New contract - 2hr commute
Discussion
They’re not bad hours really. Snag is the M25 can be really variable. It took me an hour to get to Thurrock a couple of weeks ago from the dartford junction. That’s about 6 miles tops.
I’m still in a hotel but then I’ve been staying hotels several times a week for at least 10 years so I’m used to it.
I’m still in a hotel but then I’ve been staying hotels several times a week for at least 10 years so I’m used to it.
What an absolute soul destroying commute and hours those are, why would you even consider commuting 20 hours/week, or 920 hours a year (6 weeks holidays) that’s an additional 23 40hour weeks, so an additional half a year of work spent commuting.
That’s without incorporating the cost of commuting, what a waste of life.
That’s without incorporating the cost of commuting, what a waste of life.
AndStilliRise said:
I would always have at least an hour commute going into London. The advantage was I could run/cycle some/all of it which would convert the dead time.
Sometimes life can be tough so I just need to make the best of the given opportunity. I could always be worse off!
Indeed you could. It’s worth bearing in mind that Travelodge and some of the other hotels do a cheap, non-refundable rate if you book far enough in advance, about 4-6 weeks in my experience. Sometimes life can be tough so I just need to make the best of the given opportunity. I could always be worse off!
AndStilliRise said:
Day 1 done.
Left home @06:15 and got there @7:45
Left work @16:00 and got home @18:00
In actual fact it really is a good job, I just need to work around the difficulties to get the best out of it. Next week it will be a hotel and then hopefully a flat afterwards.
I'm not sure yesterday was a typical day, I thought the M25 was really quiet around Heathrow at 7am. I guess a lot of people didn't bother because of the snow.Left home @06:15 and got there @7:45
Left work @16:00 and got home @18:00
In actual fact it really is a good job, I just need to work around the difficulties to get the best out of it. Next week it will be a hotel and then hopefully a flat afterwards.
How long is this contract for? I spent 5 years on and off working for a client in Reading and I live near Swanley so 70ish miles each way. The absolute quickest I ever did it in was 59 minutes, which was really pushing it to get home after 9pm but if I tried travelling for normal work hours it was a 2 - 2.5 hours journey.
Adding that to your day is really tiring over the long term. You need to stay alert so you are actually adding several unpaid hours to your working day (unlike the train that allows you to be productive/read/sleep).
Very quickly I went from 5 days a week commuting to staying over in Reading and flexing my hours (8am-7pm on days I stayed over, 8am - 4pm on days I was going back home). This helped but still meant I was either thinking about travelling to work (getting bags packed etc), working away or home and knackered. I also felt very "unsettled" spending half my life in a hotel and half at home.
I've recently taken a significant pay cut for a permie role in the City. I still have a 90 minute commute but I spend 40 mins listening to podcasts whilst walking (exercising) and 45 mins reading on the train. After doing this routine for 8 weeks I can honestly say my state of mind is so much better than it ever was before.
If it's a long contract and/or you have a family I wouldn't recommend it to be honest. I will also mention that it once took me 5 hours to get home from our office in Watford to Swanley. If the Dartford Bridge and/or Blackwall have issues then you are screwed.
Adding that to your day is really tiring over the long term. You need to stay alert so you are actually adding several unpaid hours to your working day (unlike the train that allows you to be productive/read/sleep).
Very quickly I went from 5 days a week commuting to staying over in Reading and flexing my hours (8am-7pm on days I stayed over, 8am - 4pm on days I was going back home). This helped but still meant I was either thinking about travelling to work (getting bags packed etc), working away or home and knackered. I also felt very "unsettled" spending half my life in a hotel and half at home.
I've recently taken a significant pay cut for a permie role in the City. I still have a 90 minute commute but I spend 40 mins listening to podcasts whilst walking (exercising) and 45 mins reading on the train. After doing this routine for 8 weeks I can honestly say my state of mind is so much better than it ever was before.
If it's a long contract and/or you have a family I wouldn't recommend it to be honest. I will also mention that it once took me 5 hours to get home from our office in Watford to Swanley. If the Dartford Bridge and/or Blackwall have issues then you are screwed.
6mths. 90mins this morning. I am going to see how this week plays out with a view to get a hotel for next week. I will then be looking to rent a flat.
The biggest loss, along with the time, will be the good weather. I really don't want to be loosing running/cycling time sitting in a car.
The biggest loss, along with the time, will be the good weather. I really don't want to be loosing running/cycling time sitting in a car.
I would be inclined just to use a hotel. I reckon a flat will cost in the region of £6-800 a month once you take utilities and other costs into account. Book a hotel far enough in advance and I reckon you can do it for under £500 a month.
Maybe a studio flat would be cheaper, or you could rent a room in someone else’s house.
Maybe a studio flat would be cheaper, or you could rent a room in someone else’s house.
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