Long commute for a big pay rise... would you?

[KingHyx]

I work in a specialist field where jobs in my area are very hard to come by. I live outside of the city where salaries are generally very low. I am lucky enough to work close to home at the moment and whilst my salary is considered very good for where I live, it’s low for the field I work in.

I’ve been offered an opportunity in central London (where most of the jobs in my field seem to be), which would be a £30k pay rise plus benefits for doing the same role I do now. The commute to work would be around 2 hours each way.....!

I’m 25, married but no children and we own a property, so moving closer isn’t really an option for us at the moment. We are comfortable financially, but of course it would be amazing to have such a large pay rise and an opportunity to make some significant overpayments on the mortgage etc.

Am I crazy for considering this? It would be really helpful to hear from anyone else who has a long commute to work and what your experiences are!

[theemmadilemma]

At your age and with lack of childcare issues, I would totally do it. But factor in a burn out after a couple of years.

[Doodlebug5]

No

I did it for a week. It was horrific.
I quit after a week...

Leaving at 6.30 getting in at 7.30? Nah

[SEsofty]

Why not rent out your house and move central for a couple of years? Then you can maximise network opportunities and really really focus on your career for a couple of years. You are relatively young and this is exactly the time to be career focused

[Lazydaisies]

My salary is approx 70k I would not do that commute for another 70k. Life is for living. A 4 hour daily commute is not living.

[Cecedrake8989]

I wouldn't in a million years. But it depends if money or quality of life is more important to you right now. I did a 1 hour commute and couldn't wait to find a new job closer to home. It really cut so much well needing winding down or social time from the day. But I value free time over money (at this moment in time, but at other times I'd have gone for money) so it's a personal decision.

[Di11y]

assuming you'd be able to readjust your lifestyle to lower paid local job once you have children (or your dh can work locally), and your not planning on having children in the next year or two, and you plan to stay in a hotel once or twice a week, I'd go for it!

make sure you save lots and spend the rest wisely - cleaner, nice holidays etc. make it worth the sacrifices.

[Whatjusthappenedthere]

I commute 2 hours each way every day. I’m used to it now but it’s mentally draining. Sometimes when I reach home I have to stay in the car a few moments to just “calm down “ my brain before I walk in and start the evening meal. I do it for the job satisfaction and the money.
I have had similar commutes in my younger days and it was a bit easier, so you should be ok.
It’s draining when road works and accidents lengthen journey times. If you are going by train it may be worse or better . I’m not sure.
Oh and Audiobooks are your friend.

[MeakTiger]

No chance would I waste my life commuting 4 hours a day to work.

I’d commute more than that for my specific job. I’d struggle to commute 15 minutes for another equally paid job.

It really depends on the opportunity. My job and what it allows me to do with my life is well worth it.

[Shefliesonherownwings]

Consider whether there will be scope for you to get a job in the same field locally in a few years time and whether you can get a job that will continue your progression.

I would say go for it, the money you can make/save/enjoy for a few years would in my opinion be worth it, especially if you can then got back to a better life balance later on.

I've commuted into London between 1 hour and an hour and a half on average for over 10 years. I currently commute the longest I ever have, it can take 2 hours each way sometimes. But I don't mind it, I don't have to change so just sit and read or nap or catch up on TV. I do know where from home one day a week which I really value now but for a few years in your late twenties I would do it.

[FrenchJunebug]

with no children I would do it for a few years but it is very draining and commuting to and from London is never straighforward.

[ShambolicUsername]

No chance would I waste my life commuting 4 hours a day to work. I enjoy my own time way too much to spend that kind of time travelling just to work.

[NCforpoo]

I used to do a 90min commute each way. It wasnt a hardship because i really really wanted that job. It's a long way but you get into a routine and i found ways to use the time on the train
I now have a 1 he commute twice a week in the car and I hate that.
So you never know. If you want the job 2hrs isn't that long.
Agree with PP see if 1 day a week WFH is possible. Make a a big difference!

[BarbedBloom]

I wouldn’t. I had a 1hr 30 commute when I lived down that way but there were so many delays and cancellations that it frequently ended up much longer. I had no energy for socialisation and it ended up being a factor in my relationship of the time ending. I am now older and I value time far more than money.

