Carry on Commuting or work local?

[PetloverGal]

Hi all, would like some advice. With everything going up - bills, travel, etc, was thinking about getting a local job. At the moment I'm on a decentish salary, but with the train fare at 6K and no pay rises at all for the last few years means I'm taking a pay cut every year and disposable income would be the same if I was to work locally on a much lower salary. My employer says I need to be in the office so cannot work from home (even though I can) and just trying to weigh up the pros and cons... I love my job, and love working for a large company, but wondering if the 2 hr (door to door commute is worth it now) have any of you swapped working in London for working local? Is it better, or did you regret it? Some companies are offering hybrid, but feel this has taken away the work atmosphere... and eventually the train fares will creep up again in 2/3 years, so wondering if I should start on a new local adventure!

Well I mean if your disposable income would be the same but you'd get 2 hours of your day back (or did you mean 2 hours each way so 4 hours total, which is insane to me!?) then it seems a no-brainer. The only thing I'd have a careful think about is whether you'd be limiting your career prospects by moving to a smaller, local company and whether that's a big deal for you - obviously I think it depends on the industry and the particular company but my experience of small-town, 'local' firms has been they can be a bit parochial and cliquey with limited opportunities for promotion/progression and a bit of 'dead-man's shoes' syndrome goes on. But obviously that might be completely different somewhere else. So long as the step down in terms of salary isn't also a lower level job then I'd go for it, you can presumably always switch back to London if needed?

Thank you for taking the time to reply. Really appreciate it. :)