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I'm working right now at a job that isn't working out for me, but I recently got an e-mail from someone I had spoken with before about employment. When we previously spoke, I turned down his job offer because the commute from my house to work is about 45 miles (approx an hour drive). When FI and I move in together, the commute will be about 45 minutes (35 miles away). Over 20 miles of the commute is on an elevated highway with no shoulder (dangerous!) The job type seems like a fit for me and the increase in salary is over $9000.
Is it worth it? Would you do it?
(A small FYI- I'm also talking to two other potential employers, both much closer to were I live. They won't pay me as much, and employment isn't as certain as it would be with the first company.)
I'd do it. But I also currently commute for an hour and fifteen minutes every day for work. Been doing it for the last 3 years...and for the previous 7 before that, it was 45 minutes.
Both DH and I have hour long commutes... mine is 45 minutes sometimes, but his can be up to two hours, with traffic. We think it's worth it.
I personally wouldn't, because that extra $9,000 (before tax, so more like $6,000 after) is going straight to the extra gas and the wear and tear on your car.
However, I'm lazy and don't even like my 3 mile commute, so I may not have the best opinion to take.
Congrats on all your job offers! That's a feat in and of itself!
My commute is terrible so 45 minutes seems worth 9k to me
Yeah, I'd do it too. A commute like that can actually be kind of nice. When I was commuting, I found the drive to give me a nice buffer zone around the job.
I currently commute 45 minutes for an unpaid internship (that I love). So.... yes. I'd do it for $1k. Maybe $100. HAHA.
I don't consider 45 minutes a long commute, so yes, I think its worth it.
I also think it's worth it because relative to my experience, 45 minutes seems like a pretty standard commute, and I'm sure you have many good uses for the extra money each year.
I would probably travel up to an hour for that much... If it were any longer it wouldn't be worth my time/gas...
But 45 minutes isn't really that bad, if it's a job you would enjoy then I would say take it!
Haha, well I guess I should say that's what Google Maps says. In reality, the commute will probably be an hour and 15, considering traffic during rush hour. But seeing most of your responses, I imagine most of you would still say yes :)
Hopefully I'll make a decision soon! My job has been the only thing really keeping me down, which is sad since being engaged should be a happy time in my life!
Totally agree with abbie017. 35 miles each way is 18,000 miles a year. At 55 cents a mile (IRS mileage) you are actually losing money (depending on your current commute of course) and that's not accounting for your lost free time.
I don't know that I would (unless the other options don't work out). I used to have a 55 minute commute and HATED it.
Plus, as a PP said, that extra $9,000 (before tax, so more like $6,000 after) is going to go straight to the extra gas and the wear and tear on your car.
My commute is 45 mins on a good day. It ruins my life and I feel like I don't have enough time in the day to enjoy life on workdays. I feel like 1.5-2 hrs of each day are wasted. I already work 9-hr days, so on many days it is like working 11 hours. You should add commute time in and calculate how much you will be getting paid per hour to compare the jobs you are thinking about. So I am obviously advising you not to take the job if you think your commute might be a problem for you.
I think I would do it because I would want the pay increase. However, I used to commute 10 minutes door to door until I moved in with my SO. Now my commute is closer to 20 minutes and I complain constantly because I had been soo spoiled. So maybe I wouldn't haha.
@abbie017: this!!
@rubyroad10: Consider it $6000 after taxes...and calculate how much you'd be spending extra on gas alone. Maybe an extra gallon each way, so 10 gallons per week...so maybe $35 extra per week x 52 = $1820. So now it's really $4180 difference without including extra wear and tear or the value of your time
Personally, I'd probably accept a 45 min commute to leave an unsatisfying job for a great one, but realize the salary difference is nowhere near $9000.
This is ssuming it is 45 min even in rush hour and that I didn't feel like I would be forced to drive to work in dangerous weather conditions like icy roads on the highway you describe).
Dpending on the nature of the job and your company, you might be able to ask about working from home 1-2 x per week which shaves off a ton of total commuting time.
idk... that being said I have an hour commute and it sucks. But it completely on public transport (which sucks even more) and not on wear and tear on my car.
But my hour commute is pretty killer... I can't imagine having a life like this for the rest of my life. What will I only see my kids from 6:30 until they go to sleep???
@rubyroad10: I think your second post reaffirms it for me. If your current job is really bringing you down, then getting a new one that might make you happier is worth the commute to me...
