For those of you who work in NYC?

LADY324 · May 2011

Do you hate your commute? Do they really take out a ton of more taxes? There is a possible promotion for me but I am just trying to weigh out all of my options. I am not sure if I would like the commuting life. I currently have about a 45 minute drive each way so I spend a ton of money on gas so I think that my commute costs will even out with the $250 I probably spend on gas a month. I live 3 blocks from the train station so I can walk there. I would have to take the path from Newark to the WTC stop then walk about 2 blocks.

I am so indecisive if I should apply for the job. I may also be able to work something out to be in our NJ office 2 days a week.

Any advice? FI is a teacher so he is home by 330 everyday. I am not sure if I should choose quality of life with the NJ office where I am content or promotion, more money, but longer commute and added stress of a management position in NYC?

akmackay · May 2011

If you're near the Newark PATH I would think your commute would be much better than a 45 minute commute... and less money. Or do you mean you would take the train to Newark and then the PATH from there?

I work in NYC. The taxes aren't great and the commute some days is bad, but I'm glad I did it for a while (starting a new job in NJ soon). I would say weigh your options, but I'd go with the promotion and the NYC job.

Laurms15 · May 2011

I don't mind my commute. I've been at it for about 6 years now. MH and I both work in NYC I don't regret the time I've spent here. Someday I will change jobs so one of us is closer to home to start a family. If you really love the job and the salary bump is good it will be worth the commute.

MH walks to the train then takes that into pen station followed by the subway across and up (then short few block walk) to 51st and 3rd. He really doesn't seem to mind it.

LADY324 · May 2011

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/local-wedding-boards_new-jersey_those-of-work-nyc?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Local Wedding BoardsForum:90Discussion:79733f91-d3b1-4cec-a968-a59068985fdcPost:283653dd-a438-4ac2-af4b-d61f38853b59">Re: For those of you who work in NYC?</a>:
[QUOTE]If you're near the Newark PATH I would think your commute would be much better than a 45 minute commute... and less money. Or do you mean you would take the train to Newark and then the PATH from there? I work in NYC. The taxes aren't great and the commute some days is bad, but I'm glad I did it for a while (starting a new job in NJ soon). I would say weigh your options, but I'd go with the promotion and the NYC job.
Posted by akmackay[/QUOTE]

I would take the train from Union County to Newark then take the path. My train ride to newark is about 15-20 minutes.

My biggest thing is that now I work 8-4 and I am home by 5 most days. I also don't have really any stress with my current job it is really easy. I also don't plan on being in my industry for the rest of my life. I work in insurance and do not by any means like what I do. I am just trying to decide if I should do it for 2 years or just stay where I am.

But we are saving for a wedding so the extra money could be great. I won't know how much more money I would get unless I interview for the spot so that can be a big deciding factor too.

cindyn9178 · May 2011

I don't work in NYC, but FI has worked there for 8 years. I really think the commuting this is ok for some people, and for others, not so good. I personally could never deal with taking a train into NYC every day and not getting home until 7pm some nights. I currently have a 10 minute drive to work and I'm home by 5:30 the absolute latest. I used to have an hour drive back and forth to work - but for me, I'd rather drive myself than have to take a train and walk in the city.

However, FI doesn't mind his commute at all. We live less than 5 minutes from the train station, and his train ride is about 45 minutes or less. He then walks about 20 minutes to his office though (another thing I would never want to deal with, especially when it is raining or snowing). He leaves work at 4:30 usually and he is home by 5:45.

For me, I would have to be offered a huge salary in order to even consider commuting into the city - not to pay for the commuting costs, but to make it worth while to me to deal with the commute. Again, some people don't mind it, some people hate it.

LADY324 · May 2011

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/local-wedding-boards_new-jersey_those-of-work-nyc?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Local Wedding BoardsForum:90Discussion:79733f91-d3b1-4cec-a968-a59068985fdcPost:6cebb517-b84f-481e-a59d-fee09bec4da9">Re: For those of you who work in NYC?</a>:
[QUOTE]I don't work in NYC, but FI has worked there for 8 years. I really think the commuting this is ok for some people, and for others, not so good. I personally could never deal with taking a train into NYC every day and not getting home until 7pm some nights. I currently have a 10 minute drive to work and I'm home by 5:30 the absolute latest. I used to have an hour drive back and forth to work - but for me, I'd rather drive myself than have to take a train and walk in the city. However, FI doesn't mind his commute at all. We live less than 5 minutes from the train station, and his train ride is about 45 minutes or less. He then walks about 20 minutes to his office though (another thing I would never want to deal with, especially when it is raining or snowing). He leaves work at 4:30 usually and he is home by 5:45. For me, I would have to be offered a huge salary in order to even consider commuting into the city - not to pay for the commuting costs, but to make it worth while to me to deal with the commute. Again, some people don't mind it, some people hate it.
Posted by cindyn9178[/QUOTE]

