Contemplating 160 mile daily commute - crazy? Advice needed.
Discussion
TheJimi said:
IMO, that level of commute and above puts you firmly into the "live to work" category.
Madness, imo.
I know what you mean. I start work at 8 and leave at 4:30. I leave at 1:30 every Friday and I get annoyed if the other half wants me to run an errand and I don't get in the house before 2! Madness, imo.
Edited by toon10 on Friday 28th August 13:08
I got used to a long journey in a previous job which was ok at the time.
Now only 4 miles in a bus - can even go home at lunch time - all driving is for pleasure.
I would not like to go back to a long commute. Not sure if there is a dream job that could convince me but a mega-salary might.
Now only 4 miles in a bus - can even go home at lunch time - all driving is for pleasure.
I would not like to go back to a long commute. Not sure if there is a dream job that could convince me but a mega-salary might.
I do a 100 mile round trip every day. My previous job was a 16 mile round trip.
I have gone from turning up in the office at ten(ish) to being here at, or before 7.30am. I leave at 3.30 instead of 7pm.
It's not that big a deal. Total travelling time is about two and a half hours a day. But I don't really notice it as I've changed my working day so much.
You need to make sure that your new job offer covers the extra cost of diesel and the extra hours you'll spend in the car. Otherwise your hourly rate goes down. 'Course you may be happy with that for a dream job.
I have gone from turning up in the office at ten(ish) to being here at, or before 7.30am. I leave at 3.30 instead of 7pm.
It's not that big a deal. Total travelling time is about two and a half hours a day. But I don't really notice it as I've changed my working day so much.
You need to make sure that your new job offer covers the extra cost of diesel and the extra hours you'll spend in the car. Otherwise your hourly rate goes down. 'Course you may be happy with that for a dream job.
If the base salary is good and/or there are good career prospects then go for it. I did Maidstone to Slough on the M25 for 5 years. Trips ranged from a 1hour miracle trip to 1.5 to 2.5 hours as the norm. I had an overnight bag in the car for a local B&B when the M25 went tits up. After a year and a half of building up my reputation I was confident that my bosses wouldn't have a problem with working from home on 2 out of the 5 days.
Hi All.
I am genuinely blown away from all the advice; and great advice as well. Thank you all. Reading your posts has really helped me to step away from the excitement of the new job and think more objectively about the commute time, fuel costs and impact on myself and herself after such a long commute.
The OH & I have no kids - yet! But I have a feeling within the next two years one may magically appear. According to Google the commute would be between 75 - 90 minutes on average, depending on time of day. The company do have a flexible working policy so, after the initial few months getting up to speed, I expect I could work at least one day a week from home.I'll have a laptop too to be able to wfh.
The commute is 80 miles each way, double what I do at the moment. Not yet sure on the start time but I expect there would be some flexibility to leave earlier to/from work. Staying over the odd night could be an option but I would prefer not to; still, it is possible it would become more appealing! I've looked into the train as an option but, crikey, is it expensive. It is much cheaper to drive, especially as it will be a company car.
From speaking to the OH last night, she is up for a move further north from where we are in a year's time; can't do it before that as she has some work commitments.
Dan_1981, I'll have a look at your thread from two years ago - thanks for the link. And that is great mpg from the Saab!
SWH, thanks for the mpg from your cars and the advice on type of car. I'll definitely be getting a diesel with gadgets and a good stereo so I can listen to Radio 4.
SidewaysSi, you've raised some points I hadn't thought about that are important. I'll have a think about that.
Piersman2, you sound like me! I'm in Berkshire too and will be heading a similar direction.
What have I learned so far? A long commute, while do-able, would not be anyone's preference. But the M40 is a good road to have to do it on and, with the right car, not too horrific. Short-medium term, it should not drive me crazy but best to make the move closer to the job long term. WFH at least a day a week will help and there is always the option to stay overnight now and then. For a dream job, is the reward worth the pain? After reading & thinking about all the above, I think it just might be.......I'll have a proper think over the coming days.
Thanks again all and I will keep you posted.
I am genuinely blown away from all the advice; and great advice as well. Thank you all. Reading your posts has really helped me to step away from the excitement of the new job and think more objectively about the commute time, fuel costs and impact on myself and herself after such a long commute.
