At what point will it become cost ineffective for you to drive to your job?

[Tuesday Afternoon]

Is there a mathematical equation?

[OhioChick]

1. I really have no choice but to drive....

If I did use public transportation, I'd probably have to get up at 3 a.m. and have about 30 transfers....and I still don't know if I'd make it there in time.

[Tuesday Afternoon]

3. There is no public transportation out here

Right now, I am driving 30 miles round trip to a part time job.

[OhioChick]

5. Wow....That's a lot of mileage

for a part time job. I feel for you.

[Tuesday Afternoon]

6. Around here, it is typical .....

the drive, that is. I am currently applying for full time positions closer to home.

[OhioChick]

7. I hope you find something closer.....soon.

Good luck. :)

[Tuesday Afternoon]

11. Thanks...

all good vibes are genuinely appreciated.

[RebelOne]

12. I don't have the option of public transportation either.

I live in Woodstock, GA, northwest of Atlanta. The nearest bus depot is about 6 miles away. My job is only 13 miles one-way, so it wouldn't make sense to drive 6 miles just to save on 7 miles worth of gas.

[Tuesday Afternoon]

15. I would think that there are a lot of us in this situation ...

I feel your pain.

[flvegan]

2. Thankfully, I telecommute most days.

So, $10 per step to my office area.

When I do drive, it's a solid 2 gallons of gas. There is no public transportation option for me.

[Tuesday Afternoon]

4. but, how would one figure this ..

at some point it is going to actually become cost ineffective for those of us who HAVE to drive. Right?

[Chan790]

9. I'm there...

$4/gallon to get to work for PT...make $9.50/hr. and have heavy payroll deductions. (Implied tips, 401K, IRA, Health, Dental, Vision, Taxes)...take home is about 50% of actual pay.

[Tuesday Afternoon]

10. at least you have insurance...

trying to look on the bright side.

[Chan790]

14. Yeah...but I have $0 income and have to pay rent.

What I really need is a spouse who doesn't have benefits...but makes an assload of money. Not withstanding my opposition to marriage.

[Tuesday Afternoon]

17. yeah

me too :D well....actually, when I get a full time job, I will have benefits but, I still won't be making a buttload of money.

[flvegan]

21. I'd equate it this way:

When gas costs escalate to the point where it eats far enough into your take home pay that another job closer but for a little less money seems feasible.

[mainegreen]

8. Probably at aroun $15/gal it would become infeasable.

I'd switch to public transport long before that. Maybe at say $5?

[Tuesday Afternoon]

13. Is this for your own calculations or, a general rule?

Seems like there would be an equation and one puts in their own numbers...

[mainegreen]

19. Merely my own calculations.

IF
$extra income not dedicated to bills per week > ($round trip commute distance/$miles per gallon)*$cost per gallon*7
You can still drive!
ELSE
You can no longer afford to drive to work.

:D

[malta blue]

16. No public transportation available....

I drive 80 miles round trip.

I am going to start carpooling with a friend in a couple of weeks when our companies move into the same building together....

[Deep13]

18. salary+benefits-taxes-expenses = transportation costs

[montanto]

20. Luckily, never.

Though I live in L.A., and gas prices are already +$4, I only live a mile and a half from work. I can walk or ride my bike.

What sucks for me is that its going to make foreign travel too expensive.

[taterguy]

22. It's never been cost effective for me to drive to my job

But sometimes I do it anyway.

If it's raining,

Or if I have to pick up a lot of groceries on the way home,

Or if I just don't feel like riding my bike.

[electron_blue]

23. Never. I'm lucky enough to live a mile away.

[KamaAina]

24. At the point where I get a driver's license

As any candidate worth his/her salt would say, "That's a hypothetical!"

[datasuspect]

25. whenever i stop making $100,000/month

then i will have to drive myself

[TrogL]

26. Next week

I'm only working out of one building and the weather won't kill me if I try to take the bus if I have to go to the other one.

[KG]

27. since i walk about 100 yds to my job, it's not a problem.

[terrya]

28. Never

IF I had a car, it costs at least $10 a DAY to park in the public parking lots downtown. Screw that. I'll take the CTA.

[Tuesday Afternoon]

29. kicking

cos I can :D

[Lydia Leftcoast]

30. It would be really dangerous for me to drive

from the kitchen after breakfast to my office at the other end of the apartment, besides which my landlord wouldn't let me bring the car upstairs.