Job Advice

**Amy**

Im in a conundrum (sort of!).

I live in Kent, but work in London. My journey to work everyday takes me nearly 4 hours (there and back). This makes me so tired. And also costs £3100 a year in train fare.

I have only just started this job (beginning of March), and i really do like it, its the perfect job for me, but i feel so tired all of the time i dont feel im giving 100% (if that makes sense).

I earn a very good wage (£27.5K a year), and there is no way i would be able to earn anywhere near that locally.

My budget is fairly "stretched" even with this wage as I am trying to pay off my debts ASAP.

I have seen a local job advertised that is £20K a year. It is litterally a 2 min walk over the road from my home. The hours are less (9-4.30 instead of 9-5.30) which would mean that i "could" do a second job in the evenings (i used to work in a pub £20 a night cash in hand 7-11).

Im unsure what to do. Im not 100% sure i would be able to survive on £4.5K less a year (minus travelling!), its a lot of money.

Should i just carry on with this job until my debts are paid off at least?

I think i already know the answer just need some outsiders views.

Thanks

RedDino308

Hi Amy,

4 hours a day is a lot of travelling and you will start to resent it and the impact it has on the rest of your life.

Also, when doing the adding up, keep in mind that you have paid tax on the £3,100 train fares so the drop in salary won't be as huge as you think.

RedDino308

chevalier

4.5k drop in wages minus 3.1k in train fair is 1.4k. Could you live on this much less a year? If you got some form of second job, you could probably make that back in a year.

But then you have to factor in whether a) your current job is more likely to lead to promotions etc. And b) whether doing two jobs would make you as tired as you are now doing one
chev

immoral_angeluk

4 hours a day is madness. Your health and sanity will soon start to suffer. Your whole day is going to be taken up by work and travelling to work.
Have you thought about moving nearer to your job?

thepinklady

Hi Amy,

I live in Kent, well when I'm not at university I do. I used to work in London when i lived in Kent so I know what a journey it is. I remember leaving my home at 7am and not getting in till 8pm, sometimes later if the trains were delayed, which was normally every other day.

When I left my job in London and got a job locally with less pay I loved it. I looked at it this way, I spent nearly 3K on travel a year, and on top of that every day i would normally buy a hot choc at the station, a paper, a magazine, so thats an extra £5 on top a day. I'm not sure if you buy things to keep you 'entertained' on your long journey into work. When i worked up the road i jumped in the car and the only money i was spending was travel, which wasn't a lot.

I would go for looking for a job locally and maybe doing an evening job!

postingalwaysposting

Hi amy, Taking in travel cost you will be 'losing' circa £4k from your anual pay. Now look at it another way, will it make a difference to your way off life? Will you be more happier not travelling all that way? With all the extra time you have could you ebay/clicks/aqa to find the pay thats 'lost'. i would say do a Soa for this job and your new job and see how they compare. Also run your debts through the snowball calculator in this job and the other and see the differance. If its not that great (ie less than 6 months) and it will make your life more happier then I would say go for the new job ~ but at the end of the day you have to make the choice thats right for you. But please remember

work to live not live to work

Riq

chevalier wrote: »

4.5k drop in wages minus 3.1k in train fair is 1.4k. Could you live on this much less a year? If you got some form of second job, you could probably make that back in a year.

But then you have to factor in whether a) your current job is more likely to lead to promotions etc. And b) whether doing two jobs would make you as tired as you are now doing one
chev

The 4.5k figure has already had the train fare taken off, the money difference is actually 7.5k.


My commute used to be around 4hours on a bus, a fraction of the cost but I am up in Manchester.
I decided to drive which is obviously not an option for London workers, but I felt the commute was making me dread the day ahead and making my day very very long. So I started to resent coming to work and I didn't like being that way.

As for advice, I can't comment, but I can tell you I am convinced in a few more months, October time when it is going dark early, you leave home and get back int he dark, you will resent the travelling so so much.

As for my commute, I now pay more than double what I did on the bus, but I have gained an extra 2 hours per day at least, so I think the tradeoff is worth it.

**Amy**

chevalier wrote: »

4.5k drop in wages minus 3.1k in train fair is 1.4k. Could you live on this much less a year? If you got some form of second job, you could probably make that back in a year.

But then you have to factor in whether a) your current job is more likely to lead to promotions etc. And b) whether doing two jobs would make you as tired as you are now doing one
chev

Sorry i meant the £4.5K drop in wages is without the train fare already. It would be a £7.5K drop in wages if i do go for it.

This job is basically the top of where i can go (its Office Manager/ PA/ Secretary for a small firm). As for the 2 jobs thing, thats what i was thinking.

Ohhh decesions!! :rolleyes:

brightonman123

would they allow working from home, or have you considered moving closer to work-

or even getting a cheap(?) place to stay nearby, during the week?

cat4772

Amy

You're tired now and 4 hours a day travelling in summer isn't so bad. Doing it in winter when you are setting off and arriving home in darkness is soul destroying and will make you more tired. However, you have to work out whether you can if necessary survive on less money each week/month/year.

I've done the job 40 minutes away by car (1 1/2 hour by bus and train) and it eats into your day, your life and will affect your health in the long run.

Only you can decide what's best for you; but I wish you luck.

Catherine

**Amy**

Thanks for all of your help everyone.

I think i will do a SOA for the new job etc. see what i get.

I generally know i will be happier not working so far away, so will see what the £ situation looks like.

It might be something to look into when i havent as much debt maybe? And think of the money i would save on lunches etc. :rotfl:

xx