What's the max commute you'd do for a decent job?

"BugEyedBimmer - back in the Saddle Dakota Leather" (bugeyedacura)
01/11/2015 at 23:52 • Filed to: None

In my current job search, I've avoided DC like the plague, but there appears to be so much potential there, it's getting hard to ignore. I know that my commute would become at least an hour and 15, probably more. And it would become toll-icized. But is it worth it for the opportunity?

DISCUSSION (29)

ly2v8-Brian > BugEyedBimmer - back in the Saddle Dakota Leather
01/11/2015 at 23:54

Moon. Because space is awesome.

CB > BugEyedBimmer - back in the Saddle Dakota Leather
01/11/2015 at 23:57

An hour. Because commuting sucks knobs.

Justin Hughes > BugEyedBimmer - back in the Saddle Dakota Leather
01/11/2015 at 23:57

Depends on the pay, and if it covers your time, hassle, and increased expenses (gas, tolls, wear and tear on the car).

Jonathan Harper > BugEyedBimmer - back in the Saddle Dakota Leather
01/11/2015 at 23:58

Much dependant on my company car, and the region.

PetarVN, GLI Guy, now with stupid power > BugEyedBimmer - back in the Saddle Dakota Leather
01/12/2015 at 00:00

like others say, depends on pay, and how much I like it. My stepdad's friend commuted for 2hrs one way every day for a good paying job before. He racked up like 35-40K a year on his Suburban because of it

IDROVEAPICKUPTRUCK > BugEyedBimmer - back in the Saddle Dakota Leather
01/12/2015 at 00:01

I think it depends on how regular the hours are at the job. If you're only working 40-50 hours a week with regular hours then a 75 minute commute is reasonable, but if you're working 70+ hours a week it's unreasonable. I'm starting a new job in new city next month and I'm looking for housing right now, I'll be working 80-90 hours per week, so I don't want a commute of more than like 10 or 15 minutes.

The trick to lots of mindless driving IMO are audio books and podcasts, they make time go by so much faster than just music.

If the job is good enough too would you consider moving closer? What is tying you so strongly to where you live now?

BugEyedBimmer - back in the Saddle Dakota Leather > CB
01/12/2015 at 00:01

Couldn't agree more. That's why I've traditionally not looked into DC. But I'm losing hope for anything more local.

BugEyedBimmer - back in the Saddle Dakota Leather > Jonathan Harper
01/12/2015 at 00:01

No company car, but what if you got a metro reimbursement?

fhrblig > BugEyedBimmer - back in the Saddle Dakota Leather
01/12/2015 at 00:02

Well, right now I commute 45-60 minutes each way for a job I barely tolerate, so probably pretty far.

BugEyedBimmer - back in the Saddle Dakota Leather > PetarVN, GLI Guy, now with stupid power
01/12/2015 at 00:03

I could never do 2 hours. That's a 12 hour day, just for a normal 8 hour work day.

Jonathan Harper > BugEyedBimmer - back in the Saddle Dakota Leather
01/12/2015 at 00:04

wellll I get a pre-paid credit card currently in order to buy tax-free metrocards (NYC) and I commute roughly 45 min, so for now that's my maximum :)

BugEyedBimmer - back in the Saddle Dakota Leather > IDROVEAPICKUPTRUCK
01/12/2015 at 00:04

It would be closer for my wife, and we really love our new apartment.

And holy crap, what job is 80-90 hours a week?!

 > BugEyedBimmer - back in the Saddle Dakota Leather
01/12/2015 at 00:04

I drive 50km to work every day and honestly I don't think I would drive much further on daily basis. At that point I would just move closer or get another job.

BugEyedBimmer - back in the Saddle Dakota Leather > fhrblig
01/12/2015 at 00:06

I once drove 45 minutes for a job I was "meh" about. I actually hated my job, but loved my team. Lord knows what I could be tricked into for a job where I liked both.

HFV has no HFV. But somehow has 2 motorcycles > BugEyedBimmer - back in the Saddle Dakota Leather
01/12/2015 at 00:07

Depends on the increase in income. you have to count the loss of your personal time, and the cost of transportation.

I have it easy I've never had more than a 15 minute commute, and that was when i lived on a farm 10 miles out of town. currently i have a 1 mile commute, during the summer bike to work every day because it just seems like a waste to drive.

However I only make 8.00/hr so say I could double that... yeah then i'd be willing to give up my uber short commute, up to 30 minutes but no more. If I could triple my income and actually be making "real money" I'd put up with a 45 minute commute, but to me if you a spending more than an hour and a half just traveling to and from work it might be a good idea to move lol. Unless you have a job where you get some sort of travel reimbursement.

