CAN YOU AFFORD TO GET TO WORK?
Low-paid workers – including graduates at the start of their careers – will be disproportionally impacted by large increases to train ticket prices introduced today, experts have warned.
The average season ticket will increase by 4.2 per cent from today with some unregulated fares set to rise by up to 12 per cent. The latest hikes mean that the average person is spending 8% of their monthly wage packet simply getting to and from work. But for the lowest paid workers – including young people – the percentage will be even higher, as their total salary is smaller.
Also affected will be graduates keen to find work in the new year. Graduate Fog’s readers often tell us that you struggle to find the money to fund your travel costs to and from interviews and assessment centres, which can take place hundreds of miles from where you’re currently living. At present, few employers offer to contribute towards these costs. Some offer phone interviews as an alternative, but many of you feel a face-to-face meeting gives a much better opportunity to impress.
The increases have sparked a row between politicians on all sides, train companies – and representatives for consumers and workers. Stephen Joseph, chief executive of the Campaign for Better Transport, said:
“The impact of successive governments’ policies on rail fares is appalling. It’s shocking that getting the train to work is an extravagance that many struggle to afford.”
But Michael Roberts, of the Association for Train Operating Companies, said:
“We know nobody likes paying more for their journey, especially to go to work. Train companies will continue working with the rest of the industry to become more cost efficient.”
Graduate Fog is increasingly concerned by huge rises in basic costs for young people, who are already struggling to make ends meet as they do unpaid internships or survive on meagre salaries from low-paid jobs. With rent, bills and transport costs spiralling, many graduates are running out of options. Will they be forced to give up their dreams, stay at home with their parents and settle for whatever work they can find in their local area?
*CAN YOU AFFORD TO GET TO WORK?
How much do you spend on travel every month – and what percentage of your wage packet is that? If you’re looking for work, how much have you spent on getting to interviews – and do employers ever offer to contribute towards your travel costs?
You do know that if you are travelling to interviews and you are on JSA (which you should be if you do not have a job… that is what it is there for) they pay for your travel to and from interviews as long as it is out of your local area. When I was travelling from Rugby to London for interviews they paid for all my travel which came to around £200.
Thanks Jamie – I have heard that some graduates are offered this but by no means all and it depends on circumstances. What have been others’ experience? And what about those not on JSA, have employers ever offered to help out with travel costs?
Also many unemployed grads are not on JSA. And many who are doing unpaid internships cannot claim JSA so would need to pay for themselves to get to interviews for better (paid) jobs…
People who are not on JSA when they are able to are idiots. There is no shame in claiming money when you need it. Just as long as you are not like many of the people at a JC who are there because they do not want to work. I know my ex gf refused to go on JSA for an entire year through pride. I understand some people cannot go on it, but people who can and do not have only themselves to blame.
@Jamie I started off my career being self-employed, doing low-paid freelance work. Every penny counted. I needed the experience and contacts, and getting paid even a bit was better than nothing. As a self-employed freelancer, you can’t do JSA. I’m sure there are plenty of graduates who are in the same position as I was when I first graduated. I feel even more sorry for unpaid interns who have to shell out through either their family’s money or other low-paid work.
The amount that traveling costs is diabolical. What shocks me is how the train staff also want pay rises, yet in my experience, it’s a treat when you get a nice person on the service. Plus I’ve experienced a fair few delays. Are we going to get better service? Probably not. Bad value for money, but what choice do we have? They’ve got us by the neck.
Hi Tanya,
Without giving too much away I live in a South eastern county roughly 1-1 1/2 hour from london. I’ve just looked at the new ticket prices and it now costs £114 per week for a travel card or £4,596.00 per year. On a salaries between 18-25k with student loans and other bills to pay it does eat into our monthly pay.
Many of my friends and I feel trapped living at home as we cant afford to save up a deposit to move away when were practically paying a similar amount in travel. Its a shame train companies are treating its customers this and as usual young graduates are hit hard.
I checked this morning when I saw that 8% figure. I earn a modest salary, but one that is higher than the ‘actual’ average. My rail fare is approximately 25% of my salary! A whole quarter! Thankfully my other living costs are very low to accommodate this.
I’ve bought a young person’s railcard every year since I was 20 – I’m 25 now and plan to buy another one the day before my 26th birthday so I can at least save a bit of cash for a bit longer! If I didn’t have the railcard, I wouldn’t be able to afford to get the train.
When I moved back to the family home, I paid more in travel costs to work than I did in rent when I lived within a city.
Sadly being as I now work in London on £18’000 I can’t afford anywhere near the city centre so commuting will take a serious chunk out of the paycheque. It’s better than being unemployed of course, but still a blow.
Costs me about 18% of my take-home salary per year.
I could get a 35-year mortgage for an extra £100 a month.
I am sorry Jacob but I started on £17k 2 years ago and have managed to live in Zone 2-3 in London ever since. My housemate earns £15k and still manages to get by. I live in SW atm but I know plenty who live in East London and it is really cheap for rent there!
I didn’t at any point say it wasn’t doable. Hell, I’m loving my time in the city and independent, I’d just happened to check the old online banking after paying for my year railcard is all 🙂
Actually to add to my previous post, if you do live within the SE.
If you work for a larger employer, see if they can help you out with a loan for a yearly season ticket because that slashes travel costs considerably.
When I was on JSA they did help me with expenses to get to interviews but it had to be by the cheapest method so it was coach which I wasn’t bothered about. At first they didn’t mind funding it but then they said that I was having too many job interviews and that I should get an actual job and stopped funding my travels. I just love the job centre and never want to go there again.
I can afford to commute within the West Midlands County (Birmingham and surrounding areas) – especially by bus since it’s only £54 a month, and I use the bus pass for leisure as well. But once jobs go just over the county borders into say Telford, Shropshire or Leamington Spa, Warwickshire they start jacking up.
Still better than it would be where my parents live. Living with the one in Hampshire only 50 miles from London, it was £88 a week the last time I checked to commute to London (not remotely affordable with board on the kind of work I do). Even the nearest cities (20 miles away) are £50+ a week (£200+ a month).