Time is more valuable than money. You can get more money, but you can’t get more time.
Jim Rohn
How much are you willing to pay to keep your office job?
Do you know how much your commute is costing you?
One of the major benefits to working remote is removing the enormous cost of commuting to work. If you don’t live in a city with good public transportation and have to drive to work, it could even be a lifesaving benefit.
How Much Time Your Commute May Be Costing You
Lets say you live relatively close to your job and it only takes you 15 minutes to get to work. That’s half an hour a day of travel, 2.5 hours a week if you work 5 days a week.
In a year, that is 5 1/2 days you have given up just for traveling to work. If you live a 1/2 hour from work that’s 11 days. An hour a day of bad traffic and you’re giving up 22 days worth of time a year.
If you are planning on living and working from 23 to around 65 and have an hour commute, you are planning on losing 2.5 years to traveling to work. That’s 2.5 years that you aren’t getting paid for that could be used for any other number of other things. Things like getting some exercise, learning a new skill, meditating, or spending a few more minutes with your loved ones.
The Risk of Driving
I won’t claim to be the best driver in the world, but I at least pay attention. With the number of distracted drivers, not to mention the poorly trained or overly risky ones, out on the road, each unnecessary commute is a risk of getting in a car accident.
Even if you walk away with your life and no injuries, its still time spent dealing with insurance and finding a replacement car. You could wind up with a spine injury or even dead.
I don’t advocate living in fear of driving or traveling. I do advocate for removing an unnecessary risk in our digital age by moving to a remote work setup. Your time and life is at stake.
The Money Cost of Commuting
Worst case, you are driving. On top of the lost time, you are paying for fuel, wear and tear on your car, and insurance cost of the number of miles your drive. And you most likely aren’t getting reimbursed for these cost.
Best case, you live in a city and you bike or walk a half hour to work. This is actually a pretty sweet setup. You get some good cardio in before and after work. Even if you work remotely, you should be getting in some cardio every day. Odds are though that your rent is pretty high.
You might live somewhere with decent public transportation. Unless its free, you still have to pay for a pass and change your schedule to match the bus, train, or subway.
Location Lock In
When you must go into the office, you are locked into a location. If the weather sucks, too bad. If crime in your town is on the rise, tough luck.
You could always switch jobs. Find one that gives you the freedom to work remotely.
Is your office job worth it?