Thanks I agree with everything you said 100% I am just not sure I am one of those people who would be okay with it. I like driving my car to work and listening to my morning radio show and drinking my coffee. I also always think how do people commute in the rain and snow I would be miserable!

philleej · May 2011

I take the Bergen line into Hoboken, then take the PATH to 14th St and walk 4 blocks to work and I love it, so overall an hour commute. I feel like there are a lot more options when you work in NYC vs. NJ. I used to have an hour ride to and from work to Western NJ and I hate being stuck in the car in traffic in crappy weather. Now I take the train and get a good wind down, and by the time I'm home I'm refreshed and can do anything. Plus the taxes aren't so bad (I used have pretty much the same amount taken out from my paycheck when I lived and worked in NJ). You can enroll in the Transitchek program which will take money out of your paycheck pretax and give you a debit card to use to buy your monthly passes, so that saves you money as well. I work 830 to 5 and I usually get home by 615, not terrible. And this gives your FI an excuse to go join you in the city after work and have some good date nights in the city!

mcgoveer · May 2011

I'm in the same exact position (mgmt too). I was working 8 to 4 in the city and just accepted a new position downtown where I will be taking the train into newark and then the PATH in (830-530). I don't mind the commute... there are some days that I miss driving but it is nice to read a book or take a nap on the way in or the way home which you can't do in a car! :P
I say go for it! See if you like it and if not, look elsewhere!

cindyn9178 · May 2011

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/local-wedding-boards_new-jersey_those-of-work-nyc?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Local Wedding BoardsForum:90Discussion:79733f91-d3b1-4cec-a968-a59068985fdcPost:006907c5-61a5-4b2e-a71a-e7befa23fcf2">Re: For those of you who work in NYC?</a>:
[QUOTE]I take the Bergen line into Hoboken, then take the PATH to 14th St and walk 4 blocks to work and I love it, so overall an hour commute. I feel like there are a lot more options when you work in NYC vs. NJ. I used to have an hour ride to and from work to Western NJ and I hate being stuck in the car in traffic in crappy weather. Now I take the train and get a good wind down, and by the time I'm home I'm refreshed and can do anything. Plus the taxes aren't so bad (I used have pretty much the same amount taken out from my paycheck when I lived and worked in NJ). <strong>You can enroll in the Transitchek program which will take money out of your paycheck pretax and give you a debit card to use to buy your monthly passes, so that saves you money as well. </strong> I work 830 to 5 and I usually get home by 615, not terrible. And this gives your FI an excuse to go join you in the city after work and have some good date nights in the city!
Posted by philleej[/QUOTE]
You can only use that if your company offers it. Not all companies offer the Transitchek program.

colxine · May 2011

Hello, I have been commuting for 3 years from central jersey. For two years I took the train to Newark and then path to WTC, then switched to the bus because it’s more humane (haha). I have to say, it’s hot and cold for me. Some days I loathe working up here and others I’m glad I had the experience of working in downtown NYC. But it is definitely not something I want to do for too much longer. I’m getting married in October and I’m not psyched that I will only be seeing my newly wedded husband for a solid 2 hours a weekday. BUT, since I get home later, he’ll have to make dinner so that’s one perk

Because of traffic, getting home can take about an hour and a half, sometimes 2 hours. I can’t say I wouldn’t rather be home at 5:30 (or even 6:30). Some days it’s easier than others. The Path train was tough because it’s like a constant state of aggravation and stress, and it’s disgusting. NJ transit train is ok… sometimes I don’t mind being able to sit and relax and let someone else drive me while I read a book or catch up on some work. Also, the happy hours, restaurants, and night life have made working here a lot of fun. I guess I would say that the commuting life is not ideal, but working in NY looks great on your resume, and the experience has definitely been worth it. Let me know if you have any other questions! I’d be happy to help.

akcrrr · May 2011

i have always worked in NYC and have sometimes thought I would enjoy working in NJ but seem to be stuck here

The taxes always even out for me in the end (although you might pay more up front) and I agree with what some other people have said about being able to relax and enjoy the ride. I can read/chat/sleep where as if I was driving I couldn't do any of those things.

