Distance (wwyd)

[nothingtosee]

If you lived somewhere where rent was cheap (say....under $400) but was going to be 70 miles per day round trip, 5 days a week, for your obligations; you knew you had to stay in the area(of your obligations) for at least 4 years, what would you do?
Ds's part time Montessori school and my classes are part of our obligation, plus I'm hoping to find a job in that area. There are no good schools closer to our current location, and I'm torn.
I've found a couple homes closer to the area I need to be in, but not sure if I should look into buying a place when I don't know how long after the initial 4-5 years I'd want to stay around there.

[pcjs]

Other: you have to look at the cost benefit. Gas and car maintenance could cost you far more than you paying more in rent.

[mommy2kaitlyn]

I would look at it like this. Will it be cheaper to rent in the area of the schools then pay for gas for the 70 miles. I am willing to bet unless you have a really good on gas card, it will end up probably cheaper to rent. Especially if your thinking of Dropping him off, driving back home, driving back to pick him up and back home. That is 280 miles a day alone there.

[nothingtosee]

Originally Posted by mommy2kaitlyn I would look at it like this. Will it be cheaper to rent in the area of the schools then pay for gas for the 70 miles. I am willing to bet unless you have a really good on gas card, it will end up probably cheaper to rent. Especially if your thinking of Dropping him off, driving back home, driving back to pick him up and back home. That is 280 miles a day alone there.

I planned to stay in town after dropping him off, he's in there while I'm going to be in my classes. My current car runs great and gets 30mpg, which here would only be costing me about $11 a day, but it's got over 230,000 miles on it.
I should add that the rentals in that area are at least $650 for a 2 bedroom, and it's extremely difficult to find a long term lease, given that it is a college town.

[BSWmama]

I would definitely rent in the desired area. If the driving is costing you $11/day x 5 days a week x 4 weeks = $220. Plus, calculate that your time is worth whatever your hourly wage will be. And the hassle of driving so much and the wear on your car, etc. You will easily make up the difference between $400 and $650 and save a lot of headaches.

[luvsviola]

70 miles a day is kiddo sitting in the car for an hour a day. I would pay a little extra so my preschooler doesn't have to spend an hour in the car each day.

[Rainfall]

I would also prefer to pay a little more to live closer. When we first moved out to where we are (in the country) I was still working a couple of towns over. It was an hour to work, hour home each day. At first I didn't mind, but it got old pretty quick.

I would consider the wear and tear on your car and the extra gas costs of that much driving. Plus, they're predicting close to $5/gallon over the summer. Whether or not I believe that, it's a possibility. Certainly $4+ anyway.

eta: I also wanted to add that I'd be also mindful of how much in the car you and your LO would be during the week. LOTS more chances of accidents and junk. And if you get snow and crappy weather in the winter, that would add onto the driving time and dangerous travels you'd be dealing with regularly.

[jac1976]

If I thought it was worth it, I would. In fact, I do, but it is taxing. DS goes to a private school approx. 30 miles from our house. It is the only single sex, non religious school within an hour's drive. I drive him to/from school every day. 3 days a week I stay down there, 2 days a week I go back and forth. My car gets about 20 mpg and I currently spend between $500 and $600/mo. on gas. DS is in 1st grade and I am hoping he stays at his school until he graduates from the upper school. DD will start going to the girls' division of the school next year. So I am looking at doing this drive for at least another 12 years unless by some miracle, DH consents to moving closer to the school. It is hard, but the school is exactly what my son needs and I am willing to make the sacrifice for him.

[Psychomom]

I'd live closer. The older my kids get, the busier they are and I am driving a ton. I wouldn't want to add a 70 mile daily trip to it.

[KaleidoscopeEyes]

we bought a house 45 miles from my work. we paid cash so there was no house payments. between driving back and forth an hour and half a day, high gas prices and higher utility costs it just wasnt worth it to me. I ended up moving back to town since it cost just as much to rent there than to drive back and forth.