Within the years since pandemic-related restrictions have eased, many employees have returned to the workplace and resumed their each day commutes.
Though now, commuting takes on a complete new that means for some folks, often known as “super-commuters,” who put your 45-minute prepare trip or hour-long interstate crawl to disgrace.
And one goes viral after revealing that he commutes to his job in New York Metropolis from Columbus, Ohio, each week.
Chip Cutter, a reporter for the Wall Road Journal, has been spending his weeks going forwards and backwards between the 2 states utilizing bank card factors and rewards and frequent-flyer airline miles to benefit from his cash.
“Like many, I moved out of town early within the pandemic, relocating close to household within the Midwest. When it got here time to return in 2022, I used to be underwhelmed on the housing choices in my worth vary,” Cutter instructed the Wall Road Journal. “Utilizing back-of-the-envelope math, I believed I may maintain my bills—lease in Ohio, plus journey prices—at or under the value of a pleasant New York studio, or roughly $3,200 a month.”
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He says he spends three of 5 working days within the New York Metropolis workplace.
“Prices mounted within the fall, New York’s prime vacationer and business-travel season. Buddies teased me for embracing a lifetime of chaos,” Cutter mentioned. “They weren’t incorrect. And not using a fridge or range, late-night dinners usually consisted of yogurt and fruit bought from a 24-hour CVS. Needing to pack mild, I saved sneakers underneath my desk and left spare outfits on an workplace coat rack.”
Cutter mentioned that he is blown his preliminary price range by 15% and that whereas he is nonetheless having fun with “having one foot within the Midwest and one on the East Coast,” he is unsure how for much longer he can sustain the shtick.
In accordance with Zillow, the median lease price of a one-bedroom house in Columbus is $1,425, in comparison with $3,350 per thirty days in New York Metropolis.
“The problem felt oddly thrilling. If anyone may discover a solution to subvert excessive New York real-estate prices, whereas remaining near household, I believed it could be me,” Cutter mentioned. “Nerding out about these things has allowed me to journey farther and in additional rarefied air than I may in any other case afford.”