Reply to: What's the Longest Daily Commute You'd Be Prepared to Drive?

[vwdan]

Absolutely this. My other half was very nervous about me working away but I've been doing it 2 years now and it does have it's low points but generally spending quality time with the family isn't one of them. Takes a bit of effort granted but makes for great weekends.

Another vote for this. As I alluded to earlier, I find I can be super productive (both personally and professionally) when living in hotels. I can also get my running in and so on.

So decent contract, staying away = free weekends with cash to play with! The only real catch is if you can't get away with going down Monday morning (I'm only willing to be so tired on a Monday, and some customers are pretty strict). Had a 6 monther a while back where I was setting out at 8:00am to get in mid morning, and leaving at 3pm on a Friday - absolutely lovely!

But then, although I wasn't doing consultancy work when we met I did my first two month stint away shortly after we moved in together (After about 12 months I think). Since then, it's been a regular fixture of our relationship and just part of how we roll. We take the lows as they come, but I like to think we reap the rewards.

Obviously I'd rather be doing a local 9-5 contract for the same cash, but those are rare!

The other problem with commuting longer distances is the randomness of it - it's one thing if you can guarantee being at home for dinner at 8pm, but if you're phoning the Mrs every other day saying "Ah, you'll need to have dinner yourself - I'm stuck in the office/traffic/conference call." then that's going to be worse than just straight up being away.

[northernladuk]

Our family life has improved since I worked in London - we actually put effort into spending time together at weekend now.

Absolutely this. My other half was very nervous about me working away but I've been doing it 2 years now and it does have it's low points but generally spending quality time with the family isn't one of them. Takes a bit of effort granted but makes for great weekends.

[LondonManc]

This. IMO it's about quality time. Do this and spend a couple of knackered hours with the family or take the hit and plan ahead and spend good time with them. Not for everyone's situation but I'd rather stay away a few nights and put the effort in to a fun packed weekend with the family when I'm rested rather than grabbing hours here and there and then be knackered at the weekend.

Our family life has improved since I worked in London - we actually put effort into spending time together at weekend now.

[northernladuk]

Yep. Sometimes you think is there any point killing yourself to not even see the kids and see the mrs for an hour or two.

This. IMO it's about quality time. Do this and spend a couple of knackered hours with the family or take the hit and plan ahead and spend good time with them. Not for everyone's situation but I'd rather stay away a few nights and put the effort in to a fun packed weekend with the family when I'm rested rather than grabbing hours here and there and then be knackered at the weekend.

[psychocandy]

OR
it's that or sit in a hotel bar at 8 in the evening thinking "I could have been home by now"

Well.......

OK 60 minutes or 120 minutes round trip is my limit. Probably getting shorter as i get older.

Yep. Sometimes you think is there any point killing yourself to not even see the kids and see the mrs for an hour or two.

[psychocandy]

Yes, London client. Train into waterloo, tube to Green Park. WFH helps, as does catching up on some sleep on the train when getting too tired.

I try to get London role, local ish role, then London role again etc. London pays well so be a shame not to make the effort if even only for 3-6 months.

I remember looking and the cost of a day ticket for the train was MASSIVE £170 or so from wales which is way too expensive to make it worthwhile.

Season ticket for week was about double (i.e. two days). Much better. Is this stil the case?

[RSoles]

... it's that or sit in a hotel room at 8 in the evening thinking "I could have been home by now".

OR
it's that or sit in a hotel bar at 8 in the evening thinking "I could have been home by now"

Well.......

OK 60 minutes or 120 minutes round trip is my limit. Probably getting shorter as i get older.

[GB9]

I've driven a 190 mile daily round trip from North Leeds to Loughborough. At the height of road works it was taking 4.5 hrs per day.

Equally, I've commuted on the train from Leeds to London daily. It worked out pretty much the same cost as staying in London and buying a weekly return and it meant I got home every night.

Lots of travel might sound a bit daft but it's kept me in work almost constantly for 17 years and as someone else posted, it's that or sit in a hotel room at 8 in the evening thinking "I could have been home by now".

[Whorty]

Nuts mun. I see your in the south west so Im guessing client is London? Not cheap on the train....

1-2 days per week wfh. Must admit I'd be temped to stay there for a few nights.

Yes, London client. Train into waterloo, tube to Green Park. WFH helps, as does catching up on some sleep on the train when getting too tired.

I try to get London role, local ish role, then London role again etc. London pays well so be a shame not to make the effort if even only for 3-6 months.

[Whorty]

That's ridiculous. How long have you been doing that?

Only 3 months so far (I was doing the same a couple of years ago for 3 months too). Between these contracts I had a 1hr 15 mins drive each way contract. Current gig I'm signed up until the end of the year .... if I don't have a heart attack before that

[psychocandy]

If going to client main office, then it's 3 hours each way ; 30 mins car, 2 hours train, 20 mins tube, 10 mins walk. Leave home at 6-15, walk in to office 9-15. catch up missing work time by working on the train in the morning. Get back home at 8-15 at night. Makes it a blinkin long day.

I do get to WFH when I don't need face time, usually 1-2 days per week.

If I go to client other sites it could be anything from 1.5 hours each way upwards to 4 hours. When i travel out of the UK client pays for flights and hotels, so happy to be away (last year this included 2 weeks in NY, Melbourne and Sydney, so can't complain )

Next contract I will look for something closer - be happy with anything under 1.5 hours each way.

Nuts mun. I see your in the south west so Im guessing client is London? Not cheap on the train....

1-2 days per week wfh. Must admit I'd be temped to stay there for a few nights.

[SlipTheJab]

Haha - I totally get this. When I did more WFH I tended to tall into the trap of just keep on working until the wife got home. As it happens, I couldn't actually handle weeks and weeks of WFH - drove me batty.

+1 I did WFH full time for 3 months, went mental, turned down an extension for a role that paid me less (if I factor in the cost to commute to the office) but saved my sanity!

Current gig I'm work from home 2 or 3 days each week which is the perfect split IMO.

[northernladuk]

That's ridiculous. How long have you been doing that?

[Whorty]

If going to client main office, then it's 3 hours each way ; 30 mins car, 2 hours train, 20 mins tube, 10 mins walk. Leave home at 6-15, walk in to office 9-15. catch up missing work time by working on the train in the morning. Get back home at 8-15 at night. Makes it a blinkin long day.

I do get to WFH when I don't need face time, usually 1-2 days per week.

If I go to client other sites it could be anything from 1.5 hours each way upwards to 4 hours. When i travel out of the UK client pays for flights and hotels, so happy to be away (last year this included 2 weeks in NY, Melbourne and Sydney, so can't complain )

Next contract I will look for something closer - be happy with anything under 1.5 hours each way.

[VillageContractor]

Just your kids or is she sub-contracting you?

I have enough of my own to keep me busy for most of the day