Am I mad to consider a 90 minute each way commute by car?

Am I mad to consider a 90 minute each way commute by car?

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jimbobs

Original Poster:

433 posts

258 months

Friday 12th November 2010
quotequote all
For the last 7 years or so I've been fortunate to work less than 30 minutes (by public transport) from where I live.

However, that's all going to come to an end by Christmas so I've been looking for new opportunities. A potentially really interesting job has come up in Leeds (I'm in Nottingham). The job will mostly be based in Leeds, with some possibilities of working from a satellite office in Nottingham maybe 2 days a week, plus some time at client sites. Realistically, for the first few months I'm going to need to spend nearly all my time in Leeds. My wife's job is Nottingham so moving in the short-term is not really an option.

The idea of spending 3 hours a day in a car does fill me with a certain amount of trepidation. Do any of you guys have a similar commute and, if so, how do you get on with it?

I know I've been relatively pampered for the last few years. I've had other long commutes in the past, but they've always been by public transport which is a deal less stressful. I'm interested in whether this will be workable.

If "MTFU" is the necessary advice, I'm happy to take it on the chin!

Cheers all.

jimbobs

Original Poster:

433 posts

258 months

Friday 12th November 2010
quotequote all
Myc said:
Jimbobs, I understand your trepidation but I would suggest that in the current job market you should consider every opportunity.

Imagine if you end up out of work for 6 months or more after christmas, how many times will you be wishing you'd gone for that job in Leeds - Everyday is the answer.
Thanks for all the input guys - it's the quote above that is most resonant. I don't have a ton of other options right now, other than London which would be an even worse journey.

I've got a second interview there next week & I think I'll drive up a bit early to see what it's like in rush hour.

The money will be pretty good & there will be a car allowance, which will help. Lots of thinking to do over the next week or so...

jimbobs

Original Poster:

433 posts

258 months

Friday 12th November 2010
quotequote all
Thanks for all the input so far.

It's quite close to the M621. If you come off there onto the A653 towards the city, it's in one of the newish development bits just before you get to the cty centre - just as you cross over either a river or canal (not sure exactly what it is). Can't post pictures from work, but the postcode's LS1 4DW.

It's by no means a dream job but it will pay pretty well, move my CV forward and probably be quite interesting too. It's the kind of thing that, 10 years ago, when I was single and living in a rented flat I'd have probably just upped sticks for.

Realistically, working as a financial services specialist, Nottingham is very unlikely to throw something interesting my way these days. The only other stuff that seems to come up from time-to-time is in Birmingham which is a similarly unpleasant journey, although one I could do by train. I did a five month secondment in London at the beginning of the year and that's certainly not a journey I want to repeat!