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Original poster

Commute help

16 replies

georgedawes · 28/11/2021 20:42

Trying to work out whether it's worth me (financially) applying for a job with a long commute, changing from home working. It's approx 80 miles round trip.

I'd need to buy or lease a new (to me at least) car, plus fuel on top. Trying to work out the most economical way of doing this..would rather not buy an old banger but appreciate a newer car will add significant costs.

Any rough ideas welcome - will only need a small car for the commute only. Would consider electric but looks like initial cost may be high.

OP posts:

Ilikewinter · 28/11/2021 20:45

Thats a long commute OP, are you doing this daily and in rush hour traffic?.
Id guess youd be looking at £150 pm for a small or mid level car plus the never ending rising cost of petrol.
I hope your getting a really really good payrise.

Original poster

georgedawes · 28/11/2021 20:50

Yes it'd be a tough commute! And very different to now. Payrise is significant, but I won't see much of it I know due to fuel costs. It is a step up though..hard to know whether to go for it or not.

OP posts:

TokyoSushi · 28/11/2021 20:50

I think it depends more on do you have a job now? Do you need the money? Is it a massive pay rise? Is it a promotion? Is it your absolute dream job and only in this location? Can you WFH sometimes? You know...

Original poster

georgedawes · 28/11/2021 20:53

Yes have a job now, it's a big payrise and dream job but I suspect from initial calculations that car costs may swallow pay increase, despite it being >10k more. No indication can work from home hence trying to work out car costs..

OP posts:

Neighneigh · 28/11/2021 20:56

Can you have it in your contract that your home is your regular place of work, so that the company pays expenses when you go in to the office? Normally you have to be v senior to get that but it could be worth asking.

Original poster

georgedawes · 28/11/2021 20:57

I think unlikely tbh knowing the sector

OP posts:

MiloAndEddie · 28/11/2021 21:01

I reckon you’d be going some to get your car/insurance/tax/maintenance/breakdown under £250 a month for a new car. Then fuel will be £60 a week I reckon.

Ilikewinter · 28/11/2021 21:05

£10k rise and a dream job,congratulations!!.
The commute would be the deal breaker for me, my 6 mile commute is currently taking 45 minutes some days, i can tell the days people arent working from home! and that drives me mad. I couldnt imagine driving 40 miles.

Original poster

georgedawes · 28/11/2021 21:09

Yes I'm really not sure. It's actually £15k payrise but I think that will be swallowed completely by transport costs plus a 3 hour daily commute!

OP posts:

Fedupmum13 · 28/11/2021 21:14

It's not just the money, think of your wellbeing too. I have a 70 mile round trip commute but due to my job don't have a choice (no working from home option). Some days it really drags me down and I take more sick leave because of it, as if I'm under the weather, I can't do the commute. Whereas if i worked from home I could get on with it. I occasionally get the train which makes a difference, are there public transport options?

Callisto1 · 28/11/2021 21:15

Is it a job that you could do for say 1-2 years and then get something better? The commute sounds pretty horrible. Could you move long term?

felulageller · 28/11/2021 21:29

Move house once you're settled in job?

Original poster

georgedawes · 28/11/2021 21:39

No public transport available unfortunately. We've discussed moving but don't want to due to family reasons. I'm thinking it's possibly a no go.

OP posts:

AndSoFinally · 29/11/2021 15:24

What are you earning now OP? That £15k will go a lot further if you're still in the lower tax bracket than it will if it's taxed at 40%

Kite22 · 29/11/2021 17:03

£15K payrise wouldn't be all eaten up by cost of commute, BUT it is whether you want to lose that time every day (and add to childcare costs if that is something you would need). Obviously it depends if you are traveling on motorway or through traffic or on quiet roads but I can't see a 40mile drive in rush hour taking less than an hour and a quarter ?? Possibly a lot more, so that is 2 1/2 hours a day minimum just to get to and from work. Potentially quite a lot more than that.

It would have to be a job I really wanted, or one that was seen as a 'must grit teeth and get on with it as it is a big stepping stone'

Dougieowner · 29/11/2021 17:12

@georgedawes

No public transport available unfortunately. We've discussed moving but don't want to due to family reasons. I'm thinking it's possibly a no go.

That's a shame, I was just going to ask if bus / train was an option.

Still WFH since lockdown began but when I go back into work my office will have moved and a serious commute is the only option.
Are moving home but will still be a 1hr train journey from the new office. Moving even closer to the new office was not an option (not a city I would want to live in) so decided to settle our ideal location and suffer a commute.

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