Thanks for everyone's input. This is a lot to consider and I will let you guys know as soon as a decision is made!
@philabride2bee: I was just calculating the same thing. Totally agree. But I live in DC and 35 miles is 2-3 hours for a commute so you're gonna basically break even on gas.
You get used to longer commutes. I went from a 15 min commute to a 45-1 hour somedays commute. But I am in a job that I LOVE and makes me very happy - so the time is worth it.
What is your current commute? Wear & tear on car should be considered, but do so accurately, if you are already driving 20 minutes, then it'd be only a 25 minute additional commute. What is your current salary? If $9000 is 50% more salary, I'd jump at it for the money alone but it'd take more if it was 10% more salary. Will it position you better in your career? Is it more interesting than the other positions? Do you like the boss/coworkers better than the other positions? It's never a direct tradeoff of money versus commute, there are many factors to consider.
My current commute is about 45 minutes but it isn't your typical "concrete jungle" commute. Rather I have the pleasure of seeing farm animals, rolling hills, trees etc so it isn't all that unpleasant.
That being said I am a bit concerned about the highway you mentioned and the hazards that this might throw at you. Are we talking about potential mountain situations? That can add a great deal of stress to your drive not to mention added time and potential closures.
I would do it if it will make your work environment more pleasant, not because of the money necessarily.
current commute: 20-25 minutes
percentage of salary upgrade: ~25%
and the job is a better position than what I currently have in that the work will be more diverse, challenging, and in line with my longterm goals
hope that helps!
I would do it, too. My commute is about 30-45 minutes depending on traffic of course. I think that's pretty normal. I used to have a job closer to home that took me as long, so the pay off of an extra 10 miles with the same commute time, and being way happier at my job, making more money to boot, was totally worth it.
I actually loved having a commute. It gave me a chance to sort my thoughts and wake up before work to get fully prepared. And, one my way home, it gave me a chance to wind down. I commuted about 50 miles to my previous job. I actually don't like having a 10 minute/7 mile commute now. I probably would travel up to 60 miles for any job.
I say go for it if it will make you happier. I'm not sure I could put a price (or commute time) on a job that I love vs one I hate.
I did have to turn in my car that I had when I had that commute because it was just getting up there in miles. I now have a brand new car and would be comfortable driving it to a 60 mile commute for at least a few years =)
I was going to say I would travel up to an hour. My current commute is 45 minutes by car which I don't mind at all (except that I live outside of the big city so driving on the hwy in winter kinda sucks.) It's nice to have that alone time to listen to my music and think because it usually is the only time of the week I am alone.
my SO hates his hour commute through traffic, but he gets to work from home two days a week which makes it bearable and worth it for him.
I decided that when we move, we're living closer to wherever he works just because I see how tired it makes him. when he gets home after driving through rush hour traffic he just wants to have dinner, a drink, and go to bed.
@rubyroad10: Given those factors, I would take the job. It's a relatively small sacrifice (20 minute increase in commute) for some immediate benefits (pay & interesting work) and long-term benefits (meeting career goals, stepping up pay scale for the next job to which you apply).
A 45 minute commute doesn't sound that bad to me so I would definitely say it's worth an extra $9k. Yes, some of that will go to extra gas and car wear and tear, depending on how much further that is than your current job, but I don't think that'll even be close to $9k.
My personal limit is a 90 minute commute, or about 40 miles (LA traffic). So yes, I would do it!
um.. I'm thinking I live in a much smaller town than most of you... I just moved 'out of town', and my comute is now 25 mins. People even say (wow - you live out there?!?!) I can't imagine driving for an hour each way every day for work!
Sounds like you made your mind up. In my experience, always take the money. If you decide after a year or so that the commute is too much, you can always start looking around again and you have a higher salary to negotiate with. 45 minutes isn't a terrible commute, but it can be a little long depending on the scenery. I like commuting in the morning, gives me a little more time to wake up. In the evenings it helps me cool off a bit if I had a bad day so I'm not a royal witch when I get home.
it depends - what about winter driving? (I don't know where you're from but it is a consideration) Are they flexible about you working from home on the days when you just can't get in because of the weather?
If yes, I'd definitely do it.
Well, I'm waiting on the other (closer) companies I'm talking with to get back with me. If one of them offers me a position, it could be a game changer! And @bebefly: I live in New Orleans, so it's more about hurricanes than snow around here! :)
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