You need to consider if the $ is good enough for you to put up with the extra commutte but from what you are saying the travel time won't be that much different for you just the method in which you commutte.

peaches178 · May 2011

When I graduated I worked in NYC right in Times Square and hated everything about it. A lot had to do with the nature of the job (I was in PR... entry-level pay was bad and the work day never ended), but it also had to do with the commute, the cost of commuting, and the taxes. I had a two hour commute each way and I hated being at the mercy of NJ Transit's schedules, delays, and maintenance issues. It just wasn't worth it to me.

I think your situation is very different and the job in NYC may be a good option for you but, as others have said, you really need to weigh your options.

Sammydan703 · May 2011

I have been at my job for a little over 4 years. I started commuting on the NJ Coastline and about 5 months in I moved to Hoboken. The $75 I was spending on the path doesn't even compare to NJ transit prices plus paying to park my car at the station. About a year and a half ago I moved back to central jersey and now take the NE Corridor line. I pay about $500 a month to commute to NYC which is ALOT but I love my job. There are def ups and downs to commuting to NYC. I like that I can sleep or read on the train and the benefits at my job completely make it all worth it but there are absolutely times where I hate it. You have to weigh whats more important. Will you like the job? Then maybe the commute is ok. Are you settling on the job? That might make the commute unbearable.

LADY324 · May 2011

Thanks for all of the advice!

JoBell123 · May 2011

I take the Path from Hoboken. Honestly, I'd rather take the Path then drive when it's snowing or raining! And as for the taxes, I've only worked in NYC, so I can't compare taxes, but I do feel like they take a lot out. But you get most of it back in the end. I like to think of it as my vacation fund (or this year it was my wedding dress fund).

jerseydevil · May 2011

NYC does take out a ton of taxes and I always ended up owing. Not much, but still I have never ever owed in NJ.

Also, commuting using ANY public transit is fairly unreliable. You have days where you get to work no problem and then other days where you have delays, not just delays but like the train is stopped (PATH or NJ Transit) for an hour or more for some sort of maintenance or emergency. Not to mention you're a slave to the schedules (not with the PATH, at least).

It's not for me and you couldn't pay me enough to do it again. But if the bump in money and promotion is worth it to you, go for it!

Little Spitfire · May 2011

I have worked both in NJ and NYC. When I worked in NJ, I had a very short commute (15 minutes or so) and while working in NYC, I have lived different places and had varying commutes. I used to take the NJ Transit train from Montclair - that, honestly, was not bad because I got on early enough to usually get a seat, although I thought the trains wer kind of dirty and gross. It was annoying to get across town from Penn Station, though. For a while after that I tok the bus and I really hated the starting/stopping and feeling like part of a herd going downstairs from the bus terminals in Port Authority. In both instances, my commute was about an hour, and the train or bus only came once an hour. Annoying. Add that to 10-12 hour days, and I was pretty unhappy. For someone who works 8 hour days, it may not be so bad, but I hated getting home past 10 most nights.

However, now I live in Hoboken, take the PATH and my commute is a breeze. It's about 35 mins door-to-door and I think the PATH is fairly reliable. My favorite thing about working in NYC (aside from more opportunity and better salaries) is everything there is to do. Happy hour, dinner at a 5-star restaurant, great shopping - assuming I can get out of work at a decent hour, I can do any number of fun things on a random Tuesday. When I was in NJ, I mostly just went home. Plus, having to drive home puts a crimp in your ability to have a few drinks with your friends after work.

cindyn9178 · May 2011

I actually wanted to add to my post above.. while FI has worked in NYC for 8 years, as a result, he now hates going to NYC for anything. He never stays in the city after work for anything, and he never wants to go there on a weekend for anything, because he is there so much - the novelty wore off. So while I enjoy going there once in a blue moon because it is something different - to him, it is just annoying....

I know some PPs mentioned that working in NYC is fun because of happy hours and stuff to do after work..but honestly, if I'm married, I don't want to be hanging out at a bar after work during the week. I want to come home to my husband. I'm not saying I don't want to hang out with my friends once in awhile.. but I wouldn't think of that as "perk" of working in NYC, because it would be a very rare for me to go for drinks after work at all.. whether I'm in NYC or NJ. That might be fun for someone who is single or in their 20's, but for me personally, that is not appealing at all.

Little Spitfire · May 2011

I must be an alchie, because I love hanging out at bars after work! JK.
My husband often comes out with my friends and me, or I will go meet him and his coworkers out. It's definitely a personal thing, but I'm neither single nor in my 20's and there's a vibrant nightlife in NYC for people like me. It takes the edge off all the Home Depot trips on the weekends, lol. We also go into the city all the time on weekends.

For those of you who work in NYC?

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