The OH & I have no kids - yet! But I have a feeling within the next two years one may magically appear. According to Google the commute would be between 75 - 90 minutes on average, depending on time of day. The company do have a flexible working policy so, after the initial few months getting up to speed, I expect I could work at least one day a week from home.I'll have a laptop too to be able to wfh.
The commute is 80 miles each way, double what I do at the moment. Not yet sure on the start time but I expect there would be some flexibility to leave earlier to/from work. Staying over the odd night could be an option but I would prefer not to; still, it is possible it would become more appealing! I've looked into the train as an option but, crikey, is it expensive. It is much cheaper to drive, especially as it will be a company car.
From speaking to the OH last night, she is up for a move further north from where we are in a year's time; can't do it before that as she has some work commitments.
Krikkit said:
What I'd do is test it out - take a day off work, get up and do your potential new morning commute and see how it feels. Repeat at tea time.
A great idea and one I will do over the next week.Dan_1981, I'll have a look at your thread from two years ago - thanks for the link. And that is great mpg from the Saab!
SWH, thanks for the mpg from your cars and the advice on type of car. I'll definitely be getting a diesel with gadgets and a good stereo so I can listen to Radio 4.
SidewaysSi, you've raised some points I hadn't thought about that are important. I'll have a think about that.
Piersman2, you sound like me! I'm in Berkshire too and will be heading a similar direction.
What have I learned so far? A long commute, while do-able, would not be anyone's preference. But the M40 is a good road to have to do it on and, with the right car, not too horrific. Short-medium term, it should not drive me crazy but best to make the move closer to the job long term. WFH at least a day a week will help and there is always the option to stay overnight now and then. For a dream job, is the reward worth the pain? After reading & thinking about all the above, I think it just might be.......I'll have a proper think over the coming days.
Thanks again all and I will keep you posted.
I did Portsmouth to London west end by train and tube for around 8 years, I travelled abroad for work also which broke it up so I guess on average I was commuting 4 days per week. Door to door was 2hrs min.
Didn't realize until I changed jobs hero much it was affecting me: leaving at 6am and returning at 8pm means you're a slave to train timetables, train seats were killing my back and I was paying £5600 a year for the privilege (standard class!). It really does affect your quality of life hugely. Similar issues to a long car commute: long days, poor posture, cost!
If you do have the option on moving nearer in 18 months, it's a finite length of time and the job is worth it then I'd say go for it. Make sure you and your partner are on the same page though. If you have kids and have to think about schools etc then a move could be harder than you think.
Edit: ah no kids!
Didn't realize until I changed jobs hero much it was affecting me: leaving at 6am and returning at 8pm means you're a slave to train timetables, train seats were killing my back and I was paying £5600 a year for the privilege (standard class!). It really does affect your quality of life hugely. Similar issues to a long car commute: long days, poor posture, cost!
If you do have the option on moving nearer in 18 months, it's a finite length of time and the job is worth it then I'd say go for it. Make sure you and your partner are on the same page though. If you have kids and have to think about schools etc then a move could be harder than you think.
Edit: ah no kids!
Edited by george123 on Friday 28th August 13:27
Edited by george123 on Friday 28th August 13:29
Mine is currently 2 miles and until this year I bused it and it took 15-25 mins depending on traffic etc. Now I walk and it takes around 30 mins and I was weighing up is the extra 10 mins each way worth it as its about 90 hours extra a year. But I find the walk quite relaxing and not as stressful as the bus.
I live in a city but in a year or two will probably move out of town to get some more space and its nearer where I grew up so some friends etc. live there.
My limit is around 60 mins I think. There will be trains which take 25 mins with 10 mins either side or can drive it in around 45-60 mins (35 miles). I think I will drive as I could go to the gym at 6am before work at 7:30-17:00. I prefer to train for an hour before work when its quieter and leaves my evening free or if I ever need to work late I am not thinking about missing the gym.
I live in a city but in a year or two will probably move out of town to get some more space and its nearer where I grew up so some friends etc. live there.
My limit is around 60 mins I think. There will be trains which take 25 mins with 10 mins either side or can drive it in around 45-60 mins (35 miles). I think I will drive as I could go to the gym at 6am before work at 7:30-17:00. I prefer to train for an hour before work when its quieter and leaves my evening free or if I ever need to work late I am not thinking about missing the gym.
