Commute or Move..
Discussion
OP, see if you can start early and leave early so you miss the worse of the traffic.
It will be a shock to begin with but you will soon get used to it.
I've done 120 miles a day for the last 6 1/2 years. 80-90 mins on average each way.
Yours will be well under 60 mins I would have thought.
As has been said maybe break up the week and B&B Wednesday night if it's particularly bad that week.
It will be a shock to begin with but you will soon get used to it.
I've done 120 miles a day for the last 6 1/2 years. 80-90 mins on average each way.
Yours will be well under 60 mins I would have thought.
As has been said maybe break up the week and B&B Wednesday night if it's particularly bad that week.
Thanks folks.
Certainly leaning to driving there and back and as some of you have pointed out, A38 seems best bet. B&B once a week maybe to break things up, I'll see!
Times like this I wish I could just buy an old barge like a 7 series or S Class and waft along but impossible (I'm 23!).
Certainly leaning to driving there and back and as some of you have pointed out, A38 seems best bet. B&B once a week maybe to break things up, I'll see!
Times like this I wish I could just buy an old barge like a 7 series or S Class and waft along but impossible (I'm 23!).
I travelled from Birmingham (Moseley) to Derby (DE21) daily for 2 years. It isn't a bad run and you soon get accustomed to it. I found from mine that the best route was going through Solihull, on to the M42 at J5 and then go straight up and come off at the M1. I would avoid the A38 as, although it was 3 miles shorter, the general traffic speed meant it took longer.
As mentioned, time of departure is key. Leave at 6am and I could be there for just after 7. Leave at 6:30 and it would be gone 8am by the time I would arrive. Likewise on the reverse journey, avoid M42 J6-J4 between 5-6pm. I would often come off at J6 and then use the A45 to get to somewhere closer to home.
As it's only temp, just enjoy the drive. Get yourself Spotify and a decent playlist.
If you need any more advice, feel free to drop me a PM, I still do the commute couple of times a week although I now live further south.
As mentioned, time of departure is key. Leave at 6am and I could be there for just after 7. Leave at 6:30 and it would be gone 8am by the time I would arrive. Likewise on the reverse journey, avoid M42 J6-J4 between 5-6pm. I would often come off at J6 and then use the A45 to get to somewhere closer to home.
As it's only temp, just enjoy the drive. Get yourself Spotify and a decent playlist.
If you need any more advice, feel free to drop me a PM, I still do the commute couple of times a week although I now live further south.
Boosted LS1 said:
The M42 is more of a dual carriageway then motorway and can be interesting to drive on. The M1 can be bland. As suggested elsewhere the A38 may be suitable, it's a fast bit of road if you want to hoof it along.
was going to mention that also, that M42 is a complete nightmare with trucks overtaking at the same speed.I lived in Catshill near Bromsgrove and worked for East Midlands electricty in Notts. even though its only 42 miles its 42 miles too long with the M42 dual carrigaeway and then there is the crappy M1 that road has the butterfly affect, someone sneezes in leeds and the tail backs go back to the M25
Hoofy said:
How long will the motorway drive actually be? I'd rather do 45 minutes of motorway driving than 45 minutes of city/town driving any day. It's far less tiresome than town driving. I often take a longer route on straight roads for one regular journey simply because it's easier.
have you ever driven the M42? Drive it then make a comment lol its horrendous!!!!Over 6 months their offer is about £4700 based on the full 84 miles/day.
The extra fuel cost is about £1200 assuming 40 mpg and £1.20/L
So you're up £3.5k or £580 /month (before tax)
Maybe:
See if they'll give you a cost of living pay rise close to that instead, so you could take a short term let there (maybe let your place in BHam out as well)
See if they'll let you compress your hours to do a 4 day week, shaves 20% off the fuel bill (but also means you're guaranteed to hit the traffic in one direction). I do this, its a long day but in my case preferable to another £380 /month on childcare
See if you can switch your hours to 7-3 - the early start won't be fun in winter but you'll be driving home in daylight ahead of the rush.
I used to do 40 miles each way when I was about 23, it took an hour on a mix of different roads and was OK. Gave me a chance to unwind a bit on the way home, switch off from thinking about work.
The extra fuel cost is about £1200 assuming 40 mpg and £1.20/L
So you're up £3.5k or £580 /month (before tax)
Maybe:
See if they'll give you a cost of living pay rise close to that instead, so you could take a short term let there (maybe let your place in BHam out as well)
See if they'll let you compress your hours to do a 4 day week, shaves 20% off the fuel bill (but also means you're guaranteed to hit the traffic in one direction). I do this, its a long day but in my case preferable to another £380 /month on childcare
See if you can switch your hours to 7-3 - the early start won't be fun in winter but you'll be driving home in daylight ahead of the rush.
