Commute or location

yksi

boxer234 said:

yksi said:

There's many ways to solve the equation.

What's 50 minutes worth to you? If you added it to your work hours then divide your daily pay, is that an hourly rate you're still happy to do this work for? Don't forget to add the travel cost into it, including wear and tear.
If you weren't at this workplace, would that change how you felt? How long do you plan on staying there - a year, ten years, don't know? If you moved, would this make finding employment more difficult if you had to change jobs? Easier? Is yours a role that's in demand? Or might you struggle to find somewhere else? (Some employers don't want to take on someone who lives an hour away, if we aren't talking about London.)

You're wary about the commute cost but you haven't said much about the time you're giving up. Do you/will you have children, this can be a big consideration for village life, plenty of people think it's idyllic and plenty would never want their kids to be isolated from "things to do". Is there a partner to consider? Might that change in future?

Have you considered something half way to give you the best of both?

Thanks no children or partner.  No plans on this changing just divorced and know exactly what I want.  I love my job so have no plans on leaving. I do have two dogs and it would mean I’m out the house longer. I live in a village now and love it. If I come closer I can’t afford what I want so it will be looking at a town. 

 I should add today I’m travelling to the area I would be buying in so sometimes visits take me that way but more often than not it will be a longer commute. 

You've already lived in a village and you love it. You cope ok with a 50min drive on regular intervals. Your dogs love the space and the village location is what you want, and you don't have to consider anyone else's feelings on it all.

I think you already know your answer and you're just looking for someone to tell you that it's the right decision.

It is. Go for it.

southernorth

I've always had a commute of about an hour - by train or car. It could be considered 'wasted' time, but if you're doing something you enjoy, like listening to a podcast, music, reading a book etc. (which you would potentially already do after work for leisure) then is it really wasted time? Although I do agree, about an hour is about the max I would be willing to put up with a few times per week. 

You might save an hour per day on commuting by living closer, but then don't have the quality of life you want when you get to the most important destination - your home. 

SallyDucati

I moved from an urban 30 minute commute to a village 50min - 1 hour commute.  It can get a bit wearing when I'm stuck in traffic, but when I'm home it's worth it.  Cleaner air, quieter, and overall more peaceful.  Makes a big difference to how I feel at the weekend to!  

Winter travelling in the dark does get to me but I remind myself it will be getting lighter in the evenings.

boxer234

jimpwarsop said:

Only you can decide, we are all different.

I never travelled more than ten minutes, but I was mainly a shift worker, my son has done three hours each way with a ten hour day in between, but he was very young, he now does 45 minutes each way (he is 28) and is looking to change jobs to get nearer to home.

Thing is, travelling the same route day after day is boring as hell.

It is I do go to a different school each day so the commute would vary and be different lengths.  

boxer234

yksi said:

boxer234 said:

yksi said:

There's many ways to solve the equation.

What's 50 minutes worth to you? If you added it to your work hours then divide your daily pay, is that an hourly rate you're still happy to do this work for? Don't forget to add the travel cost into it, including wear and tear.
If you weren't at this workplace, would that change how you felt? How long do you plan on staying there - a year, ten years, don't know? If you moved, would this make finding employment more difficult if you had to change jobs? Easier? Is yours a role that's in demand? Or might you struggle to find somewhere else? (Some employers don't want to take on someone who lives an hour away, if we aren't talking about London.)

You're wary about the commute cost but you haven't said much about the time you're giving up. Do you/will you have children, this can be a big consideration for village life, plenty of people think it's idyllic and plenty would never want their kids to be isolated from "things to do". Is there a partner to consider? Might that change in future?

Have you considered something half way to give you the best of both?

Thanks no children or partner.  No plans on this changing just divorced and know exactly what I want.  I love my job so have no plans on leaving. I do have two dogs and it would mean I’m out the house longer. I live in a village now and love it. If I come closer I can’t afford what I want so it will be looking at a town. 

 I should add today I’m travelling to the area I would be buying in so sometimes visits take me that way but more often than not it will be a longer commute. 

You've already lived in a village and you love it. You cope ok with a 50min drive on regular intervals. Your dogs love the space and the village location is what you want, and you don't have to consider anyone else's feelings on it all.

I think you already know your answer and you're just looking for someone to tell you that it's the right decision.

It is. Go for it.

Ha ha yes thank you I am dithering with this house move which isn’t a good thing in this market.  I’ve had a rocky few years and my next move needs to be the right one. 

Murphybear

Brie said:

It won't always be the same time to commute as it will depend on traffic, congestion, construction etc.

I used to work 30 miles away from the office and that could take between 40 and 60 minutes.  And one day took nearly 3 hours due to an accident.  

Where I work now is about 7 miles and can take between 15 and 60 minutes depending on commuter traffic.  I'm fortunate in that my times are flexible so when I need to go the office I head out at 9 when the only issue is the OAP drivers poodling along at 22 mph.  It's no more than 30 minutes home if I leave before 4:45 or after 5:30.  Anything in between means all the traffic slows everyone down to a crawl so I might as well stay and do some work rather than sit in a car wasting petrol in stationery traffic.

   My husband and I are both OAPs and drive as fast as anyone else on the road.  Hubby keeps complaining about how slow everyone else is when we are on the road in normal work hours.  

brasso

If this was me I’d go for the more peaceful rural location every single time. Quality of life is vitally important. You need to be able to switch off away from work. Instead of seeing your 50 min journeys as a burden, see them as an opportunity— to learn a language, listen to audiobooks, whatever. Have a plan and try to look forward to your commute.

badger09

Murphybear said:

Brie said:

It won't always be the same time to commute as it will depend on traffic, congestion, construction etc.

I used to work 30 miles away from the office and that could take between 40 and 60 minutes.  And one day took nearly 3 hours due to an accident.  

Where I work now is about 7 miles and can take between 15 and 60 minutes depending on commuter traffic.  I'm fortunate in that my times are flexible so when I need to go the office I head out at 9 when the only issue is the OAP drivers poodling along at 22 mph.  It's no more than 30 minutes home if I leave before 4:45 or after 5:30.  Anything in between means all the traffic slows everyone down to a crawl so I might as well stay and do some work rather than sit in a car wasting petrol in stationery traffic.

   My husband and I are both OAPs and drive as fast as anyone else on the road.  Hubby keeps complaining about how slow everyone else is when we are on the road in normal work hours.  

I'm early 70s and drive an MX5 and 1998cc Renaultsport Clio 182, (admittedly not as fast as I used to ) but I could never be accused of poodling, or even pootling along. 

boxer234

brasso said:

If this was me I’d go for the more peaceful rural location every single time. Quality of life is vitally important. You need to be able to switch off away from work. Instead of seeing your 50 min journeys as a burden, see them as an opportunity— to learn a language, listen to audiobooks, whatever. Have a plan and try to look forward to your commute.

I can happily amuse myself with car karaoke.  I guess my biggest worry is fuel cost but my mortgage will be less than my rent so it should even put. 

badger09

boxer234 said:

brasso said:

If this was me I’d go for the more peaceful rural location every single time. Quality of life is vitally important. You need to be able to switch off away from work. Instead of seeing your 50 min journeys as a burden, see them as an opportunity— to learn a language, listen to audiobooks, whatever. Have a plan and try to look forward to your commute.

I can happily amuse myself with car karaoke.  I guess my biggest worry is fuel cost but my mortgage will be less than my rent so it should even put. 

If its a different commute every day, then presumably some will be shorter? At least you won't get bored with the same one every day. It sounds as though your quality of life outside work would be better in the village house, so.....