Living locally can deliver great value
The drive from Titirangi (an outlying Auckland suburb in a rainforest), to work was about 25 minutes.
But as the years passed, my commute time got longer as the roads got fuller.
Children arrived, and with them a diversion to daycare.
Suddenly the commute was taking the better part of an hour each way.
Rush, rush. Fill the tank. Pay the rego. Groan when its WOF time again.
Commuting is a growing plague.
We are building ever more properties on Auckland’s fringes. People are commuting in from Pokeno, Pukekohe, Millwater, Hamilton.
People have ‘‘driven till they qualify’’.
This is an American term capturing the idea people will commute from wherever houses finally become affordable.
Owning a home is so critical to our identity, we are willing to make big sacrifices for it.
Humans mostly want freedom from landlords and the chance to put down roots. Galloping house prices mean we also now fear being left behind as renters for life.
But the person who lives near work has a financial advantage.
On the bus, I recently read a study on the Auckland Transport website claiming the average Kiwi commuter spends $11,852 running a car each year.
If they sold it and used public
GOLDEN RULES
Working close to home can pay dividends Cars sap your wealth Commuting saps your soul transport, they’d save $9065.78 a year (not including the cost of insurance).
Just leaving the car at home would save Aucklanders about $1200.
Like all such studies, there were assumptions (distance travelled, petrol prices, parking prices, etc), and issues ignored (surly bus drivers, inconsiderate fellow travellers, longer and less predictable journey times, etc).
But all other things being equal, commuters have to earn more, and spend more time on the move, than people who live near work.
Mad house prices mean commuting is a Hobson’s choice for many who want to own a traditional family home.
And at times, a career opportunity (like mine in London) is worth making a commuting sacrifice for.
But for the person who has set their life up locally, day-to-day costs can be lower, especially if they can bike to work.
Imagine ditching that car and investing the better part of $12,000 a year.