What is your commute?

[KarlTheToyotaGuy]

Hello TRF, I'm weighing a few options currently, and could use other's advice.

My commute from my place to work is roughly 10 minutes. Very unheard of in DFW. It also affords me the opportunity to drive my overland rig (in avatar) to work daily, which I very much enjoy!

At my current income level, I live comfortably.

I typically work 10-14 hours per day at a very fun workplace with (mostly) great people.

An offer for another position has been presented to me on the other side of the metroplex, that would roughly triple my income. However, my commute would then be one hour, EACH way. I signed a new lease two months ago, so uprooting isn't really a viable option.

How much value do you place on being at a close proximity to work?

[Laszlo]

My place of work is close but I used to have to commute from SF to Palo Alto and it was the most painful thing one can imagine. I'm absolutely elated and grateful that my commute now is within the City of San Francisco and takes approx. 23 min each way. And my parking garage downtown has a Safeway, Dry Cleaner, Bank, Post Office, Walgreens and even a salon! Talk about all-in-one!

[imperio]

I used to travel from Los Gatos to downtown SF daily. 45 minutes if early/late with no traffic, 1.5-2 hours during rush hour. Hated it and would never do it again. I've nodded off more times than I'd like. If you're expecting to pull 10-14 hours at work every day at this new gig... This will probably happen to you too. Don't do it.

[Laszlo]

Originally Posted by imperio

I used to travel from Los Gatos to downtown SF daily. 45 minutes if early/late with no traffic, 1.5-2 hours during rush hour. Hated it and would never do it again. I've nodded off more times than I'd like. If you're expecting to pull 10-14 hours at work every day at this new gig... This will probably happen to you too. Don't do it.

Ditto!! Best advice. It caused more issues from marriage to personal health.

[Wesley Crusher]

My commute is about 60 miles/1.5 hours each way. It honestly sucks. One guy on my team has a ~30 mile commute, another ~40 miles, and another ~50 miles. Two of those guys fight more traffic than I do so it actually takes them longer to get into the office. The icing on the cake is that we are all in the office pretty early (6-7am).

I carpool with some coworkers and we have a designated driver so I don’t actually do much driving (unless I drive in myself, which I do about once per week), but it still sucks.

I love the people I work with, but I’m not sure how long I can keep this going.

[Andad]

Built my office/factory 5km from home.

Takes me about 6 minutes.

[SearChart]

25min each way, I use the train. It would be a little faster if I drive but the parking cost is just ridiculous.

[c41006]

I have a 3 minute commute at the moment but I’d gladly drive an hour each way for 3x the money!

[Dr. Robert]

8-9 Miles round trip, against traffic, easy & quick, not bad for urban California driving!

[Brew]

Work from home; I manage to make the commute in shoes, not slippers.

[Rolex_Jack]

I'd say depends on the commute. If it is all city traffic, could get really annoying really quickly (sounds like you are in this boat). If it were a nice relaxing drive with little stops, 1 hour isn't bad. Either way...3x the money is fantastic, but don't let it cloud your judgment on what is important in life: your every day sanity!

[Cru Jones]

Just one hour? Really not horrible. Especially on a short/medium-term basis.

[colpol]

My last job was 12 mins door to door in car

Current job - 2 mile drive to station, 20 min train journey & then a 1/2 mile walk to office.

I miss the shorter travel but a lot more money. No pain, no gain as they say & the better money meant a new motorbike & a week in the sun ☀️ during Nov. Also as good as you get on with your coworkers - at the end of the day are they just that or real friends that you’d lose contact with as soon as you left ???

[bellesdad0417]

I could do that drive for a year until my lease is up for 3x pay.

[Tokyo Time]

It takes me three moshpit trains and about 70 minutes each way to work which is average here. My village is far enough out that we have more living space and breathing room than Shinjuku, Akasaka etc. Many of my coworkers do 120 each way

[Old Expat Beast]

About five seconds from living room to office.

I commuted for a few years in the 1990s and found it pretty soul destroying.

