When increased commuting costs to get to work = financial hardship

theoretica

How are you buying your train tickets?  Are you able to buy as soon as advance tickets come available -usually about 3 months in advance?  Do you have that advance schedule of when you need to be in the office? 

Can you do two consecutive days, and is it cheaper to stay overnight than travel home and back? 

Anythingbutbeige

Alderbank said:

You have ignored all the suggestions about moving house.

You said 'I moved to very rural in East Anglia after covid' so it doesn't sound as though you have strong roots where you currently live.

West Midlands is much more than city streets. There are also lovely 'very rural' spots as well.

I’ve had to take a couple of moments to reflect on this. I suppose moving house seems an absolutely massive expensive undertaking, (stamp duty, moving costs, finding a property, crazy mortgage rate compared to mine etc) compared to finding another job.  Perhaps I am confident I’ll find another job easily.

In reality, I’m not going to move house to stay in this role. I love my little cottage surrounded by cows and fields, far enough but not far from family. No roots, but desire to have some.  West Midlands is lovely.  It didn’t really enter my mind to move, probably because I’m a typical millenial who doesn’t stay in jobs longer than 4/5 years unless there’s good development reason.  Where I live and lifestyle connected to that is the only constant.

kimwp

If you are Birmingham based, can you claim travel to London? If you can, go in that one day your team is in to Birmingham and go in one other day to London so that you are with your leadership team?

Khaderbhai

I would ask for a meeting and be completely honest and lay your cards out. Explain the economics do not add up and give them examples of the cost, and can anything be done with regards to hours or location. At the same time, make sure you are looking at the job market and making enquiries about other roles closer, you will then have a few options that may develop.

saker75

Have a look at spare room to find yourself a weekly overnight stay - it’s what many people in your situation do. 

HampshireH

A few things 

Do you go to London from home purely because that's the only way of getting a train to Birmingham and therefore unavoidable?

Could you book your days back to back. Stay in Birmingham that night each week. Get the cheapest hotel room and one you can book via some form of benefit (credit/debit card cashback or one of the hotel sites where you earn points towards purchase. Or find a friendly b&b rather than a hotel who would be keen to have a regular booking 

Then make sure your meetings are in the office only on those two days.

This cost will likely be cheaper than two sets of rail fares a week. As you pay for one return ticket.

Personally the travel time eating into my downtime would be enough to change jobs.

Anythingbutbeige

HampshireH said:

A few things 

Do you go to London from home purely because that's the only way of getting a train to Birmingham and therefore unavoidable?

Could you book your days back to back. Stay in Birmingham that night each week. Get the cheapest hotel room and one you can book via some form of benefit (credit/debit card cashback or one of the hotel sites where you earn points towards purchase. Or find a friendly b&b rather than a hotel who would be keen to have a regular booking 

Then make sure your meetings are in the office only on those two days.

This cost will likely be cheaper than two sets of rail fares a week. As you pay for one return ticket.

Personally the travel time eating into my downtime would be enough to change jobs.

Thank you. Those are helpful suggestions. It feels a little like putting in barriers to mention I have a pet and I look after a disabled sister. Even thought I get back home at 9.30, I can still see to both their needs.

I’ll have to do some serious rail planning! 

I just got confirmation that they want me in 6 days of the 8 required. The other 2 days can be in London.  I thought I might at least have been able to go to London 1 out of the 2 days. 

I’m so sad that I have to find another job after just 6 months! 

Anythingbutbeige

There’s two routes, but they equal out with car parking and car travel to each station. The route to London has Wi-Fi and is more comfortable  so I choose that in preference. I’ll wave to the other office on my way through! 

Anythingbutbeige

So what would you do now? I can’t really afford to go both days. I [think I] live an incredibly sparse frugal life as I’m paying off debt and even I dont think I’d be able to live on such little per month. Do I resign now, or wait for a new job and go in - probably on credit for half the month?

I don’t have 3 months living expenses set aside for example as I throw it all at debt.

Bobbobbobingalong

Before you do anything rash, why not talk to your boss? The worst that can happen is nothing and you will be asking yourself the same question needing to answer it, but then, they may well show some sympathy to your circumstances and find a mutually agreeable solution.