Advice on Power-Commuting? (Winchester: transfer to, live in, offices)

[seiketsu]

I fill up my tank every two weeks commuting 30 miles (round trip) a day, spending about $90 a month on gas. Even if your car is more fuel efficient than mine, you'll still be blowing through about five tanks of gas a month. That will probably add another $100 - $200 to your monthly expenses, not including wear and tear and higher rates if you inform your insurance company that you're using your car for a long commute.

Will you feel like cooking at home after such a long commute? If not, add money to your budget for extra take-out.

Do you think you're going to meet more 20-somethings in Winchester than closer to DC? If not, factor in expenses for either extra trips to DC or Blockbuster rentals, however you spend your time when there's nothing to do.

Basically I think moving from Reston to Winchester when you work and play inside the Beltway will add at least $300 to you monthly expenses. I recall you saying you spend about $1100 for rent. If you up your budget just a little, to $1200, you could easily find a nice share in a nice, close-in neighborhood. If you up it by what you'd realistically spend to power-commute, $1400 could get you a lovely studio, one-bedroom, or English basement in almost any historical neighborhood. Will it have stainless steel appliances, granite countertops and jacuzzi? Probably not. Will it be a pied a terre that'll place you right in the middle of the type of life you want? Sure.

My advice is to look beyond big, corporate apartment complexes and their exorbitant rents and search for private rentals or small, multi-unit buildings. Enlist the help of a realtor if you need to. Del Ray and the Park Fairfax areas in Alexandria have a multitude of small rentals for $1000 - $1300, and these neighborhoods have historical charm and are just minutes by car from DC, close to King St and Braddock Rd metros. Even Old Town had rentals available for under $1200 when I looked a couple of months ago. Yes, they were small and lacked luxurious amenities, but LOCATION, LOCATION, LOCATION.

There are MANY entry-level federal employees living in DC, Arlington and Alexandria, with roommates and without. Super commuting is for mid-level employees with four children who want to own property with space and land, not for single guys looking for friends and love who think they'll suddenly have perfect lives if only they could save a few dollars a month on rent.

[Guamanians]

Originally Posted by seiketsu

I fill up my tank every two weeks commuting 30 miles (round trip) a day, spending about $90 a month on gas. Even if your car is more fuel efficient than mine, you'll still be blowing through about five tanks of gas a month. That will probably add another $100 - $200 to your monthly expenses, not including wear and tear and higher rates if you inform your insurance company that you're using your car for a long commute.

Will you feel like cooking at home after such a long commute? If not, add money to your budget for extra take-out.

Do you think you're going to meet more 20-somethings in Winchester than closer to DC? If not, factor in expenses for either extra trips to DC or Blockbuster rentals, however you spend your time when there's nothing to do.

Basically I think moving from Reston to Winchester when you work and play inside the Beltway will add at least $300 to you monthly expenses. I recall you saying you spend about $1100 for rent. If you up your budget just a little, to $1200, you could easily find a nice share in a nice, close-in neighborhood. If you up it by what you'd realistically spend to power-commute, $1400 could get you a lovely studio, one-bedroom, or English basement in almost any historical neighborhood. Will it have stainless steel appliances, granite countertops and jacuzzi? Probably not. Will it be a pied a terre that'll place you right in the middle of the type of life you want? Sure.

My advice is to look beyond big, corporate apartment complexes and their exorbitant rents and search for private rentals or small, multi-unit buildings. Enlist the help of a realtor if you need to. Del Ray and the Park Fairfax areas in Alexandria have a multitude of small rentals for $1000 - $1300, and these neighborhoods have historical charm and are just minutes by car from DC, close to King St and Braddock Rd metros. Even Old Town had rentals available for under $1200 when I looked a couple of months ago. Yes, they were small and lacked luxurious amenities, but LOCATION, LOCATION, LOCATION.

There are MANY entry-level federal employees living in DC, Arlington and Alexandria, with roommates and without. Super commuting is for mid-level employees with four children who want to own property with space and land, not for single guys looking for friends and love who think they'll suddenly have perfect lives if only they could save a few dollars a month on rent.

These are all great suggestions, but I get the feeling that he isn't really interested in hearing common sense solutions.

[EuroExpat]

Originally Posted by Alanboy395

Changing your user name is NOT against the rules. Just read about it in the FAQ section.

https://www.city-data.com/forum/faq/9...ou-change.html

Thanks

[Jesco White]

I think we're dodging the most important question(s) here.

Is Winchester a walkable community with good public transit options? If not, how can you possibly deem it worthy?

[Yankeesfan]

Originally Posted by car54

Scranny, for cryin' out loud, just quit the damned job and go someplace you'll be happy...life's too short!

Agreed. But, in case he decides to stay here ... Scran-Barre, do you know for sure that your boss would approve the three-day-only in the office plan? If you're serious about this you should stay in a hotel in Winchester for two consecutive nights and try out the commute at the hours you'd be doing it, along with the 10-hour work days, so you can evaluate how it would really feel to do this.

[danwxman]

Paul I've never understood why you didn't consider a relocation to Harrisburg. You can have the tree-lined streets, urban neighborhoods, culture, night life, jobs AND affordability. Plus, you're still in PA

[2goldens]

Closed for Moderators review

[FindingZen]

I would highly suggest that the discussion remains focused on the the original topic and not any perceived off-topic issues. I would also encourage everyone to identify each other by screennames (or close variation thereof) unless a member has specifically said otherwise.

Happy Sunday!

[stuntmonkey]

Commuting hours a day from Winchester is the opposite of community-building. If you want to live in a "community," then live where you work. You will see more people you know in the grocery store, etc, and you will have more in common with them. Not sure if a new job or a new house is needed here, but a long commute does not make for community living.

[FordPony90]

Originally Posted by Jesco White

I think we're dodging the most important question(s) here.

Is Winchester a walkable community with good public transit options? If not, how can you possibly deem it worthy?

Ahahaha. I like you.