Commute - how much is it worth to you?

[steph196]

I would absolutely do it 3 days a week. If it was more days than that, I wouldn't. Is this job closer to ME?

[nolasteph]

I would consider the type of commute. Is it an hour of stop and go pure hell? Or is it an hour of 60+ mph?

Pre marriage and kids, I worked 45 minutes away from our home, but it was all interstate, and going against rush hour traffic both ways. It was an easy drive and I never minded it. Now, I currently drive 45 minutes each morning (there, and maybe 25 minutes back home) to drop my daughter at school and in the afternoons it's another 30 minutes there and over an hour back home. That is absolute hell. Stop and go/bumper-to-bumper hell. I cry about this a lot.

[donnamartingraduat]

Probably not. I REALLY hate commuting.

[pittsmcgee]

Sure would choose the 3 day 20k more. Fuck yes.

[fuckyourcouch]

I want to say yes, but I commute about an hour each way and I want to stab myself in the eye most days.
For 3 days a week I could probably take it, but ugh. 5 minutes. I wish.

[mellymel]

Absolutely not. To me, it would have to be more like $50K. Even still, I might not do it. I have young kids though and barely see them during the work week as it is, so my time is precious.

[agnes]

Yes. Hands down.

I kind of did this. Not as great of a schedule as yours, but I got to choose my hours, better company, better pay, better environment, "longer" commute. Turns out being further from my house, but the opposite direction and earlier in the day I have a much better commute. I'm now making 30% more than my last job.

[vamoose]

No. But this depends heavily on the COL where you are and your current household income. For me, that would maybe be $12k after taxes. Wear and tear on my car plus gas would eat a big chunk of that. No thanks.

[bronxgirl]

definitely. I've had commutes a lot longer than that and didn't get any extra money for it.

[Deleted]

I feel like you've said before you already make pretty good money, right? Like over 6 figures?

If so, I probably wouldn't. I hate a long commute, it takes up so much of your day. It makes it hard to do anything after work, makes it hard to work out before work (if you do that), and it costs a lot more on gas/wear and tear on your car. If it was a life altering amount of money, maybe, but after a certain point in your earnings more money doesn't mean more happiness. I do think more time to do things you enjoy DOES mean more happiness.

But, if the role and the advancement opportunities, company culture, etc are worth it - that's another story entirely. Pay and WFH aren't enough.

[livinitup]

I did 50 minutes, one way, by car without traffic in my 20's. Easy peasy.

[laurenpetro]

Fuck yes.

[verycontrary247]

May 27, 2015 19:43:18 GMT -5 mp said:

May 27, 2015 19:41:41 GMT -5 wannabe said:

3 days? $20K?

FUCK YEAH.

I would still need to work at home at least one of those days - but the schedule is super flexible and I could basically set my own hours.

Could you set your own hours on the days you have to go into the office? If I could schedule myself to avoid rush hour traffic I would. If not, I could see that 1 hour commute being way longer- and you couldn't pay me enough to deal with that on a regular basis.

[underwaterrhymes]

LOL.

I love the posters here and on MMMoms who are like, "OMG, No! I have kids! My time is precious!"

Like some of us who said yes don't also have kids and value our time.

[isabel]

May 27, 2015 22:45:40 GMT -5 underwaterrhymes said:

LOL.

I love the posters here and on MMMoms who are like, "OMG, No! I have kids! My time is precious!"

Like some of us who said yes don't also have kids and value our time.

See, I would take that *because* I have a kid. Sure, I may not see him much on those 3 days, but when I was WFH I could go visit him for lunch at daycare. He could spend my extra weekend day with me in addition to the regular weekend. I see benefits to it on the kid side.

[auberge]

Yes

I commute 45 minutes-1 hour now each way.
(Although I just bought an electric car so as soon as I get my carpool stickers, it will be 35-45 mins yay!)

[Deleted]

If $20k would make a significant difference in your life, you should do it.

[calle28]

Is it an hour with or without traffic?

Would the $20k make a significant impact?

I don't know. I hate driving and hate commuting, but $20k would be a huge deal for me so I'd probably do it, especially since it's only 3 days a week.

[lexxasaurus]

Definitely. I really don't mind a long commute (mine is 25-55 minutes depending on which office I'm in) and if it was a job I was interested in PLUS a higher salary? Sign me up!

[frannyr]

This is my life. I commute 3 days a week 45 min-1 hour each way. Some weeks it's only 2 days. I don't have traffic which is fabulous - it's just a lot of miles, all highway though. I like the alone time.

The 2 days home is worth the long commute to a good job/company/benefits/pay all day long. I love telecommuting, it really changes your work/life balance tremendously.

Good luck on the interview!

[noodle]

My commute is over an hour already. It's not ideal, but it's what I chose by moving to the area where we now live and wanting to stay at a job I love.. My H has a flexible schedule so WFH or commutes at off-peak hours, and it makes such a difference. I would love to be able to WFH once a week; that plus loving my job would be worth it it me. More $ would be huge, but the flex schedule would be the bigger incentive for me.

[bullygirl979]

May 27, 2015 19:45:14 GMT -5 mp said:

May 27, 2015 19:43:29 GMT -5 bullygirl979 said:

Are the other 2 days work from home?

At least one - the other would be if needed. I can flex my schedule and if I get my work done in 4 days, then may just be checking emails on th e5th day.

Yes, I would absolutely accept the offer. I'm also assuming there is more potential for growth at the new job?

[partiallysunny]

I went from literally right next door to a 30-45 minute commute (one way) a few years ago for better benefits and more money, still 5 days a week and no flex schedule.

It's totally worth it. Give yourself plenty of time to get to work so you're not stressing about traffic and crank up your music.

Edit: I have a kid. ::shrug:: still worth it

[bab]

If I were you I would definitely do it. Sounds like a fabulous opportunity

[kittyb]

I would. Even factoring in gas and mileage, 20k would still make a huge difference for me. I would just consider the room for growth there vs your current place.

[Waffles]

I wouldn't for the 20k but for the schedule hell yes.

[Deleted]

Absolutely. I think the flexibility with having essentially 1 full day off per week and then another flexible day absolutely makes it worth it.

A full day off per week totally trumps having to spend 2 extra hours in the car per day.

And who knows? If the environment is so great and flexible, maybe you could get down to only 1 or 2 days per week in the office.

[lizrd7579]

Is the hour commute with or without traffic? If the hour turns into an hour and a half or longer with traffic, I'm not sure I'd do it. Even with the pay increase and 3 days in the office. And are you guaranteed it would only be 3 days in the office?

[sandpiper]

Heck yes. The extra $20k would be awesome, but the 3 day work week would seal the deal for me. Four day weekends!

[rupertpenny]

This would be a tough call for me. I hate nothing more than commuting and I'm seriously spoiled about it. The only time I've ever been out of walking distance from work my H drove me.

But I loooove money. A lot.

I also suck at working from home, so that might move me to no, but if you are productive at home go for it.