Reply to: How Low Can You Go?

[dsc]

Years ago I did a gig where I was a 1 hour 45 minute communte each way twice a week and 3 days on site further away the rest of the week. The commute was brutal but I preferred it to the nights away as I had a young family at the time. Managed it for about 9 months and I think the only thing keeping me going was the fact the communite was better than staying away 4 nights a week. Thankfully since Covid I've mostly been WFH 99% of the time.

Damn that's a tulip mixture indeed, although perhaps gives you a bit of a breather from the commute? I was doing 1.15hr on average each way 5 days a week, it was also middle of summer, being stuck in traffic on the M25 / M4 was just killing me. So much wasted time and life...

[willendure]

I've considered that before (e.g. I was applying for pizza delivery jobs a couple of years ago), but there's a gamble: if you take on this new role, you might not be able to chat to recruitment agencies during the day or take time off for interviews.

Got an interview? Just chuck that pizza in the bin and head on over.

[hobnob]

Regarding the original question, I think there are 2 variations:

a) You make enough to pay your bills, but it's lower than you were on before, and you might have to postpone your holiday, renovations, etc. This can be sustained indefinitely.

b) You earn less than you spend, so this is a "slow puncture". It might mean that you can eke out your savings to last 6 months rather than 3 months, but eventually you will run out of money. I've considered that before (e.g. I was applying for pizza delivery jobs a couple of years ago), but there's a gamble: if you take on this new role, you might not be able to chat to recruitment agencies during the day or take time off for interviews.

[pjt]

I've done a circa 1.15hr one way for 3 months and bailed at the end. It just kills you in the long run (if you have a family especially), but back then I had the option to do something better paid and closer, so it was a no brainer. In the current market...I'd still consider it as it's still money. Still, you say "at least" 1.5hr, that's like 3.5-4hrs a day...not really commutable in my opinion. Perhaps rent a room locally and see if that makes any financial sense?

Years ago I did a gig where I was a 1 hour 45 minute communte each way twice a week and 3 days on site further away the rest of the week. The commute was brutal but I preferred it to the nights away as I had a young family at the time. Managed it for about 9 months and I think the only thing keeping me going was the fact the communite was better than staying away 4 nights a week. Thankfully since Covid I've mostly been WFH 99% of the time.

[TheDude]

I am considering an inside gig 25% lower than my previous role. It will more than keep the lights on, stop me burning through my warchest and hopefully the market will have picked up a bit by renewal time

[dsc]

Have any of you ever considered, or even done, a regular long commute on an Inside IR35? When I say "long", I mean at least 1hr 30 mins one way .

I've done a circa 1.15hr one way for 3 months and bailed at the end. It just kills you in the long run (if you have a family especially), but back then I had the option to do something better paid and closer, so it was a no brainer. In the current market...I'd still consider it as it's still money. Still, you say "at least" 1.5hr, that's like 3.5-4hrs a day...not really commutable in my opinion. Perhaps rent a room locally and see if that makes any financial sense?

[Snooky]

I'm not keen on you effectively shaming those people like me for whom £400/day has been their average rate for the past 10 years. I don't consider that I have debased myself - it is all I have been able to get, and I didn't consider it to be a low rate.

I agree, perhaps they didn't mean it to sound supercilious and condescending, but that's how it came across to me too. Everyone does the best they can under the circumstances and plenty of people in this country would leap at the chance to make £400/day.

[edison]

Have any of you ever considered, or even done, a regular long commute on an Inside IR35? When I say "long", I mean at least 1hr 30 mins one way .

Does every couple of weeks count?

I'm doing an inside gig for first time ever in 11 years contracting. It's 95 miles one way which takes me around 2.5 hours to drive. I do the trip twice a month and stay over for a couple of nights each time in a cheap AirBnB. It's effectively knocking about £20/day off my rate across the month but it's bearable in the absence of an alternative outside gig.

[Fraidycat]

Indeed, but it would probably be worth doing this whilst looking for a permie role.

No brainer really. If its IT work that matches your skill set.


Jensen, CEO of Nvidia, net worth $130 Billion:

[gables]

Well yes, but you might as well go and get a permanent job at that point as the financial upside of contracting has evaporated.

Indeed, but it would probably be worth doing this whilst looking for a permie role.

[SussexSeagull]

Using an 18day/month then Clarity umbrella calculator shows this is about right (20day/month ~£2.8k) and to net this as a permie requires ~£35k (obviously over simplified no doubt)

And yet I'd imagine 10 of 1000s of commuters do this without batting an eyelid.

Well yes, but you might as well go and get a permanent job at that point as the financial upside of contracting has evaporated.

[gables]

I have yet to do an inside IR35 contract but certainly would do one now. I am about that distance from London and looking it up a monthly ticket would cost me £572.20, which I would be able to take on the chin if the rate is anywhere near passable.

I am told the take home on £200 a day inside is about £2.4k a month. It really isn't attractive for anyone having to take one of the low rates to keep the wold from the door at the moment.

Using an 18day/month then Clarity umbrella calculator shows this is about right (20day/month ~£2.8k) and to net this as a permie requires ~£35k (obviously over simplified no doubt)

And yet I'd imagine 10 of 1000s of commuters do this without batting an eyelid.

[SussexSeagull]

Have any of you ever considered, or even done, a regular long commute on an Inside IR35? When I say "long", I mean at least 1hr 30 mins one way .

I have yet to do an inside IR35 contract but certainly would do one now. I am about that distance from London and looking it up a monthly ticket would cost me £572.20, which I would be able to take on the chin if the rate is anywhere near passable.

I am told the take home on £200 a day inside is about £2.4k a month. It really isn't attractive for anyone having to take one of the low rates to keep the wold from the door at the moment.

[Tractor Trace]

Have any of you ever considered, or even done, a regular long commute on an Inside IR35? When I say "long", I mean at least 1hr 30 mins one way .

[willendure]

Last gig was already 30% lower than the one before (which was before covid). Was kind of hoping to go back upwards rather than down more, but yeah... not in this market.