costs of commuting into London

[hjloioiu]

DH and I were considering moving out of London for cheaper as everyone keeps mentioning it. But just seen the rail tickets prices/increases - https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-13345909/The-Great-British-Train-Robbery-Commuters-soon-save-moving-London-annual-season-tickets-costing-10k-expert-warns.html. With both of us going in, it would be about 10-12k per year on tickets alone. If you commute in - how does it work? Do you feel like you've saved money on moving out?

I commute, but not regularly. Even if I had to commute 5 days a week, I don't think living in London would be feasible for me.

I don't think i would "move out of London to save money" if I already owned a property in London. It doesn't make sense. Money spent on commuting is wasted (like rent), but if you pay a bigger mortgage (because your house is worth more) that's an investment.

The reason I commute is because I just can't afford a house in London in an area my partner would be happy to live in. Right now, he loves the house and the area we live in, our house costs £300,000 (first time buyers 18 months back). We couldn't get anything in London for that price, especially with his "requirements".

In other words, the commute was a compromise. He was/is very anti-london, unless we had loads of money for a huge house and exciting social life. Sadly, we're not on that kind of money and have no family financial help.

If I had a season ticket it would be £6K a year. But, ATM I only go in two days a week (max). I also do insanely long hours when I'm in the office. I'm out for 16 hours a day, of which 12 hours are in the office 7-7, to make the most of being in London and to get off-peak travel.

The commute (2 hours door to door) is 100% worth it because on my days WFH I am a ten minute walk from the beach and woods etc. There's no pollution. There's lots of nice independent shops. The schools are better. My quality of life is better. Crime rates are lower. And it sounds cliche...but the people are nicer as well.

Even if I had to go in 5 days a week (which I did pre-COVID) on shorter days and at the higher cost...it would still be worth it both financially and personally. I could have bought in London - not a house, but a two bed flat in a nice area. I just made my choice based on what was important to me.

It's all about what your priorities are tbh.