4 ms·

Last year I did a 1,5 hour commute to London daily. The biggest cost is not the ticket fare, but the time you waste being in a crowded train/underground for ~3

Last year I did a 1,5 hour commute to London daily. The biggest cost is not the ticket fare, but the time you waste being in a crowded train/underground for ~3 hours every day.

ris 9y ago
It's all about finding a way to use that time. Podcasts?
- antouank 9y ago
  Nah, it's not all about that. Of course I tried many ways to use that time, but after a while it's just a burden. And it's making your day more exhausting. I'm moving now to the City, I'll pay the high rent, but I'll walk/cycle to work in 5-10 mins. F* that train commute. ( and it seems like Brexit will force me to leave London for good anyway )
  - bitL 9y ago
    Yeah, tube is always full and unpleasant to travel on. If you are into music, buy UK's novation Circuit and do some song sketches while in tube, it gets you in creative mood, you forget you commute and it might raise your happiness if you find nice chords ;-) Another idea is to do some world-class MOOC or online MS while commuting (not via car ofc). Then you might land a position that would help you to escape this insanity.
    - antouank 9y ago
      Yeah, you can do all that ( I'd be impressed if you actually do that on a daily basis! ). But isn't it like pretending the problem is not there? I'd say just don't do the long commute at all :) Pay the rent to be close to where you work or go live/work somewhere else, that's my solution. I'll live another year in the centre of London, and then go to an EU country that's accepting my passport.
      - bitL 9y ago
        You decided to exchange money for time, which is pretty good solution! As for daily MOOCs, music dabbling etc. it's about making the best of bad situation - if you are stuck commuting and don't have money to move closer, at least you aren't wasting all that time looking around, feeling miserable about your life and getting depressed ;-)
        dogma1138 9y ago
        You don't really exchange money for your time, the rent difference in a good place outside of London (e.g. Cambridge, Oxford etc.) will cost you about as much in rent than it would be in London (you'll likely to get more space wise). Buying is cheaper, but not considerably so than in the outer zones of London, but again you'll get more. The commute costs offset and even can make it more expensive than paying London rent for properties below 2000 GBP a month. Many people commute because they own properties outside of London, often through inheritance or other familial ties. Sure you have the outliers like Luton but frankly you wouldn't want to live in any of the areas in places like Luton where rent is cheap and available. For the most part if you live in places like Richmond, Oxford, Cambridge etc. you are more than well established financially and can afford London rent, and possibly even property prices. Those who chose to commute do it because they chose the quality of life that living in a nice suburban lush area just a spitting distance from London often because they have or starting a family. Those who do it for financial reasons often cannot rent in London to begin with they either do not have a steady job, or they do not earn enough to pass a credit check when renting in London. What some people mentioned before is correct, most landlords will not accept tenants (especially single tenants) if the rent more than 1/3rd of their post tax salary since it's a risk, renting a flat share from property management companies comes at a pretty high administrative costs, entering or leaving a managed flatshare can easily cost you 400-500 GBP each time.

Last year I did a 1,5 hour commute to London daily. The biggest cost is not the ticket fare, but the time you waste being in a crowded train/underground for ~3 hours every day.

ris 9y ago

It's all about finding a way to use that time. Podcasts?

antouank 9y ago
Nah, it's not all about that. Of course I tried many ways to use that time, but after a while it's just a burden. And it's making your day more exhausting. I'm moving now to the City, I'll pay the high rent, but I'll walk/cycle to work in 5-10 mins. F* that train commute. ( and it seems like Brexit will force me to leave London for good anyway )
- bitL 9y ago
  Yeah, tube is always full and unpleasant to travel on. If you are into music, buy UK's novation Circuit and do some song sketches while in tube, it gets you in creative mood, you forget you commute and it might raise your happiness if you find nice chords ;-) Another idea is to do some world-class MOOC or online MS while commuting (not via car ofc). Then you might land a position that would help you to escape this insanity.
  - antouank 9y ago
    Yeah, you can do all that ( I'd be impressed if you actually do that on a daily basis! ). But isn't it like pretending the problem is not there? I'd say just don't do the long commute at all :) Pay the rent to be close to where you work or go live/work somewhere else, that's my solution. I'll live another year in the centre of London, and then go to an EU country that's accepting my passport.
    - bitL 9y ago
      You decided to exchange money for time, which is pretty good solution! As for daily MOOCs, music dabbling etc. it's about making the best of bad situation - if you are stuck commuting and don't have money to move closer, at least you aren't wasting all that time looking around, feeling miserable about your life and getting depressed ;-)
      - dogma1138 9y ago
        You don't really exchange money for your time, the rent difference in a good place outside of London (e.g. Cambridge, Oxford etc.) will cost you about as much in rent than it would be in London (you'll likely to get more space wise). Buying is cheaper, but not considerably so than in the outer zones of London, but again you'll get more. The commute costs offset and even can make it more expensive than paying London rent for properties below 2000 GBP a month. Many people commute because they own properties outside of London, often through inheritance or other familial ties. Sure you have the outliers like Luton but frankly you wouldn't want to live in any of the areas in places like Luton where rent is cheap and available. For the most part if you live in places like Richmond, Oxford, Cambridge etc. you are more than well established financially and can afford London rent, and possibly even property prices. Those who chose to commute do it because they chose the quality of life that living in a nice suburban lush area just a spitting distance from London often because they have or starting a family. Those who do it for financial reasons often cannot rent in London to begin with they either do not have a steady job, or they do not earn enough to pass a credit check when renting in London. What some people mentioned before is correct, most landlords will not accept tenants (especially single tenants) if the rent more than 1/3rd of their post tax salary since it's a risk, renting a flat share from property management companies comes at a pretty high administrative costs, entering or leaving a managed flatshare can easily cost you 400-500 GBP each time.