.
What type of roads are they good, bad or a nightmare. How are they in winter, prone to ice and are they ones the council gripe... Are they impassable.
Diesel or petrol costs. Diesal is way cheaper, would you be able to afford more repairs and fuel.
Even if you wish to drive is there a back up option of public transport.
What are the local services schools, gp and the like in the rural area.

Having commuted over an hour before, the most important factor is the availability of flexitime as it allows you to choose better hours to avoid the worst of the commute. A decent road with the music or audio book playing is fine, but a windy, bumpy country lane for miles is more stressful than motorway driving.

There is no correct answer, each person may come to a different answer but if you have a job with flexi hours, decent roads and no bottleneck junctions, it would be ok. Drinking coffee in the car on the way can be grand.

Trying it by staying overnight in a local b and b will give you an idea of the morning commute.

House buying the art of deciding what comprise you wish to make.

GoldenShadow

I would at that distance.

I was 2 miles from work at my Mum's and now I'm 18 ish miles away which is 30 mins on a work day. Definitely worth it for us, but depends on your journey too, I didn't want to go another 20 mins up the road in the end because it meant rubbish roads to start with.

Thrugelmir

StumpyPumpy wrote: »

One of my former jobs involved a commute of 35 miles each way. It started off taking around 45 minutes but ended up taking longer and longer. In the end, I had to leave home at 7:30 just to make reasonably sure I was in the office by 9am. Most of the time I'd be there just after 8:30 but sometimes I was in well after 9.

If you are able to work flexibly with the agreement of your employer then it's workable. For a period of time I suffered the same problem as you. Leaving home at 7.30 in the morning to avoid the rush hour gridlock and more than likely arriving after 9.

Jon_B_2

I have done 30 minutes minute commutes on country roads which I have loathed.

I'm currently commuting for 50 minutes down the M5 and it is relaxing and pain free in comparison.

One note on your planned commute - I used to work in Dorchester and drive to Bournemouth/Poole regularly. In Autumn/Winter it is OK, but during grockle season it is up there in one of the most horrendous areas to drive around. The A31 and A35 are woefully inadequate and there are always accidents on the A31. I personally would not choose to commute any distance into Bournemouth. Especially to the West of Bournemouth, which if my geography is correct, Sturminster Newton is.

TBeckett100

You also need to consider the costs of running the car. For instance I drive 35000 miles a year, mainly to work and back which is 52 miles each way.

I have to drive a nice car for my job so my car had an RRP of 31k when I bought in December 13 and less than two years later, due to mileage, it's worth 12k. The car needs servicing and tyres twice a year (£1600) and I spend £4000 a year on fuel. Therefore the commute costs me £15k a year after tax.

So if I was going on the basis of do I save £1500 by doing the commute, then the cost of the commute heavily outweighs on that point

If I dragged my house brick by brick to where I work, it would be a bear enough £1m house (900k I I dragged in 15 miles down the road).

It also depends on traffic. 30 miles through rural roads is a lot different to motorway miles.

Personally I like the commute. Work is one zone and home is another and never the two should meet. You can recharge when commuting so you do arrive home looking forward to being home rather than still frazzled at the end of the day

skylight

I live less than ten minutes drive from work - but I start at 10.30am. If I go in early the same trip can take 30 mins and I hate sitting in traffic. Is your 40-60 mins realistic at the times you want to drive? Can you cope with daily congestion?

Personally, having kids at home/school, I have always felt that I need to be no more than 20 mins away from either them or the local hospital (!) but thats me.

So, for me its not just about the money, its time. And I am lucky enough though to live in a house/place I like.

buglawton

Nostalgic thoughts of when I worked in Germany, a 20 minute cycle ride not along main roads full of impatient motorists but through the parks and dedicated cycle routes. Lovely even on frosty mornings.