With the technology these days it's getting easier to justify working from home in many roles, only to attend an office for a meeting.
I'd agree with the others in that spending a good proportion of your 'awake hours' every weekday just sat in a car NOT earning money NOT exercising and NOT being sociable / seeing family is going to be seriously detrimental to your quality of life.
I'd agree with the others in that spending a good proportion of your 'awake hours' every weekday just sat in a car NOT earning money NOT exercising and NOT being sociable / seeing family is going to be seriously detrimental to your quality of life.
Remember if you don't have one just now there will be a big penalty for your benefit in kind on the tax you pay for a company car, so you need to take that off your wage to see how much your take home pay will be impacted on top of the fuel costs. Calculator online http://cccfcalculator.hmrc.gov.uk/CCF0.aspx
Edited by Crusoe on Friday 28th August 13:53
One of my mates does a very similar commute every day from the south coast to Hook via the M3. He's reached his tether after 2 years and admitted the other week it's taken it's toll on the family life. And this was for his dream job. He bought a Skoda Octavia for the commute so is getting 55+mpg with ease but is loosing the will to live. He's also decided he's missing to much valuable family time and that's more important.
From my own point of view, did 10 years commuting into London which totalled over 3 hours a day. It became the norm, but now i'm doing only 1.5hrs a day total and driving, I can safely say i've seen the light. Never again.
As an aside you'll also never get the mpg you think of going up and down the M40. Live near it myself, and swear the average speed on there is 20mph above most motorways!
From my own point of view, did 10 years commuting into London which totalled over 3 hours a day. It became the norm, but now i'm doing only 1.5hrs a day total and driving, I can safely say i've seen the light. Never again.
As an aside you'll also never get the mpg you think of going up and down the M40. Live near it myself, and swear the average speed on there is 20mph above most motorways!
Hi OP,
My old commute, that I gave up earlier this year when we were bought out consisted of driving 78 miles each way (so 156 miles) from Ayr to Edinburgh Park usually 5 days a week, occasionally I did work from home as I was one of the directors so didn't need to ask.
Not sure if you know up here, but the roads are fantastic IMO compared to down South - yes you have your bad days, but I could usually do it in 1hr40m each way no problem.
As you've pointed out, the M40 is one of the better motorways in the UK and I was on it myself a few weeks ago, it was so nice to breeze up and down, then I hit the M42 on the way back - jesus christ, I hate that motorway! As said though, an auto and something large is my pick of the car....I had a 5 series saloon which was ideal to rack up the miles but also a fuel card. I did drive it a few times in my old Focus RS, but that was an awful journey in that!
Good luck and let us know how you get on!
My old commute, that I gave up earlier this year when we were bought out consisted of driving 78 miles each way (so 156 miles) from Ayr to Edinburgh Park usually 5 days a week, occasionally I did work from home as I was one of the directors so didn't need to ask.
Not sure if you know up here, but the roads are fantastic IMO compared to down South - yes you have your bad days, but I could usually do it in 1hr40m each way no problem.
As you've pointed out, the M40 is one of the better motorways in the UK and I was on it myself a few weeks ago, it was so nice to breeze up and down, then I hit the M42 on the way back - jesus christ, I hate that motorway! As said though, an auto and something large is my pick of the car....I had a 5 series saloon which was ideal to rack up the miles but also a fuel card. I did drive it a few times in my old Focus RS, but that was an awful journey in that!
Good luck and let us know how you get on!
I did 190 miles daily for a while, it was a pain (M6 through the West Midlands before the toll road existed) but since it was only a 3 month contract I lived with it. Then the company asked me to stay on for another 9 months, so eventually I negotiated a 4-day week (Mon-Thu) and stayed away on Tuesday night so I never had two days full commutes in a row.
The other thing to think of is traffic delays. My current commute is a 30-mile round trip on country roads, but until recently it was an 80-mile trip on motorways and A-roads, and I could guarantee that at least once every couple of weeks there'd be some sort of shambles which would turn my 50 minute journey into 2 hours or more. Make sure you are familiar with every rat-run to go round accidents etc!
The other thing to think of is traffic delays. My current commute is a 30-mile round trip on country roads, but until recently it was an 80-mile trip on motorways and A-roads, and I could guarantee that at least once every couple of weeks there'd be some sort of shambles which would turn my 50 minute journey into 2 hours or more. Make sure you are familiar with every rat-run to go round accidents etc!
