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I've been debating something with my wife recently, and I think we've made our decision, but I'd like to get a few of your opinions too.

Right now, I live very close to where I work. It takes me 20 minutes to get to/from work, it's about 15 miles. I drive home for lunch, so I drive a total of 60 miles round trip daily. Driving time daily is about 1 hour, 20 minutes.

But living where I do is *EXPENSIVE*. I only have, after all bills (including food and whatnot), only about $200 spare a month.

We have an opportunity to move to a town that's 60 miles away. Round trip would be 120 miles, so doubling my driving time per day (but putting it all into one batch and all highway traffic instead of city traffic). Driving time is just over an hour one way, so total driving time daily is 2 hours and 10-15 minutes. (Obviously, I'm not going to be going home for lunch anymore at this stage)

However, instead of having $200 spare a month, I'd have closer to $1,000 spare a month. It's QUITE a lot cheaper to live there, even buying a home there is cheaper ($50,000 average price home there compared to $145,000 for the same home here).

I'd have to buy gas more often (at least weekly, more likely 3 times every two weeks instead of once every two weeks) and I'd have to get oil changes more frequently.

However, one more feature about this other location. There is a college there that offers the four year degree that both my wife and I wish to acquire. We can attend the college.

Free.

Yes, our college for BOTH of us would be free. It'd take me longer due to working, of course, but still.

Also, in 1 1/2 years, both of my cars will be paid off, giving me an extra $350 a month on top of anything else I've saved.

Going by those figures, do you think I'm making the right decision by moving there? I mean, a lot of people have LONGER than an hour commute every day... I wouldn't have the traffic like what you see with LA and New York..

>Net

It depends. I've got an hour commute every day to and from work. Personally, I'd prefer to be closer to work, but at the same time, I love where we live now. Even though the drive can be aggravating in the evening (you just can't get home fast enough, sometimes), it's totally worth it once I get home. The drawbacks are having to get up earlier, having less time to enjoy the evening, feeling too tired in the evening to do anything (it's a amazing how much driving home can take out of you following a day at work), GAS, and oil, which I now have to change every two months instead of three. Yeah, gas will kick you in the butt for sure. That stuff doesn't come cheap anymore, and you're absolutely right, you'll need to fill the tank up every week. (Those hybrid cars are looking better and better.)

Considering the pros that you listed though, I'd say go for it. It sounds like it'd be worth it, especially with being able to go to the college. Of course, you'd have to be willing to go to classes after driving home, but hey, some people have more stamina than others, so you could be okay. And geez, that's a major improvement in terms of how much money you'd save. So yeah, I vote "Yay," for moving.

Going to college for free is a huge opportunity that might be unwise to waste. If you can handle the time college will take up, plus work hours, plus a two-hour commute, I'd think you should take this opportunity while you have the chance.

Go for it. The longest I've had to school was about 50 minutes, and you'll get used to it quickly.

Education + cheaper living > distance

netpoet wrote:I've been debating something with my wife recently, and I think we've made our decision, but I'd like to get a few of your opinions too.

Right now, I live very close to where I work. It takes me 20 minutes to get to/from work, it's about 15 miles. I drive home for lunch, so I drive a total of 60 miles round trip daily. Driving time daily is about 1 hour, 20 minutes.

So that's aproximately one tank of gas per week. At $2.50 assuming 12 gallons, that's $30 per tank, or $120 a month.

But living where I do is *EXPENSIVE*. I only have, after all bills (including food and whatnot), only about $200 spare a month.

We have an opportunity to move to a town that's 60 miles away. Round trip would be 120 miles, so doubling my driving time per day (but putting it all into one batch and all highway traffic instead of city traffic). Driving time is just over an hour one way, so total driving time daily is 2 hours and 10-15 minutes. (Obviously, I'm not going to be going home for lunch anymore at this stage)

However, instead of having $200 spare a month, I'd have closer to $1,000 spare a month.

Double your distance, double your gasoline. $240 a month.

So you are currently -$120.

But, you are adding $800 free cash.

So you're now positive $680 a month.


Throw in four extra six oil changes - 120 miles a day means you hit 3000 miles in just 25 days. An oil change is $25, so that's an extra average of $12 a month.

So you're now positive $668 a month.

However, one more feature about this other location. There is a college there that offers the four year degree that both my wife and I wish to acquire. We can attend the college.

Free.

Assume a standard tuition expense of $1500 per quarter, or on average, $500 a month.

So now you are saving $1168 a month.

