A woman commutes 100 miles to work and back again on six trains to earn 30% more in London - despite the £450-a-month train fares.

Alix Williams' previous job in the charity sector was put up for redundancy last April due to Birmingham City Council's debts.

The 27-year-old still wanted to work as an adviser on discrimination and sexual harassment but was struggling to find anything close to home, with enough pay.

With a £940 mortgage to pay between her and her partner, Alix widened her search and applied for a role in London - 100 miles away from her home in Birmingham.

Despite the long commute, she decided to go for it as the salary was 46% higher than her previous salary.

Three days a week, Alix gets the 5.50am train from her local train station near Birmingham to Euston - to get the cheapest ticket - and takes two tubes to her work in South Kensington. The journey takes her two hours and twenty minutes.

She returns on another off-peak train at 6.40pm - arriving home at 8.30pm.

On average a return ticket costs her £35 and she spends in the region of £400 to £450 a month on rail travel.

But Alix is still left with 32% more per month and fills her time before getting the train in the evenings by going to the gym.

Alix, who does not want to reveal her salary as a specialist adviser for discrimination and sexual harassment, said: "I did the costs and it was still better."

"It's a 46 per cent increase."

"Once I'd taken away costs for travel it was still considerably more. "

"It's a big sacrifice of your time - but it's what's important to you and in your phase of life."

"I'm a young professional who enjoys holidays and travelling."

"It makes sense for what I want."

Alix started her new role in November 2024 and has found the commute manageable so far.

She said: "It was rare to find a job with my skillset in a corporate setting."

"I thought what have you got to lose."

"It was a great step up."

"I spent a week really researching all the train costs and considering the physical effects on me. [Before taking the role]."

To save as much as she can on commuting Alix buys her train tickets two months in advance.

She takes the 5.50am direct one hour and 35 minute train to Euston before taking two tubes to her office.

The trains after this time shoot up in price to £60 to £80.

Alix said: "I can't afford to do that."

"The 5.50am is still classed as off-peak."

"I roll out of bed. I wake up 12 minutes before I need to leave the house."

"I do my skincare on the train and try and sleep."

Alix is often in the office by 8.20am and stays until 4.30pm. She will go the gym before her train home at 6.40pm - or occasionally treat herself to dinner such as an Itsu takeaway.

She will read a book or watch a show on her journey home - or eat a pre-packed dinner.

Alix said: "Because I never used to do anything in the morning before work I don't feel I've lost any time there."

"In the weekday evenings I wouldn't do much anyway."

"I'm still busy at weekends."

"I find it quite exciting being in London."

"This is a place where people save up to come and visit."

Alix also feels the role will "open doors" for her future career."

She said: "I don't have any plans to leave."

"But I don't think it's sustainable for years."

Follow Alix on TikTok @bigfatcommuter