[Rock]

At the most basic level, you have to cost travelling time at your hourly rate, so if you are doing 20 hours a week travelling then that is worth an additional half of your salary.
In reality, the 'wear and tear' on YOU is huge, and the impact on your family.......?.
I made the decision 30 years ago that being home in the bosom of my family 10 minutes after finishing work was worth $100K pa. I have never, for one second, regretted that decision.

[pyrostick]

I live in Denver, and used to work I Pueblo. That was a three hour drive each way, the pay was incredible though. Now I commute 10 minutes total for a day for half the pay, and love it! Mine is a little drastic, but for me, short commutes are so worth it.

Sent from my SM-G920T using Tapatalk

[Abdullah71601]

Originally Posted by c41006

I have a 3 minute commute at the moment but I’d gladly drive an hour each way for 3x the money!

x2

Three times the money is worth an extra hour and a half in the car. The arithmetic on this decision is pretty simple. And it would be for less than a year.

[enjoythemusic]

Nowadays, anything more than 30 seconds to walk to the large downstairs office is too long.... unless i'm being properly compensated for my time and efforts.

[The Libertine]

Commute to office (driving) is 60 minutes, which I do three days per week. Work from home the other two days. Currently interviewing for a job that will reduce commute to less than 30 minutes; however, will likely need to forego the work from home option.

In any event, I am glad I drive vs. taking the train. At the end of the day, would rather be in my private space - on my own schedule, than to be riding a noisy and crowded train.

[Art 1]

Originally Posted by Old Expat Beast

About five seconds from living room to office.

I commuted for a few years in the 1990s and found it pretty soul destroying.

For me it's soul uplifting. I enjoy my very early drive watching nature and the world wake up. I go to a different location each morning and look forward to seeing the early sights. It would be awful to work from home, for me.

[HobokenRolex]

About 45 minutes door-to-door for me, combination of walking a few blocks and underground train/subway. This is just outside of NYC so it's pretty typical. Many have much longer commutes from the suburbs, which I could not handle. Good luck with your decision...the pay increase is tough to turn down. If driving gets to you, hire a driver/use Uber with that extra $$. Maybe get some work done in the car and spend less time in the office.

[mjclark32]

I work from Home, but used to commute an hour or so each way. It wasn’t all that much fun, honestly. But, for three times the money and I’d do it again.
Sounds like they really want you if they’re paying that much over market. Maybe they’d be willing to let you do a day or two from a home office once you settle in?

[cop414]

Upstairs to downstairs, takes maybe 15 seconds. Sorry, couldn’t resist.

[Wahlberg]

Originally Posted by pyrostick

I live in Denver, and used to work I Pueblo. That was a three hour drive each way, the pay was incredible though. Now I commute 10 minutes total for a day for half the pay, and love it! Mine is a little drastic, but for me, short commutes are so worth it.

Sent from my SM-G920T using Tapatalk

Why didn't you move there? 6 hours a day and you worked 8 as well?

[andromeda160]

My commute was a 1-2 minute drive or a 10-15 minute walk less than 5 minutes to bike, and I moved 45 minutes away to live with my girlfriend. I don't mind the commute as it gives me time to decompress after work and I get to listen to my favorite talk show every morning. I commuted about an hour each way for my first real job. Just something you have to factor into the pay. A few extra dollars an hour wouldnt be worth it, but if you triple your income i'd have a hard time passing it up

[walds11]

Easy 5 mile suburban commute to my office. I love the short ride to and from work. I also work from home once a week. My kid’s school is close to home and office, so I’m able to catch their sporting events and other activities on a whim.

[srvrf]

I drive 4.5 miles through a relatively small Midwest town each way and love it. I used to live 9 miles away but felt like I was always at a red light so I moved closer into town. At my stage of life (about 50), there’s no way I’d do what you’re thinking about doing.

But depending on your age and financial situation, it could be a way to spend a few years to build up your nest egg. Just remember to look at how taxes will eat into your new found wealth because you most likely won’t be tripling your take home pay. And with those long hours (and since you’ll have more income), I’d look for a local apartment so you could crash closer to your new job and then maybe head back to your current place on the weekends.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Starhutch]

I travel to your area regularly and it’s gotten so much worse for commutes in the past 5 years. Good luck on your decision but sometimes money shouldn’t be the motivating reason to make a move.