Is this commute too much?

[commuterquery]

Hi!

just wondered if someone could give some advice or perspective on this.

right now I’m commuting about 55 minutes door to door by car, both to and from work. It’s only 25 miles from my house to my work but busy traffic. I work 9-5.30.

I’ve got the opportunity to take a higher paid job but with different hours and a much longer commute. But also- much higher salary. It’s 55 miles, 1 hr 30 minutes door to door but more of a country drive so no traffic. Hours 8.30-5.30

Does anyone know if realistically this would be too much? Just thinking it would be a great opportunity to save some money for a deposit (i still live at home) but realistically I don’t want to be too exhausted. It’s a much higher milage but not a significantly higher commute (30 mins more each way) because of the traffic differences- although with the earlier start I’d need to leave much earlier than I am now

and with the extra petrol I’d be spending a lot more than I am now although I’d be earning more too

just wondered if anyone has any advice or thoughts or experience in this sort of thing at all? Thanks in advance 🙂

I would go for it.
at ur stage in life i think you would be ok. Podcasts and fave music for the journey.
I have 2 dc, aged 3 and 6 and I manage a 30 mile commute, the rules are to be in office when required so average 4 days and I try to have one day at home. However I have work life balance which is something you could think about. I work 3 long days Tuesday Wed Thursday and only work 10-2 Mondays Fridays to allow me to do school drop off and pick up.
if you have a flexi system you could look at taking a few days off a month. Some of my colleagues do this and take off Wednesday to break up long commutes.
good luck

I used to commute into London everyday, starting at 6.30, getting in at 8.45 and leaving 18.30 (if the trains were ok) getting home around 21.00, so that sounds fine to me, as long as you enjoy driving.

When I did teacher training our university told us we could be placed in a school up to 90 mins commute from our homes, each way. That was considered entirely reasonable (although not everyone agreed!) and our daily hours were longer.

If you enjoy driving, have a comfy, reliable car and know the route well enough to take different routes when necessary then I'd go for it. Do it for a year then reassess whether you want to move closer?

I’d do it at your stage in life. Prioritise saving rather than allowing lifestyle creep and that is an extra £13k per year on top of what you’re saving now - how long would it take to have a deposit big enough to buy nearer work? And don’t forget with £50k income rather than £30k income you’ll be able to borrow more as well if you choose (or borrow the same and the mortgage be much more affordable)

I would if I were you!

If it’s an hour and a half commute and you work 8.30-5.30, you’ll be out the house from 7-7 but if you’re young and live at home, this is the perfect time for something like this, especially with a big salary increase.
I think if it was a horrible, traffic-filled city drive I’d be more put off, but a traffic-free country drive is much nicer. You can listen to music/podcasts/audiobooks etc, and it could be nice wind down time.

Good luck!

I've never spent more than about 20 minutes commuting, but that's through choice even though I adore driving. But if I were you young free with no commitments yes I'd take it if the job was that good and it meant that I jumped up a significant amount in my career, I would definitely take it. How bad is the driving for the actual commute. Think long-term you only need to do it for a year, 1.5 years, then use that job title to move up higher, onto a new job with less commute.

Ask if you can do 1 day at home.

OP has said it's not possible to work from home.

The only thing that would make me think twice is those particular roads in winter.

its a good jump up the salary ladder, so not just your income now, but a boost up for as long as you stay in a similar role.

there are many ways to make it easier if you start to find it too much. As well as options like premier inn you could find somewhere to lodge a couple of nights a week it's a bit of extra ££ for the home owner & nice to have 'your room'

find a radio station you love or pod casts, a good travel cup etc & make sure your car has safety & comfort item in it for any potential long delays.

Do it while you have no responsibilities in the evenings & will probably come home to a cooked dinner & home comforts!

and if you truly come to hate it, you can always get another job!

Sounds fine to me! If you’re young and don’t have kids to think about (as you’ve confirmed) I don’t think it would be exhausting- if you had to dive into some kind of meal providing and bedtimes at the end I would say it’s too much.

My DH does this - but he isn’t responsible for school drop offs etc.

What about finding a Mon-Fri room let (spare room.com) or airbnb?

I’ve done that length commute and even though I like driving, listen to podcasts etc it gets v tiring after a while. I wouldn’t consider it again unless could wfh at least x 2 a week which i know you can’t.

Work out the extra commute cost (including wear and tear) and the net extra income, make sure it makes sense!

Yes, and include the extra time as well. Time is a valuable commodity, you’ll be spending more of it working and more of it travelling.

I'd look on spare room or similar to see if you could find a cheap room to rent as a lodger in someone's house for four nights per week.

OP do it, you can make the commute your decompression time and listen to podcasts, radio etc

I have done worse commutes believe me but the most important thing right now is career and financial independence.

That's the kind of jump in salary that doesn't come along often. And once you earn it you tend to stay at that level so it's significant over a career.

Given that you are only really in your current location because of living at home, you have more 'end goal' options than most.

You are young enough for house share options etc too.

I think as PP suggested you need to think about whether it's an area you could afford to buy in (or closer to) and would want to live in.

If yes then you save every penny you can and try and get the move done as fast as possible.

Through the winter you may need to investigate options to stay in emergencies. Hotel, colleague you get on with, air b and B etc.

You said north Scotland but if it's north east and anywhere near Aberdeen there's a massive oversupply of one bed flats just now and hotel rooms to be had cheap.

More difficult if it's west coast.

I think you'll regret not taking it but should do so with the intention to have a fixed time frame on how long you do the drive.

Do it, you’re young, as for the fuel buy an electric car, you’ll be able to afford one with the increase in salary 🤗

I would find it too much. I do that two days a week and that is more than enough. Every day would be too much for me, even pre kids.

I would take the job but maybe stay in a nearby cheap hotel a couple of nights a week. Cost of petrol might balance it out!

a 55 min 25 mile drive is not that bad. When I was working it wasn’t unusual for me to take this long to drive home and it was 4 miles door to door. Through the city centre though, and it was quicker in the mornings