But in your case it is a huge increase and your circumstances may allow for it. I would think long term though, how long is it sustainable for, do you want children, could you move closer? Just weigh up variables, allow for delays and think about whether you would have another option if it didn’t work out

[DontCallMeCharlotte]

I did it for 20 years and loved it. Okay, when it went wrong, it went very wrong but that wasn't actually that often (although sometimes it felt like it).

But the commute was my "down time". I could sleep, read, chat (if I bumped into any of my mates on the train) and by the time I got home, I was suitable wound down to enjoy the evening, albeit a slighter shorter evening.

In your situation, I would have no hesitation.

[LakieLady]

Your, not you're! Duh.

[LakieLady]

I wouldn't do it, but I'm lazy and not ambitious.

Bear in mind that a 2-hour commute on paper is likely to be a very different matter in reality.

When DP moved down here, his commute, including to/from the station, was theoretically under 1.5 hours each way. In the 7 months before he found a local job, there was never a week when he wasn't late at least once, and some weeks when the journey never went according to plan. There was a week when a section of line flooded and all the trains terminated 10 miles away (happens most winters), signalling problems, jumpers, it was a nightmare. He regularly got back 2 hours late and was rarely on time in the mornings, and was perpetually knackered.

And £30k sounds like a lot, but some of that will be at higher rate tax. Go online and find a calculator (turn2us, entitledto) which will tell you what you're net pay will be, then subtract your fares from that. Then you can see how much better off you'll actually be.

[Blinkingblimey]

As someone said upthread have you tried the journey out at the actual times you’ll be travelling? This is the first thing you should do - ideally on two different weekdays. Or, do you have any friends in London who fancy a weeknight lodger without charging the earth?

[HauntedPencil]

It would kill me but some people are more resilient- I think very short term but I'd have to consider staying down a night or two if that's an option.

[MeakTiger]

I do a 1.5 hour commute each way but it’s often 2, so 3-4 hours a day commuting. It was hard at first but Im used to it now. I only do it four days a week.

I’m in my 40s with a 6 and 3 year old. I’d certainly have no hesitation in my childless 20s but I’d save the excess rather than spend it on general lifestyle.

[BlueSkiesLies]

Yeah I would. You’re too young to confine yourself to a backwater (for you job) location.

I would actually look at renting my house and and moving to London for a few years. That’s what I did and ended selling up and staying in London.

Also look at WFH one day a week and getting a weeknight room. I rent out my spare room for 3 nights to a guy who works 4 days in London and one at home. A few of my friends do this too.

If you do decide to stick the commute, try and make as best use as possible for it - sleep/eat breakfast/ life admin etc

[Paraballa]

I used to commute 2 hours each way I to London, so train, tube including a change, and then a walk, for a total salary of 39k. For a pay rise of 30k I'd do it in a heartbeat even now I've got kids. With that extra money you can pay a cleaner, and save for the future. It's an incredible opportunity financially even before you factor in the benefits to your career. I don't understand why you even need to think about it.

[Kpo58]

I'd do it in a heartbeat. Check if they would let you do compressed hours and stay in London for 3 nights per week.

If you are ever considering children, you'll want as much savings as possible as childcare is ridiculously expensive, or even just for when you eventually retire.

[MojoMoon]

For the last few years, I have let out my spareroom to commuters (known as Monday to Friday let's on spareroom.com but usually it's more like Monday to Wednesday).
If you search spare room.com, you should get an idea of the cost. Or if you just want something ad hoc rather than paying a monthly rent, then air BnB. You can also get cheap last minute rooms at premier Inn/travel lodge style places. A few of my colleagues do that around 9.30pm at evening drinks to see if it's worth not bothering going home that night. We have lockers etc at work so it's easy to keep a change of clothes, makeup etc on stand by.

But to be honest, at 25, why not just rent out your house and move to London for a couple of years? It's fun plus it seems all your career opportunities are in London so spend a couple of years working, building a work network and having fun in your leisure time. Yes it means a small flat but you can always move back out later.

[DrWhy]

Realistically if it was taking me from £25k to £55k I’d probably do it, you’d be taking a lot of it home and it’s a massive % change in your net income. For £100k to £130k not a chance, you’d be paying about 60% in tax and the remainder isn’t a big enough % change in income (in my view) to be worth it.
Things to consider though, what’s the long term plan? That’s going to be pretty unsustainable with small children if you want to see them at all in the week. Would you want to move house into London to keep increasing your career? Or get a job back locally and take a pay cut? How practical are either of those options?