1 hour commute or 1.5 hour commute for more money

saker75

I had a job with a 2hr (at least) commute each way - all the way around the M25 and into London. I did it for a few years. I could have used public transport but it was unreliable and didn’t really save much time. Either way, once you’re stuck, you’re stuck, I was in my early 40s. Wouldn’t do it again now but have no regrets about doing it at the time.

Brie

I agree to check on exact commute times with the knowledge that some days will be easy and others a complete nightmare.  I worked 6 miles from work and that could take up to an hour each way.  Or 15 minutes. One horrid day it snowed and it took 6 hours.  

I now work 10 miles away and that takes under 30 minutes to get there but coming home can take 1.5 hours or 20 minutes.  Road works really mess things up.

But like you I like driving and have my strategies for in the car.  A good selection of cds that I can mellow or bellow to.  I'd love to have satnav to show me traffic problems easily but have never bothered to get that yet.  Emergency rations, fleecy blanket for the extremes.  

Spendless

How likely is it that you'd be in a position to move nearer to the longer commute job eventually? 

Saver73

Based on my own experience of long commutes, it is manageable in the short term, but very hard going in winter when weather is bad, when it's dark in both mornings & evenings and eats into your leisure\social time.  I wouldn't do it again but don't have any regrets.

newatc

Don't know if this helps. When I was 28, I moved down to the South Coast despite my job being mostly in the City (travelled  to sites but most were there). The journey to London took 90 minutes and I actually enjoyed it for a while but gradually it wore me down and after 18 months I took a local job at a much reduced salary.