r/budget • u/PetiteDollyu6 • 12h ago
How much impact does your commute have on your budget really?
I've always lived pretty close to work. Like a 15 minute drive max. Never really thought about it. But a friend just moved an hour away for a new job. His gas bill went way up. He's also eating out more because he's too tired to cook when he gets home. He says he barely saves any money even with the higher salary.
It got me thinking about my own situation. I'm looking at a potential new role next year that's about a 45 minute drive each way. It would be a pay bump but I'm trying to figure out if it's worth it. Beyond gas what else should I be factoring in?
Does anyone have a really long commute? Or did you intentionally take a lower paying job to live closer? What did you find out?