My current commute is around 70 miles each way: M1, M25 then M4 into West London.....
Thought it sounded like a good idea when I started it but now realise how much time it takes out of my day plus generally feel knackered. Normally takes around 2 hours each way, plus then I need to park around 15 minutes walk away from where I work!
Oh, and so far this has been done while the kids have been off school.
I should take the train to be honest but I like having my own space around me!
Thought it sounded like a good idea when I started it but now realise how much time it takes out of my day plus generally feel knackered. Normally takes around 2 hours each way, plus then I need to park around 15 minutes walk away from where I work!
Oh, and so far this has been done while the kids have been off school.
I should take the train to be honest but I like having my own space around me!
Purely on a philosophical level, it's mind-blowing to think of how easily we throw away an irreplaceable commodity - particularly to do something that does zilch for one's quality of life.
Ok, you could argue the end-game is better job = more money = more happiness, but when it comes at a cost of spending 4hrs per day or more in a tin box, within a sea of tin boxes or a large sardine tin on rails...
Ok, you could argue the end-game is better job = more money = more happiness, but when it comes at a cost of spending 4hrs per day or more in a tin box, within a sea of tin boxes or a large sardine tin on rails...
I've also done a 160 mile round trip to work which I did for around a year. It was 90% motorway and was along the M25 and M3.
No road works back then on the M3 so it wasn't too bad and would on average take me roughly 90 mins each way. I got a big diesel barge at the time to do the commute in so was nice and comfy but just wished I'd got it in auto in hindsight.
Now doing a 60 mile round trip with again 90% of it all motorway and my GTI with DSG makes light of any stop start traffic which tends to be most days.
No road works back then on the M3 so it wasn't too bad and would on average take me roughly 90 mins each way. I got a big diesel barge at the time to do the commute in so was nice and comfy but just wished I'd got it in auto in hindsight.
Now doing a 60 mile round trip with again 90% of it all motorway and my GTI with DSG makes light of any stop start traffic which tends to be most days.
What counts more is the time spent in commuting even if the distance is also a factor because if something go wrong in terms of traffic the time can grow a lot.
I actually have to endure a daily commute of just 13 miles (roundtrip 26 miles) but it takes me over 1 hour at morning and about 55 minutes in the evening. Driving in traffic, even in a comfy automatic 5series is really painful, I listen to the radio, I work listening to mails or participating in meeting calls but I still consider these 20hrs/wk time lost and consumed from my spare time. I also suffer from the continuos routine at a point I appreciate the almost weekly trips across Europe as at least driving to the airport or somewhere is something different.
Some years ago I have worked for some months 90 miles far from my home, so a 180 miles daily commute but I didn't drive, there was 55 minutes of highspeed train plus some walking before and after. It was heavy because I had to get up at 5.30 and back home at 19.00 but not so stressful, the walking to the train station was relaxing. But I know from the beginning that was for a limited and defined time.
Anyway for what I considered at the time a "dream job" I happily moved to Germany from Italy 10 years ago and coming back for weekends twice a month driving 500+ miles in both sides or flying. 18 months are not short but the idea of moving closer will help, especially if the job will be good as it seems.
I actually have to endure a daily commute of just 13 miles (roundtrip 26 miles) but it takes me over 1 hour at morning and about 55 minutes in the evening. Driving in traffic, even in a comfy automatic 5series is really painful, I listen to the radio, I work listening to mails or participating in meeting calls but I still consider these 20hrs/wk time lost and consumed from my spare time. I also suffer from the continuos routine at a point I appreciate the almost weekly trips across Europe as at least driving to the airport or somewhere is something different.
Some years ago I have worked for some months 90 miles far from my home, so a 180 miles daily commute but I didn't drive, there was 55 minutes of highspeed train plus some walking before and after. It was heavy because I had to get up at 5.30 and back home at 19.00 but not so stressful, the walking to the train station was relaxing. But I know from the beginning that was for a limited and defined time.
Anyway for what I considered at the time a "dream job" I happily moved to Germany from Italy 10 years ago and coming back for weekends twice a month driving 500+ miles in both sides or flying. 18 months are not short but the idea of moving closer will help, especially if the job will be good as it seems.
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