I used to do 40 miles each way when I was about 23, it took an hour on a mix of different roads and was OK. Gave me a chance to unwind a bit on the way home, switch off from thinking about work.
Andy-IM said:
I1.Get yourself an automatic.
2. Don't give in to the temptation to come off the motorway when things pile up. It's still quicker than fighting your way through backroads when everyone else is doing the same.
Good advice there; I'd never have a manual again, even if I lived somewhere where I never had to queue; a decent automatic these days is just as good (that's a debate for another thread).2. Don't give in to the temptation to come off the motorway when things pile up. It's still quicker than fighting your way through backroads when everyone else is doing the same.
And point 2 - I do Rossendale - Leeds daily on the M62 and have done for many, many years. It's only in the last year or so thought that I've realised that you're just as well sat in the queue on the motorway. Even what looks like a mahoosive queue usually only adds about 15-20 minutes to the journey.
Also - if commuting in busy periods - stick to lane 1 with the trucks; it's certainly no slower and usually a bit faster.
We could probably do with a motorway driving/congestion "tips and tricks" thread in GG.
bmw320ci said:
Hoofy said:
How long will the motorway drive actually be? I'd rather do 45 minutes of motorway driving than 45 minutes of city/town driving any day. It's far less tiresome than town driving. I often take a longer route on straight roads for one regular journey simply because it's easier.
have you ever driven the M42? Drive it then make a comment lol its horrendous!!!!2gins said:
Over 6 months their offer is about £4700 based on the full 84 miles/day.
The extra fuel cost is about £1200 assuming 40 mpg and £1.20/L
So you're up £3.5k or £580 /month (before tax)
Maybe:
See if they'll give you a cost of living pay rise close to that instead, so you could take a short term let there (maybe let your place in BHam out as well)
See if they'll let you compress your hours to do a 4 day week, shaves 20% off the fuel bill (but also means you're guaranteed to hit the traffic in one direction). I do this, its a long day but in my case preferable to another £380 /month on childcare
See if you can switch your hours to 7-3 - the early start won't be fun in winter but you'll be driving home in daylight ahead of the rush.
I used to do 40 miles each way when I was about 23, it took an hour on a mix of different roads and was OK. Gave me a chance to unwind a bit on the way home, switch off from thinking about work.
The £580pcm better off doesn't count the depreciation and servicing costs on your vehicle though. The extra fuel cost is about £1200 assuming 40 mpg and £1.20/L
So you're up £3.5k or £580 /month (before tax)
Maybe:
See if they'll give you a cost of living pay rise close to that instead, so you could take a short term let there (maybe let your place in BHam out as well)
See if they'll let you compress your hours to do a 4 day week, shaves 20% off the fuel bill (but also means you're guaranteed to hit the traffic in one direction). I do this, its a long day but in my case preferable to another £380 /month on childcare
See if you can switch your hours to 7-3 - the early start won't be fun in winter but you'll be driving home in daylight ahead of the rush.
I used to do 40 miles each way when I was about 23, it took an hour on a mix of different roads and was OK. Gave me a chance to unwind a bit on the way home, switch off from thinking about work.
I had a 60-mile each-way commute for a year up the M40 from Hertfordshire to Oxford and it wasn't terrible, you just get used to it.
I currently do 35 miles each way and again, it's just part of my working day and I don't think twice about it.
If you're getting paid 43p/mile then you're laughing.
I currently do 35 miles each way and again, it's just part of my working day and I don't think twice about it.
If you're getting paid 43p/mile then you're laughing.
Move, why waste 2 odd hours a day of your life in a car if you do not have too, for the sake of £500 a month before servicing / wear+tear, no thanks.
I seriously can't fathom why anyone would commute, as above, 100+ miles e/w or 3 hours per day in a car, what a waste of life!
I currently do 25KM on the autobahn, that is the furthest commute I have had, hate it, wouldn't do it again.
I seriously can't fathom why anyone would commute, as above, 100+ miles e/w or 3 hours per day in a car, what a waste of life!
I currently do 25KM on the autobahn, that is the furthest commute I have had, hate it, wouldn't do it again.
Renting a place for 5 months is not moving. Always stay as close as possible to work, preferably a 20 minute walk. Commuting time is lost time. Unless you need to be back home at night or weekends just relax in a rented flat and enjoy the change of scenery. You never know who you will meet.
herewego said:
Renting a place for 5 months is not moving. Always stay as close as possible to work, preferably a 20 minute walk. Commuting time is lost time. Unless you need to be back home at night or weekends just relax in a rented flat and enjoy the change of scenery. You never know who you will meet.
Currently in Brussels and go home once a month to annoyance of my wife!!!Gassing Station | General Gassing | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff