Here’s a sort of math equation for you. Let’s say you can cut 15 minutes off your 80 minute commute—but it will cost you an extra $2.50 every day. Now let’s say that in addition to shortening that commute by 15 minutes a day, you can also avoid the one interstate you hate with the white hot passion of 10,000 suns—for that same $2.50 a day.
Would you spend the money?
You’re looking at spending an additional $12.50 a week for each week you drive all five days. Or put another way, you’ll spend about an extra $615 a year assuming you drive five days a week for 49 weeks.
You’ll get back around 75 minutes a week or just over 61 hours if you drive five days a week for 49 weeks. Plus you’ll drive almost 7 miles less a day—or 35 miles fewer each week or 1715 fewer miles for the year.
If I take the Tobin Bridge route to work, I spend the money and save the time and miles. I started taking that route last Thursday and so far it’s worth the money. We’ll see how the situation plays out if Kent remains unemployed after his severance package runs out. Then I’ll probably need to look at what gas, and wear and tear costs and see if I’m saving enough there to cover the toll.
4 comments:
If I had the money, I would spend it to get the time and the peace of mind. And I would rationalize it by thinking that I could easily be avoiding a wreck on that stretch of road.
Add in the gas savings as well, think of the $2.50 as a latte you don't have, and remember you don't do it 49 weeks a year. Go for it.
The federal government mileage reimbursement rate for 2010 is $0.50 per mile. The value is supposed to summarize fuel costs plus the wear and tear on your vehicle. If you drive seven fewer miles a day, you are "saving" $3.50.
Ignoring that you are probably saving 50-75 cents in gas alone. Does that help the time v. money dilemma?
The biggest difference for me (aside from cutting down the commute time) is not having to go near I-93. That interstate is just worthless and turns into a parking lot very easily. I don't mind the driving but I do get cranky when I'm stuck sitting in traffic. So along with other, more rational reasons, I hope that Kent's unemployment ends before I need to get all super granular with the budget.
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