Long commute to work: Is it even worth it?

[SlimmingMumOf1]

Posting here for traffic really, as I feel like I have been stressed and worried for days on end and I just want to get it off my chest.

I have DS who is almost 2. At the moment, my husband and I have jobs so that we both can look after DS. He has now got a better paid job which of course is better for him in the long run as he is career driven and focussed. Me on the other hand, just working as a cleaner on minimum wage!

I've had to find a childminder who works weekends as I have to do weekends where I work, and calculating the whole trip to drop my DS off, go work, pick him up then go back home is 40 miles, 4 days a week.

I know a lot of people travel a lot more than that, but they probably have far better paying jobs than myself and I've done entitlement calculators and budgeting, it is coming out that we will get an extra £340 a month if I stay in work and that includes paying a childminder.

Would you, personally, live without the extra bit of money if it means staying at home with DS? I've used the budget calculator and will have £1100 leftovers if I was in work, or £438.95 leftover if I wasn't!

Sorry this is probably a ramble I am still a bit stressed by the change of routine

I would look for a different job which doesn’t inc weekends so you can find a CM closer to home or find a job which fits round dh’s so you don’t need a CM.

It does sound like you’d have enough to manage if you didn’t work but you’d have £600 a month more if you did work. £600 a month extra can make a difference to your lifestyle. Plus I guess I’m of the opinion that giving up work puts women in a vulnerable position and it would certainly make it harder for you in a few years time to find a job if you wanted to. But I know not everyone is of this opinion.

It sounds like more than an “extra bit of money”, tbh - it sounds like an amount that could make quite a significant difference! If you can manage without it in terms of your daily living costs, it will surely start building up into a little savings pot.

Given the gloomy financial forecasts about the cost of living at the moment, I’d stay in work. You will get used to the commute; it’s really not that long.

I like having a separate identity so would try to keep my own job. How long does the running around take? 40 miles could be 40 minutes or 2 hours.

This sounds like a rather significant amount of money, tbh. I agree with a PP...

Keep the job but try finding something else? It also depends on how you feel about your job in general... (Imo.)

Have you factored in the cost of petrol? It might make it even less worthwhile to work

How about becoming self employed and cleaning people's homes? You could do it more locally, avoid weekend working and you'd probably earn more.
I know cleaners who do laundry and ironing too. I'd seriously consider that as an alternative.

I think 40 miles doesn't really tell us anything - how long is the commute?

£600/m could make a huge difference to your savings, lifestyle, and your son's, not just now, but in the future. Heck, if you put it all in savings you'd be in a very sound position to give him a good pot in the future.

I would stick it out and look for something nearer, without weekend work. Or as PP say, your own cleaning business nearer to home.

Thank you everyone for your replies so far.

I have thought about my own cleaning business but we have a Maid2Clean already around here who does houses so I doubt I'd even get anywhere? I need consistent hours and wages.

I am still looking for another job half heartedly but it isn't easy. I've applied for quite a few in one week and not heard back from one of them!

I've factored in everything including petrol, maintenance, bills, shopping etc and played it safe and added a couple more possible expenses! I've even cancelled my WW and Netflix subscription to cut down the cost and save even more money.

I did 90 minutes each way for years because I enjoyed my job. It was reasonably well paid but we were only about £200 a month better off in real terms.

I stopped enjoying my job for various political reasons and quit a year later. Moved house, had a year off until I found a job closer to home (40 mins each way) but I WFH 3 days a week now so only have the commute twice a week.

I’d honestly never go back to wasting three hours of my life a day commuting.

Sorry the commute will be about 45 minutes!