Author Topic: n00b advice: Moving for cheaper rent/longer commute  (Read 5395 times)

jrubins

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n00b advice: Moving for cheaper rent/longer commute
« on: March 13, 2014, 06:42:27 PM »
So, I'm one of those super-high-paid-tech-workers driving up rent in the bay area. Unfortunately, rents go up more than what they super-highly-pay us. And I could really do with a bigger house, between 4 of us in the family, we have a constantly rotating cadre of guests, and a friend who will be staying with us for a couple of months or more.

I've looked around and I want to get a bigger house to rent. I can't afford anything near work, even smaller places go for more than my current place, but I'm 15 minutes drive from work, and I plan to start biking this summer.

If I move, I have to move way-the-hell-out to the hinterlands, which is 45 minutes drive on a good day. Fortunately, my company offers bus service way the hell out to the hinterlands, which means no car commuting!

My question: Is it better to move and save money on rent ($500 -$700 a month) and commute by bus or is it better to stay put, pay more in rent but be closer to work, and build a 'guest shed' for peeps who come visit (approx cost $1000).

What do you think mustachians? Help a n00b out:)
Thanks,
JR

PeachFuzzStacher

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Re: n00b advice: Moving for cheaper rent/longer commute
« Reply #1 on: March 14, 2014, 10:25:34 AM »
Think about what else you will be giving up / gaining with this type of move.  Do you like being away from it all, or prefer to be close to the city when at home.  The fact that they're willing to bus you in makes the commute not really an issue IMO, other than the time.  Is it just a bigger house you want?

Lowering the cost of housing does make a lot of other financial planning easier, but think about what kind of lifestyle and landscape you're looking for.

MissStache

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Re: n00b advice: Moving for cheaper rent/longer commute
« Reply #2 on: March 14, 2014, 10:40:06 AM »
That's a pretty huge chunk of money.  If it were me, I would probably do it, especially because of the awesome bus service that your company offers. 

But, it's a big lifestyle change, too.  Some people really want to be in the city because it is easier to socialize and take advantage of the things a city has to offer and they like being right in the middle of everything.  Is that important to you? 

And a funny side effect of moving out of the city for a bigger house to host your guests may be that you have less guests...because you are far away from the city.

Badass by 41

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Re: n00b advice: Moving for cheaper rent/longer commute
« Reply #3 on: March 14, 2014, 11:19:05 AM »
That's a pretty huge chunk of money.  If it were me, I would probably do it, especially because of the awesome bus service that your company offers. 

But, it's a big lifestyle change, too.  Some people really want to be in the city because it is easier to socialize and take advantage of the things a city has to offer and they like being right in the middle of everything.  Is that important to you? 

Having done this kind of bus commute for a Bay Area company in the past (6 years of commuting) I can vouch for both the awesomeness as well as the time trade-off.  It's less time/expense put on your car/gas/insurance, but it can be a TON of time depending on the specific route you choose.

One thing I eventually started doing was riding my bike one way to work, and taking the bus back home.  YMMV (literally) so it might not be a reasonable option.  I was on the extreme end at 55 miles door to door from my house to the office, taking me 3 hours. But it's completely doable if you want.  It doesn't take more than a month or two to work up enough fitness to ride a reasonable pace for 30, 50 or even 100 miles.

And a funny side effect of moving out of the city for a bigger house to host your guests may be that you have less guests...because you are far away from the city.

I think this is the most valuable point made so far.  Check your assumptions.

windawake

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Re: n00b advice: Moving for cheaper rent/longer commute
« Reply #4 on: March 14, 2014, 12:33:46 PM »
So it would be a 45 minute drive on a good day, how long would the bus take? It sounds like you have a family, many people on here seem to find a long commute very hard when they have kids they'd rather be spending time with. If you'd be driving to work I'd say no way, but the bus is another case entirely. I hate a long commute, though, and love being in the city.

