Just thought I'd like to mention on here that there is a good chance that I will be moving back to Boston at some point in the next few months. I've lived in Arkanas since December and while I love my job, I feel like I am wasting the prime (I am 24) of my life here. Also, I really miss being in a city and feeling alive. Seeing religious people with these signs on a Friday night doesn't count
However, that's beside the point. The chances are that I will not be working for a company that provides a free company car anymore, so if I end up getting a job downtown, I may forgo one entirely. However... then I started calculating how much time I'd waste each day taking public transit versus driving....
Also, I don't do bikes-- so I'm not going to consider that option.
http://goo.gl/maps/3Szz
17 minutes by driving, it's calling it 32 minutes by taking the T, but my place is about a 8 minute walk from beaconsfield and 5 from Dean Rd, so probably closer to 45 minutes. I'd have to spend an hour extra every day taking the T vs driving.
I'll also call the Design Center a possible employment location-- because it's in the Seaport and more places will build there at some point.
http://goo.gl/maps/whIX
18 minutes by car or an hour (with two transfers) under ideal conditions taking public transit. If I gave up the car under this condition, I'd have to spend 80 extra minutes per day commuting.
However, let's consider cost on this equation:
Cost of taking the T to work per month: $4/Day * 20 days = $80
Cost of a car:
$500/month loan payment
$100/month insurance
$150/month parking spot at home
$200/month parking spot at work
$50 on car washes/maintenance (my spot is under a tree, so I need to wash it weekly when sap is flowing)
$200/month on gas
$80/month on tolls.
Total: About $1,300 a month (More than my share of the rent)
However-- I am probably going to have a car anyways. (My mother and her entire side of the family lives in Maine, my dad and stepmom live 35 miles outside of Boston, and most of my friends live outside the city. Not having a car would severely isolate me from the reason that I am wanting to move back. Plus going to the store for any appreciable amount of food would be a real hassle.)
The incremental cost of driving to work would really only be the $200 a month in parking, and since the minimum I'd be spending would be $80/month anyways-- the real incremental cost would be $120 a month. In essence, I'd be paying $120 a month to save 20+ hours a month in commuting, or about $6 an hour. Sounds like a reasonable cost to me.
However, that's beside the point. The chances are that I will not be working for a company that provides a free company car anymore, so if I end up getting a job downtown, I may forgo one entirely. However... then I started calculating how much time I'd waste each day taking public transit versus driving....
Also, I don't do bikes-- so I'm not going to consider that option.
http://goo.gl/maps/3Szz
17 minutes by driving, it's calling it 32 minutes by taking the T, but my place is about a 8 minute walk from beaconsfield and 5 from Dean Rd, so probably closer to 45 minutes. I'd have to spend an hour extra every day taking the T vs driving.
I'll also call the Design Center a possible employment location-- because it's in the Seaport and more places will build there at some point.
http://goo.gl/maps/whIX
18 minutes by car or an hour (with two transfers) under ideal conditions taking public transit. If I gave up the car under this condition, I'd have to spend 80 extra minutes per day commuting.
However, let's consider cost on this equation:
Cost of taking the T to work per month: $4/Day * 20 days = $80
Cost of a car:
$500/month loan payment
$100/month insurance
$150/month parking spot at home
$200/month parking spot at work
$50 on car washes/maintenance (my spot is under a tree, so I need to wash it weekly when sap is flowing)
$200/month on gas
$80/month on tolls.
Total: About $1,300 a month (More than my share of the rent)
However-- I am probably going to have a car anyways. (My mother and her entire side of the family lives in Maine, my dad and stepmom live 35 miles outside of Boston, and most of my friends live outside the city. Not having a car would severely isolate me from the reason that I am wanting to move back. Plus going to the store for any appreciable amount of food would be a real hassle.)
The incremental cost of driving to work would really only be the $200 a month in parking, and since the minimum I'd be spending would be $80/month anyways-- the real incremental cost would be $120 a month. In essence, I'd be paying $120 a month to save 20+ hours a month in commuting, or about $6 an hour. Sounds like a reasonable cost to me.