Comments on: What Is Your Financial and Mental Commuting Limit?

By: Jenni

Jenni — Sat, 06 Nov 2010 17:41:34 +0000

I used to commute 1 hour everyday to my job. I didn’t mind the commute, one hour, one bus, no transfers. But after a while, it started getting to me. My job changed its hours of operation, which meant I was getting home at leaving my house at 8 in the morning, not getting home until 8 at night. 12 hours, with no time for a good breakfast nor a nice quiet dinner.

I am not one for commuting at all. I choose to work within walking distance of my apartment, even if that means my rent is much much higher than if I would choose to live outside downtown.

But, in saying that, I live downtown now. I have everything I need within walking distance. The higher rent has produced a high happiness for my life.

By: Jenny

Jenny — Sun, 01 Aug 2010 14:55:10 +0000

Does your employer offer a transit FSA? That is where they cost of your transit pass is taken out pre-tax so you save roughly 40% (of the first $230.) Depending on your exact tax rate you would save approx $92 per month or $1104 per year.

If you are not sure, your benefits department should be able to help. If they don’t they may want to consider it. (In addition to you not having to pay taxes on the amount, neither does your employer so it is generally a cost neutral benefit.)

I am currently majoring in HR and have previously worked in the benefits field.

By: Laura

Laura — Mon, 24 May 2010 19:34:11 +0000

Im also 27, I also work in NYC and I also have a crazy expensive and about 2 hour commute. My monthly pass including $40 subway fare is $340 and the MTA keeps changing the schedule and increasing fares. On top of that, when my husband went to register his car again it turns out that all NY areas serviced by the MTA have to pay $50 registration fee for the MTA! So we are getting it on both hands.
With all that said, I got rid of my car so I only take the train. I walk to the train station (20-25 min walk) and in the evenings my husband picks me up. Stick with the train, it’s costly but less of a headache than driving.

By: Serendipity

Serendipity — Fri, 07 May 2010 04:42:14 +0000

You work in my dream city! *wipes drool off cheek* I think it’s really whats more important to you. Keeping your sanity or keeping money in your pocket. It sounds like you really enjoy your hour here and there though,thats something to think about especially when your in a nasty traffic jam. I’m insanely jealous you guys have effective public transit, and I would so take advantage of it. :)

By: leslie

leslie — Fri, 07 May 2010 03:29:36 +0000

door-to-door is usually 1 hour 20 minutes; that includes 10 min drive to the station, 10 min walk actually to the station from my car, 50 mins train, and 10 min walk to work. (The train is 45-60 minutes depending which one I catch).

By: RainyDaySaver

RainyDaySaver — Fri, 07 May 2010 03:16:31 +0000

Curious — how long is your door-to-door commute? Is the one hour just on the train? I know it takes me 90 minutes to get to Midtown (I’d have to drive 10-15 mins to the subway/PATH/train).

By: leslie

leslie — Fri, 07 May 2010 01:20:41 +0000

Lee Ann: Thanks for the advice! I had not thought about the disadvantages of depending on someone in that way. That is even more stress to worry about! For now, I am sticking with the train until I can find a better alternative.

The Jetpacker: When I was driving 100 miles round trip a day I did fill up twice a week as well, but that seemed like a lot to me! I think average people fill up 3-4 times a month, not 8!

I completely know what you mean by “tuning out”. There have been so many times that I “wake up” and wonder how the heck I’ve been driving for the past 30 minutes because I was day dreaming in another world the whole time!

You have made me realize that I should be grateful that I have access to public transportation this way, and I definitely am. If it were not for New Jersey Transit, I would not even consider New York City for employment.

Eemusings: I am not sure if I could live without a car! I am considering moving closer to NYC but know that I would have to give up my car to afford the rent. It feels like losing my freedom!

By: Lee Ann

Lee Ann — Thu, 06 May 2010 01:44:35 +0000

I say stay on the train. $40 does sound like a lot, especially calculated over a year however how nice is it to be able to read, go online, snooze etc…………you’d never be able to do that with a person in the car with you, they may think you’re being rude. Sometimes I think it’s better to spend a bit more $$ to have some peace of mind. Sometimes I take a 30-40 min nap at lunch because we have a sofa in the quiet room. It feels wonderful to just “be” even in the midst of a busy workplace. Plus I did not have the best luck when I tried to share driving to work, the other person would be late or just not be able to make it. I am someone who can’t stand being late at all.

By: The Jetpacker

The Jetpacker — Wed, 05 May 2010 17:51:53 +0000

I wish I had the opportunity to use public transportation, but Los Angeles / Orange County doesn’t have a good system since everything is so spread out.

I have a fuel efficient car so I can drive 3 hours round-trip five times a week and only fill up twice in that span, so it’s not expensive. The gridlock is always annoying, but as strange as it sounds, I kind of tune out when I drive. I let my mind wander and suddenly I’m home. It’s a freaky feeling. At some point in my drive I snap out of it and wonder how the hell I got to where I was. It’s like being on autopilot.

If I could pay more to use public transportation, however, I would do it.

By: eemusings

eemusings — Wed, 05 May 2010 03:37:00 +0000

I do not enjoy driving. I don’t consider myself a good driver. I don’t even own a car – share one with the BF, but it’s a manual so I can’t even really drive it.

I bitch and moan about PT, but really, I love it. And when you work in the city, it’s a nobrainer.

I don’t know. Maybe if my cost doubled I would have to think twice, but parking in town alone is equivalent to the cost of my bus pass. And I’d still have to walk at least a couple of blocks from there to work and vice versa.