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Really? That's 460 hours per year, spent sitting on your ass in traffic. If you worked hourly at $20/hr, that's over $9000/year. If you average 30mph, and it co

by aphyr 17y ago

Really? That's 460 hours per year, spent sitting on your ass in traffic. If you worked hourly at $20/hr, that's over $9000/year. If you average 30mph, and it costs 24 cents/mile in depreciation, maintainence, insurance, and gas to operate your vehicle, you're spending over $3300/year on that extra distance. The equivalent of thirty days of your life not spent with family, training for marathons, writing code, building furniture. What would you give for an extra month of your own time each year?

protomyth 17y ago
It is not free to move, and it is unlikely that a person in this situation can find work closer to home. You miss the problem of selling old house, getting new house or (more likely) rental versus low additional payment per week. Maybe you have kids, and the school where you are is better than the one you would move to. Maybe both spouses are working and you had to make that "whose work do we live closer to" decision.
- duck 17y ago
  You're right it isn't free to move, but what I think their point was is that not many people do the math to see how much it is costing them in money and time. I've done both, but when I was driving an hour each way I never sat down to think of how much it was costing. Normal people probably just don't even think that way, but once you see it on paper it is scary and I think a lot of people would reevaluate things like the cost to move, schools, and your job. This calculator seems pretty useful: http://www.commutesolutions.com/howmuch.html http://www.commutesolutions.com/howmuch.html Lastly, although I can't find a statistic on, you have to think the more miles you drive the higher the risk of dying/getting hurt in a car accident.
  - protomyth 17y ago
    People often don't have the upfront money to change their situation. It really doesn't matter the final cost, if you can't afford one of the options. You do what you can do.
anamax 17y ago
> Really? That's 460 hours per year, spent sitting on your ass in traffic. If you worked hourly at $20/hr, that's over $9000/year. Why are you assuming that he'd have been paid for that time if he hadn't been commuting? And, if he had, he'd have been taxed on it. Assuming that it's additional work time, he'd be paying at his marginal rate. > The equivalent of thirty days of your life not spent with family, training for marathons, writing code, building furniture. What would you give for an extra month of your own time each year? That's probably closer to the truth.
- aphyr 17y ago
  I agree; it really depends on the individual situation. Most of the hourly folks I know who are commuting long distances are in the 30-45 dollar/hour range. Sometimes you have flexible hours, sometimes not. Other times you can freelance. Other times, those extra hours can save you money on childcare, parking, cooking, housecare... there are many factors. I chose $20 as a reasonable example that fits some real-world people.

by aphyr 17y ago

protomyth 17y ago

It is not free to move, and it is unlikely that a person in this situation can find work closer to home. You miss the problem of selling old house, getting new house or (more likely) rental versus low additional payment per week. Maybe you have kids, and the school where you are is better than the one you would move to. Maybe both spouses are working and you had to make that "whose work do we live closer to" decision.

duck 17y ago
You're right it isn't free to move, but what I think their point was is that not many people do the math to see how much it is costing them in money and time. I've done both, but when I was driving an hour each way I never sat down to think of how much it was costing. Normal people probably just don't even think that way, but once you see it on paper it is scary and I think a lot of people would reevaluate things like the cost to move, schools, and your job. This calculator seems pretty useful: http://www.commutesolutions.com/howmuch.html http://www.commutesolutions.com/howmuch.html Lastly, although I can't find a statistic on, you have to think the more miles you drive the higher the risk of dying/getting hurt in a car accident.
- protomyth 17y ago
  People often don't have the upfront money to change their situation. It really doesn't matter the final cost, if you can't afford one of the options. You do what you can do.

anamax 17y ago

> Really? That's 460 hours per year, spent sitting on your ass in traffic. If you worked hourly at $20/hr, that's over $9000/year. Why are you assuming that he'd have been paid for that time if he hadn't been commuting? And, if he had, he'd have been taxed on it. Assuming that it's additional work time, he'd be paying at his marginal rate. > The equivalent of thirty days of your life not spent with family, training for marathons, writing code, building furniture. What would you give for an extra month of your own time each year? That's probably closer to the truth.

aphyr 17y ago
I agree; it really depends on the individual situation. Most of the hourly folks I know who are commuting long distances are in the 30-45 dollar/hour range. Sometimes you have flexible hours, sometimes not. Other times you can freelance. Other times, those extra hours can save you money on childcare, parking, cooking, housecare... there are many factors. I chose $20 as a reasonable example that fits some real-world people.