How far do you travel to work?

[chris]

Do you drive or take public transport?

The reason I'm asking is I've just had a phone call offering me another job. Ultimately it's quite a bit more than I'm on now (£9k more), which would obviously help, but it's 40 miles away. So that'd be 80 miles a day I'd be driving.. I currently am 20 (round trip) miles a day to work, which takes me 20-35 mins each way depending on the time of day I travel at, working for the public sector.

The job offer would take me around 50 mins to drive on average, each way and has the promise of promotion etc, and bonuses - it's not what I plan to do for the rest of my life (software development) but I'd be able to massively over pay my mortgage by using most of the extra income that I'd be recieving.

I'd also be getting a weekly travel allowance, and rough calculations show that I'd be spending £30/week on fuel (on top of this allowance) - where as I spend around £30 every two weeks here. There's the obvious wear and tear on the car, and the extra travelling time so was wondering if any of you had made a similar move?

I could stick it out for a few years and then move back to a job closer (as I mentioned in a previous thread once upon a time my medium-long term goal is to definately do something horticultural related - even if it's a big drop in salary--- to cut a long story short I want to pay (or pay as much as possible) off my mortgage asap / now, whilst I'm relatively young and able to work hard keeping up in the "rat race").

I'm not that happy with where I am - all the management routes have been stiffled by the managers above my role/level now due to resource implications, so literally I have no where to go here, where I am now until perhaps the next government comes into play or, if somehow the NHS goes through another re-structure.

Another downside would be I'd be dropping a lot of days annual leave (as you probably know, public sector workers get a generous amount of annual leave). The pension scheme I'm in for the NHS isn't as good as it "was", and I'm on a later scheme anyway, which has been revised again . Stupidly I haven't been paying into a private pension/sipp - my main goal was to pay off my mortgage.. but as I'm approaching the big three zero my mindset is starting to change somewhat (in terms of oh, I should be paying into a pension, etc)

Argh.

[OverWyreGrower]

My OH currently drives about 40 miles each way to work (Ops Director), however his car and fuel is paid for by the company. If it wasn't we couldn't afford for him to work there...

I'm currently looking for a job - I've set my 'area' at about 25-30miles from home. Anymore than that, and I couldn't afford fuel. I've been used to spending about £100 a month on petrol (Honda Jazz), so whilst it would be a pain, a little bit more wouldn't hurt.

Actually, it's more the time for me. The thought of spending anymore than 45mins to 1hour each way travelling would drive me insane!

[Newton]

Hi Chris. It's great you have been offered a better paying job in this climate. Congratulations. It seems that you are a goal driven individual which is excellent. You appear to have the opportunity to move towards your goals here! Go for it. You state you still have the energy and you could always look at it as a short term route. And....you can also review your pension goal.

Well done.........you are in the top 1%.

[Two_Sheds]

3 mile round trip for me: by bike. If I go into town after, that's a 9 mile round trip, no sweat, easy parking

If I have heavy stuff to carry (for Garden Club) I take the car.

[jackie j]

Hi Chris I would say go for it, I can walk to work in both my jobs, one I do, and the other I drive even tho its only one mile because I dont fancy walking home at midnight on a thursday and friday night.
My OH travels twenty miles each way and it takes about 20 mins. He doesnt get a fuel allowance unless he is out on a job which can be anywhere in the south west. The salary increase is quite a jump, if it was less you wouldn't think about it, So go for it what have you to lose.

[gardenpassion]

I would say 'go for it'. I drive 23 miles to work and it can take up to an hour somedays because of the traffic. However it is the job I love, and job satisfaction counts for so much these days. Sounds like its (the potential job) not your ideal job but where you are currently sounds difficult too.
Life is very short so do what you feel is right, whatever decision you make will be right for now Good luck.

[chris]

Actually, it's more the time for me. The thought of spending anymore than 45mins to 1hour each way travelling would drive me insane!

This is one of my concerns. I do like driving, my wife has a small engined car (1.4 mini) which I use to drive to work. It was the only reason I haven't gone contracting yet (I could be earning as much as I do now in a month- for a weeks worth of contracting -- crazy). That said, and as I said before I don't want to keep up in the rat race with every one else, I value the time with my family and the time I have to goto the allotment. I've negiotated the same start/end time (8-4), which means I'll be getting home ~20 mins later than usual.. I'd be leaving at the same time as I get into my current job early and take a long lunch break. That's because I work in Cardiff town centre, so often just wander around town at lunch, I'd be quite happy to drop down to 20/30mins mind.

