How much do you pay you commute/park each day for work?

[SqueakyRadish]

I started a new job a few weeks ago and I'm really struggling with the parking situation.

Basically, our office has very limited parking and, as the newbie, I don't have a space.
Parking nearby is between £16-24 a day
There is a car park about a 15 minute walk away that's £9 a day

I can't do park and ride because I can't get there in time for the 8.30 bus, and the next one is 8.55 so I'd be late for work.

I'm really not sure what, if anything, I can do. I work 3 days a week, so looking at £108 a month if I use the cheaper car park.

Basically, what I want to know is, do you think that's reasonable? Should I ask if I can claim it back as expenses or is car parking generally considered just part of having a job?
Should I kill a member of the team so that I can take their free office space?

I live and work in London (commute in from Zone 6 to Zone 1) and the fare is capped at £15.60 a day.

I used to commute via a bus to the train then a 1 hour 26 minute train ride and that cost circa £600 a month. I stopped that job in 2013 so hate to think how much it is now.

Now I commute a 20 minute drive then all day parking and that is £12..60. As i earn £13.77 an hour (and don't have a paid for lunch break) it takes up the first hour's pay before tax.

It sucks.

Oh- and all of my employment contracts have explicitly stated that commuting costs and parking is outside of allowable expenses.

Sorry to say, I walk to work 10 minutes.

that does sound a lot though.

If I can get a space I can park for £5.85 per day near the office. If I arrive after about 8.15 then it's the £8 per day car park. It used to be free 😭

Does your company have a car share scheme? We have one where I work; car shares get priority parking in the limited work car park, but even without that perk, you can split the cost of normal parking.

I go on the train.
It's about £56 for 8 journeys, as I only do 2 days in the office, that pretty much covers a month.
When I was in 5 days before we started flexible working, I paid £1100/year for a season ticket.

I park on a residential street that is a 15 minute walk. Colleagues park in a multi-storey that is a 5 min walk, costs £8 a day.

£4.80 for a return ticket on the train. I usually drive to the station too but it’s only about a mile (I park up after dropping off the children so it’s easier to take the car).

What does your contract say? Was anything to say during the interviews?
If you work 3 days a week, is there anyone else (with a parking space) who doesn't work when you do, and could share a parking space?

I wfh and if I go to office, I get reimbursed which I know is a lucky position.

I don't pay for parking never have in a works carpark.

If they reimbursed you for your commuting costs it would be taxable.

I'm lucky my work car park is free but limited spaces so get there earlier than I start

£0 - it’s only a 15 minute walk

I can walk to my base, when I have to go to other offices ( which I do on average twice per week), I park about 15 mins walk away which is free and get travel expenses to get there which is fortunate but I knew this when I applied for the post.

I have a short drive to work with free parking which is lucky. DH has a 2h commute on train/tube which is about £35 a day-lucky he doesn’t have to go in very often.

Thanks for all the replies! Looks like my £9 car park is reasonable then.

When I interviewed they said there was parking, which there is, technically. They just didn't mention that it's impossible to get a space.

So it's an annoying extra cost on top of the fuel I spend on a 50 minute commute.

Is your work something you can do if you start later? If so, can you ask to adjust your hours so you can use the park and ride?

Alternatively is the distance short enough between the park and ride and work that you can cycle that bit and take a folding bike with you?

Unfortunately not, only because if I don't leave in time at the end of the day I'm late to pick DS up from childcare.

Otherwise I think that would be a viable solution.

Can you park further away still and do a 25 minute walk each way. Find an even cheaper car park

I did think about this actually. I fear I'm too unfit and would arrive a sweaty and useless mess. But maybe I could work at improving my fitness and give it a go

I'm limited a bit with time because I have just over an hour to get there after dropping DS at breakfast club, so the 15 minute walk is pushing it sometimes depending on traffic.

My commute is £90 a day. Luckily I only go in once a week!

I don’t know anyone who gets free parking at their workplace. Everyone has to pay. There’s no parking on residential streets where I work.