BugEyedBimmer - back in the Saddle Dakota Leather > Jonathan Harper
01/12/2015 at 00:08

Fair enough. If they paid for the metro (which would still leave me with $2 a day to pay the tolls to and from the metro) I would consider that a pretty good deal.

IDROVEAPICKUPTRUCK > BugEyedBimmer - back in the Saddle Dakota Leather
01/12/2015 at 00:09

I mean could you move somewhere that is midway between where the two of you are working once your lease is up? Where are you living now, Baltimore?

I'm starting an investment banking job next month. Figure 12-16 hours per day during the week, maybe 8 or 10 hours on Saturdays and maybe a few hours from home on Sundays.

Spencer > BugEyedBimmer - back in the Saddle Dakota Leather
01/12/2015 at 00:14

For me it really depends on what sort of commute it was. I'd be down for an hour a day or more as long as it was moving at a pretty good pace. However, I had to commute for 6 months from downtown Chicago to the burbs and it took me 2 hours to go 25 miles. Each way. Each day. That was horrible because I just wan't going anywhere.

RTeeJay > BugEyedBimmer - back in the Saddle Dakota Leather
01/12/2015 at 00:15

An hour commute when you report for work at 6am gets old real fast. Especially when the "traffic/no traffic window" is so small.

BugEyedBimmer - back in the Saddle Dakota Leather > IDROVEAPICKUPTRUCK
01/12/2015 at 00:15

It's a possibility, we just love this location and community so much.

sebdel > BugEyedBimmer - back in the Saddle Dakota Leather
01/12/2015 at 00:44

I think 30 minutes is awesome, 60-75 minutes is ok, but no more than that. I have coworkers who need 90minutes to get to work and that's just too much, you leave home too early and get home by night and there goes your day, it sucks.

I walk 1 mile to work, I pay a lot more on rent than anyone else in my office, but I get more home time.

Autofixation > BugEyedBimmer - back in the Saddle Dakota Leather
01/12/2015 at 00:46

45 minutes, tops.

Decay buys too many beaters > BugEyedBimmer - back in the Saddle Dakota Leather
01/12/2015 at 00:46

45 minutes per way for me, more if that's not in traffic.

Oontzoontzoontz > BugEyedBimmer - back in the Saddle Dakota Leather
01/12/2015 at 00:52

It comes down to "what is your time worth?" My time is worth a lot according to me and my employer. My job now has a 10 mile commute on back roads that can take anywhere from 10-30 minutes. I'm lucky that my schedule has me occasionally driving around 5 a.m. when the road is deserted, but unlucky in that I sometimes am driving around 5 p.m. when the road is packed with blue-hairs going 15 under the limit.

But really, long commutes are soul sucking, especially if you hit traffic all the time. Getting stuck in traffic is usually the worst, and most aggravating part of my day.

CTSenVy > BugEyedBimmer - back in the Saddle Dakota Leather
01/12/2015 at 01:12

Speaking as somebody that does normally commute about a hour twice a day it can have some benefits. I get a good hour to myself to leave work behind and when I get home I'm more at ease because of it.

gmporschenut also a fan of hondas > BugEyedBimmer - back in the Saddle Dakota Leather
01/12/2015 at 07:57

i did 45 in, 1:15 out for a few years. That is the longest I think could do.

I would recommend doing a practice commute to see if you can deal with it. A co-worker lives about 1:30 half away, and says the commute is killing him, yet he can't turn down the money. It says 1:05 on google maps

I know a number of people that live across a state border for tax reasons, yet that commute alone would mean about 20k miles or as I factor 1/7.5 of a car. (assuming the car gets to 150k) What I can't compute is when factoring the cost of the car and how much they save, unless they are just considering the short term costs(tax) vs long term cost(car replacement)

jkm7680 > BugEyedBimmer - back in the Saddle Dakota Leather
01/12/2015 at 08:56

I'd say about 1-2 hours depending on how much the job pays :)

Stephen the Canuck > BugEyedBimmer - back in the Saddle Dakota Leather
01/12/2015 at 09:51

Probably around an hour each way would be max, if the money was right and I liked the job. I'd also prefer it not to be through the city.

Wrong Wheel Drive (41%) > BugEyedBimmer - back in the Saddle Dakota Leather
01/12/2015 at 10:37

I think it depends more on what kind of traffic you get stuck in or the roads that you can drive. A 30 minute commute that would take 5-10 minutes without traffic is probably worse than an hour commute that always takes an hour no matter what. Same goes for a boring highway with traffic lights vs some nice back roads.