Prairie Stash

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Re: n00b advice: Moving for cheaper rent/longer commute
« Reply #5 on: March 14, 2014, 01:11:38 PM »
My brother has a long bus ride courtesy of his company. He works 12 hour shifts, he claims to have naps. Others read, watch movies, facebook or do other personal things. If done right it's not a complete waste of time, it can add to personal time.

Are you comfortable with the extra time away? His situation works because he works fewer days, 12 hours*7 days (84 hours) vs. the typical 8*10 (over 2 weeks).  I do contract work with a company whose employees have long commutes (due to building in the middle of nowhere). They work 10 hour (8*10) days to cut back on time lost to commuting, almost everyone carpools there.

For 2 weeks try pretending you live in the hinterlands. Get up and go to work at the time you would need to be at the bus.  Then have personal time at work until the regular shift. Do the same at the end of the day.  Can you personally handle it (it will probably not be as great)? Remind yourself daily about the rent savings, is it worth it?

MissStache

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Re: n00b advice: Moving for cheaper rent/longer commute
« Reply #6 on: March 14, 2014, 01:19:08 PM »
I should probably add in that I have a 45 minute-1 hour commute on the metro.  It isn't ideal, but I LOVE that I have time to wake up slowly in the mornings and decompress after work and get a wonderful amount of reading done.  I'd love to sleep later every morning, but sometimes that quiet commute is the best part of my day.

Badass by 41

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Re: n00b advice: Moving for cheaper rent/longer commute
« Reply #7 on: March 14, 2014, 01:26:08 PM »
Get up and go to work at the time you would need to be at the bus.

This is a great point too!  How would your family's schedules change? Would they be out of the house roughly the same time as you in the hinterlands?  That potentially changes the "time away" equation for everyone, not just you.

When I was commuting on the bus, the mornings were not a big deal since DW and DS were out of the house around the same time as I was.  The 45-60 minute bus ride was great for all the reasons listed above. I usually chose to sleep or read.

The evenings are when it really sucked.  DW & DS were home 2-3 hours before I was, and then DS was off to bed within an hour of getting home.

jrubins

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Re: n00b advice: Moving for cheaper rent/longer commute
« Reply #8 on: March 14, 2014, 11:00:16 PM »
So, I tried the commute today. Riding the bus was great, but trying to work - not so much. I was getting motion sick trying to read/write on my laptop :(
After that, it was a 1 hour drive to the new town.

Ain't happening.

1 hour on a bus, I can live with, but 2 hours commute one way?! No thanks!

Thanks for the advice mustachians. I'll keep looking for other ways to save a few $$

Thegoblinchief

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Re: n00b advice: Moving for cheaper rent/longer commute
« Reply #9 on: March 15, 2014, 07:54:43 PM »
How small is this small house? Being a rental limits you somewhat, but you'd be shocked how a great furniture arrangement changes a space. Or having less crap in general.

I'd personally want to be closer to the city while working.

phred

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Re: n00b advice: Moving for cheaper rent/longer commute
« Reply #10 on: March 15, 2014, 08:05:56 PM »
Maybe put up a family-sized tent in the back yard along with a porta-potti?

jrubins

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Re: n00b advice: Moving for cheaper rent/longer commute
« Reply #11 on: March 17, 2014, 12:36:55 PM »
Quote
Maybe put up a family-sized tent in the back yard along with a porta-potti?
You joke, but we may put up a shed in the backyard, drywall, etc to be a guest "cottage"/ office.

Quote
How small is this small house? Being a rental limits you somewhat, but you'd be shocked how a great furniture arrangement changes a space. Or having less crap in general.

I'd personally want to be closer to the city while working.
Personally, I want to be as close as possible to work or out in the woods somewhere. Unfortunately, those are incompatible.

The house is big enough for the 4 of us (though my wife disagrees), though having guests (especially one likely to be fairly long term) can make things a little too tight. My kids are far apart in age, so sticking them in the same room makes life a little uncomfortable for everyone.

 

Wow, a phone plan for fifteen bucks!