I'm currently doing 1 3/4 hours each way from outside Winchester to Liverpool St on a daily basis and I've been doing it for 5 years. Recently I have found I have to stay in London in a hotel one week a month as I can't do it full time anymore and if I get my next contract renewal I'm renting a flat and staying up here during the week. It has definitely affected my health. I reckon the longer the journey, the shorter the duration of doing it comfortably. An hour each way is around the normal limit of a long term commute for most people.
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...my quagmire of greed....my cesspit of laziness and unfairness....all I am doing is sticking two fingers up at nurses, doctors and other hard working employed professionals...
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In the 18months I've been at this, I've always done 1 1/2 - 2 hour commutes. I'm quite happy driving, and don't usually have too many traffic problems so it doesn't bother me all that much.
My previous job I'd drive for an hour and a half and then take a short train trip, and it was the train part that would stress me out and piss me off. I just couldn't spend an hour commuting on tubes or whatever across London, it would drive me insane in no time. I'd much rather have a 100 mile drive.
Each job I've had has been in a different area, so although I've thought about moving I've been proven right in staying somewhere fairly central. 2 hours from here covers most of southern England and the Midlands.
But in my current role I'm managing to work at home a couple of days a week, which makes you think. I tend to do 8am - 4pm, and then don't know what to do with the extra part of the day I don't usually see.
Will work inside IR35. Or for food.Comment
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Anything over 45 (each way) mins and I would be thinking about hotels. 1.5 to 2 hours (each way) and it is definately hotel.
Come on guys, work it out. By staying local to the job you can (more than) earn back the hotel costs. If you have a decent contract you can get a weeks work in by Thursday lunch and have long weekends every week. The long commutes must be killing your home life anyway.
I are currently finishing Thursday at 19:00 and billing 5.5 days.I am not qualified to give the above advice!
The original point and click interface by
Smith and Wesson.
Step back, have a think and adjust my own own attitude from time to timeComment
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Currently (only for a short fixed term contract) I am doing 3 hours door to door each way
It's a means to an end so I see it as necessary, and with baby bear at home I don't want to stay away - I want to get home to see him, if only for a few minutes before bedtime.Si posse, recte, si non, quocumque modo remComment
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Fair comment. It is important if you have kids. I also have an understanding wife, which not all are.Originally posted by BearCurrently (only for a short fixed term contract) I am doing 3 hours door to door each way
It's a means to an end so I see it as necessary, and with baby bear at home I don't want to stay away - I want to get home to see him, if only for a few minutes before bedtime.
With your example and an hourly rate of 40 quid thats 240 quid a day. If you stayed local you would probably do 1/2 hour each way so 200 quid. Stay at a cheap B&B and you have made 170 quid extra per day, or live the contractor life in a 200 quid a night hotel and realy enjoy it.I am not qualified to give the above advice!
The original point and click interface by
Smith and Wesson.
Step back, have a think and adjust my own own attitude from time to timeComment
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I've had phases of staying away (£15 Travelodge rooms are cheaper than a days commute as well), but I've found it gets a bit depressing and I feel unsettled. There's something to be said for getting to your own bed.Originally posted by The Lone Gunman
Being able to work at home is a much better way. I aim to do Tuesday and Thursday at home, which means I never commute two days running.Will work inside IR35. Or for food.Comment
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About 8 hours each way - out Monday, back Friday - every week.
It's bloody knackering so I'm stopping - told them I'll work from home two weeks a month or they can poke their renewal."See, you think I give a tulip. Wrong. In fact, while you talk, I'm thinking; How can I give less of a tulip? That's why I look interested."Comment
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its an hour for me each way. Dont mind it at all.
But i think i might venture down Leeds way for my next gig so that will probably be 1 3/4 each way.Keep it clean!!!Comment
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Its 10 min walk for me
Life is so goodComment
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