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We used to spend $400 a month on gasoline because we both commuted 25 minutes each way. During the pandemic that was down to about $100 a month. And when we

We used to spend $400 a month on gasoline because we both commuted 25 minutes each way. During the pandemic that was down to about $100 a month. And when we did have to go somewhere the traffic was so much lower so less wasting gas in stop and go traffic. I'm supposed to go in 3 days a week. In reality I go in once a week for a few hours and no one cares as 90% of the people on my project are in other offices. I told my manager "What is the point of driving in to put on my headset and disturb everyone with my meetings while trying to block out the noise of everyone else on their meetings?" He couldn't argue with that so he hasn't pushed the in office thing. When I had an office with a door and window I liked going in. It was a good mix of seeing people and privacy. I hate the 1 year of cubicle stuff after 15 years in an office with a door. Then the pandemic hit and I really hate cubicles even more.

MSFT_Edging 4y ago
Could I ask what you were driving that ~50 minutes of commuting a day would lead to 200 dollars in fuel? When I was doing the same during the pandemic, similar commute time, my car making 21ish mpg was only needing about 100 dollars in gas a month. About 10 miles with more than a dozen stop lights.
- mod 4y ago
  My full size 2015 GMC truck gets 22mpg on the highway. 18-19 around town.
  - bonniemuffin 4y ago
    That seems like an unfortunate choice of vehicle to commute many hours per week alone in, unless maybe you work in construction and need to haul things to the site (in which case spending more on transportation seems worthwhile as a core part of the job function.)
    - mod 4y ago
      I would agree, however that's not my use case. I don't leave my property except about once per week. I do plenty of "truck stuff" without being in construction, though. I don't think you've hit all the use cases with "work in construction."
darrylb42 4y ago
Go into the office for enhanced collaboration they say. Everyone I work with is in different countries, so being in the office gains nothing. Being at home is much nicer.
akira2501 4y ago
So.. if we gave you your office back and ripped out all the cubicles, maybe even had a nice view, would you be happy spending the $400 again? I'm honestly curious where you think the value/cost split is in this equation for you.

MSFT_Edging 4y ago

Could I ask what you were driving that ~50 minutes of commuting a day would lead to 200 dollars in fuel? When I was doing the same during the pandemic, similar commute time, my car making 21ish mpg was only needing about 100 dollars in gas a month. About 10 miles with more than a dozen stop lights.

mod 4y ago
My full size 2015 GMC truck gets 22mpg on the highway. 18-19 around town.
- bonniemuffin 4y ago
  That seems like an unfortunate choice of vehicle to commute many hours per week alone in, unless maybe you work in construction and need to haul things to the site (in which case spending more on transportation seems worthwhile as a core part of the job function.)
  - mod 4y ago
    I would agree, however that's not my use case. I don't leave my property except about once per week. I do plenty of "truck stuff" without being in construction, though. I don't think you've hit all the use cases with "work in construction."

darrylb42 4y ago

Go into the office for enhanced collaboration they say. Everyone I work with is in different countries, so being in the office gains nothing. Being at home is much nicer.

akira2501 4y ago

So.. if we gave you your office back and ripped out all the cubicles, maybe even had a nice view, would you be happy spending the $400 again? I'm honestly curious where you think the value/cost split is in this equation for you.