[veggiechicken]

Hi Chris, As I've told you my husband used to work where you do now and the management culture changed considerably for the worse, even while he was there. Now, I understand, it is even more difficult to come home happy at the end of the day. I believe that job satisfaction is very important and if you do not feel that you are getting that where you are, go for it.
Travelling time may be a factor but, sometimes travelling a short distance through traffic can be a lot more stressful than a steady run, albeit over a longer distance and time; better for the car too.
Lifes too short to spend it in the wrong job!

[piskieinboots]

Personally, I wouldn't consider that sort of commuting - but then I'm not overly ambitious and have no mortgage (yet!) to pay off. It isn't the petrol costs, for me it's the time spent in the car, I would prefer that time spent elsewhere.

However, it seems like you have a good thought out plan, so in your shoes I would probably go for it.

Currently my commute is:
Bedroom
Bathroom
Kitchen
Stairs
Office

[di]

My only comment was going to be about the extra time you'd be away from home and family, but you've answered that by saying it will only really be an extra twenty minutes.
You seem a really family motivated chap and I'm sure that would have been one of your first considerations.

Whatever you choose...all the best.

[Mikey]

I would have a couple of comments, in your current role you have a reasonable amount of flexibility as you are here at the moment, just like me!!

Where are you travelling to, 40 miles motorway is easy, 40 miles back roads are not, you have a young family and an allotment, add an hour onto your evening and see when you'll be able to get to the allotment!!!, its frightening dude.

You'll lose 2k of the 9k in fuel and car maintenance, and 30% in tax and NI, so you'd be roughly £350 better off per month, and an hour a day worse off, so is it worth being paid £18 for driving the extra distance to work a day.

Work life balance mate is a big toughie, I got out of the rat race because I had no choice. I now have a relative amount of flexibility but my family life has to also give a little from time to time.

I've done the extra driving in the past, and its tolerable as long as there aren't accidents on the roads, the down sides are that driving can be stressful especially when you are pushed for time.

Personally mate, if I was in your position and I don't know your role I'd be asking about the pension scheme, whether there is any healthcare attached, and whether they would be prepared to offer fuel allowance or a company vehicle. If they are that keen on you there will be a certain amount of negotiating potential.

Also remember sometimes the grass is not always greener on the other side, but if you are unhappy where you are then a move can be a breath of fresh air.

I think I've managed the non committal quite well here eh...

[Nicos]

At the moment my work is about 15 feet away from me!

I think ultimate achievement needs to be considered with any new job which involves a lot of traveling.

A '50 minute' journey during the day can turn into at least 2 hrs at peak times/accident/road works. There and back each day takes a lot out of your family time .
Ultimately for sanity you may feel the need to leave home even earlier to miss the 'rush hour' and work later -for exactly the same reason.
You may find you only see your young family at weekends. Also your OH would be left to do almost everything during the week.
I know- been there- and hated it....and so did OH eventually.
If it's a good 'stepping stone' and you have family support- then go with your gut feelings.
(Tis travel time not distance which you really need to consider if your car and petrol are paid for.)

Both my OH and I worked full time and it wasn't easy at all.

[piskieinboots]

I think I've managed the non committal quite well here eh...

I'll take the splinters out of your arris if you take them out of mine

[Mikey]

I'll take the splinters out of your arris if you take them out of mine

Now how could I refuse such an offer.

[VirginVegGrower]

Have you tried any of the big four Chris where, depending on your level, you might be able to obtain a car plus allowance? Travel three days a week, work from home for two. HP, IBM, Fujitsu, CAP Gemini and others. Although the large IT companies have been cost cutting like mad over the last few years...
I used to work a forty mile commute many years ago and I had a travel time of 1.5 hours into a city centre. It was a nightmare. Saying that, whatever your mortgage details are would you be allowed to overpay and if so, assuming you are a 40% tax payer that £9k a year might not be come much to overpay with in the grand scheme of things. If you are a lower tax payer then I would ask why you are not getting in with the bigger IT organisations and getting yourself a yearly raise of £20-30k per annum. Have you put yourself up on the business networking sites, you know who they are, as Mr VVG gets head hunter calls from them all the time?