Now, what's your time worth to you? $30 an hour? Not what you get paid mind you, but what an hour of your free time is worth. So you've doubled your hour's driving to two hours, that's $30 a day, or $600 a month (20 working days on average).

So now you're saving $568 a month.

Now, what are your expenses? The average move costs $2000, but we will amortize that over a year's worth of payments - about $168/month

TOTAL SAVINGS AFTER MOVE: $400/month
TOTAL SAVINGS FOLLOWING YEAR: $568/month


Now obviouisly, you'll actually see more than that - $600 more to be precise (The cost of your time), however that $600 is your "payment" to yourself for the annoyance of having to drive an extra hour each day.

IMHO, you're a fool if you don't take the opportunity.

I'd say go for it man! That free education is a good thing, you shouldn;t pass that up. Also, the extra spending money will do you and your wife a world of good, I'm sure!
Sure, it's a longer drive, but get a nice cd-player in your car with that extra money and the hour will whizz by.

If nothing else, I'd do it for the college opportunity. But driving will get old fast, especially if you live where it snows a lot in winter.

Get an XM radio. You'll be glad you did.

Will you like the place you will move too? Do you want to leave the place you are now?

Answer these questions as well and they'll probably go a long way to answering your question.

rkolter is so good in putting these things into numbers, isn't he?

Darn scientists with their "numbers" and "facts."

rkolter wrote:..breakdown of numbers...

{nods} That's kinda how I was looking at things. Also, a few things I forgot to mention... the move itself won't cost me much of ANYTHING, because her family lives close.

Being rednecks, her family has an overabundance of trucks and trailers ready and available to help anyone within drinking distance (don't ask) to move. So that $2000 to move is pretty much eliminated... only thing we're required to do is *FEED* them, so figure $150 or so instead of $2000.

Also, once there, my wife will also likely be getting a part-time job (something that is not feasable at the current time). That'd be additional income coming in. Plus, once she's got her degree (which will be long before I do, because I can only take probably one-two classes at a time, whereas she'll be going full-time) I can likely go ahead and quit, and have her work full time while I go to college full time.

That's still about 2-3 years down the road, though, but something to look forward to.

Dutch! wrote:Will you like the place you will move too? Do you want to leave the place you are now?

I've lived in 35 states and 3 countries. One place is as good as any other to me. Personally, I'm a cheapskate, and the sheer amount of MONEY I'm going to save just by inconveniencing myself an extra hour's drive a day... well, seems worth it to me.

Thanks to everyone that's commented so far, though... it's a big help.

>Net

Free school? I'd slap you if you passed that up!

...but only because I care .

Move.

My "commute time" is three hours every day. I don't even notice it.

Unless your current house borders an all female modeling nude beach that you forgot to mention, there's really no rational reason to stay. Emotionally your current house might have attachments, or the situation may feel comfortable, but when you have the oppurtunity for FREE COLLEGE, LESS TAXES (guessing on the fact that the homes cost less), and a JOB FOR THE MRS, there's really nothing to consider. Long drive? Pshaw, an hour ain't long in perspective.

Yeah, this really is no choice at all. Do it. DO EEEET!

netpoet wrote:her family has an overabundance of trucks and trailers ready and available to help anyone within drinking distance (don't ask) to move.

Heh. "Drinking distance". It's funny because it's true.

From the sounds of it, you're trying to talk yourself into this. Go for it.

Your commute will be a lot more bearable if you avoid thinking of it as 'time wasted in the car'. Try to think of it as time to listen to a CD, or plan for your day, or unwind after work... Anything except being stuck in the car.

Edit: And stay off the frickin' cell phone when you're driving, dammit!

Yeah, if you're a music fan, long drives are a great way to soak up albums that you've been meaning to listen to. I still have that Broken Social Scene album lying around that always gets shelved in favor of Janet Jackson or Gwen Stefani.

Ian Moulding wrote: Edit: And stay off the frickin' cell phone when you're driving, dammit!

I have no cell phone. I'm not important enough to have any need to talk to anyone while I'm driving.

:p

netpoet wrote:

Ian Moulding wrote: Edit: And stay off the frickin' cell phone when you're driving, dammit!

I have no cell phone. I'm not important enough to have any need to talk to anyone while I'm driving.

:p

I have a cell phone and I'd wager I have less imprtance of calling than you

PieceOfSkunk wrote:Going to college for free is a huge opportunity that might be unwise to waste. If you can handle the time college will take up, plus work hours, plus a two-hour commute, I'd think you should take this opportunity while you have the chance.

I agree. Even though I'm only 17, and almost never think about expenses, I think it'll be alot more convienent for you and your wife, so I say go for it.