What would you do with 90 extra minutes every day? This is a practical look at how one working family reduced commute stress, improved their routine, and regained valuable time—simply by changing location.

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Before: A Routine Built Around Traffic

Mark works in Ortigas. His wife, Andrea, manages a small online business while taking care of their two children. They previously lived in Cainta because the property price per square meter was lower.

At first, it felt like a practical decision.

But reality looked like this:

Mark left home at 6:00 AM to avoid heavy traffic along Ortigas Avenue Extension. Even then, travel time often stretched to 1.5 hours. In the evening, the return trip could take two hours.

That meant nearly 3 to 4 hours per day on the road.

In a month, that added up to around 60–70 hours spent commuting.

Fuel averaged PHP 6,000 monthly. Parking added another PHP 4,000. Maintenance allocation was roughly PHP 2,000. Total transport-related cost: around PHP 12,000 per month.

More importantly, Mark was home just in time for dinner—and often too tired for meaningful family interaction.

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The Turning Point: Measuring Time as an Asset

One evening, Andrea did a simple calculation.

If Mark regained even 90 minutes daily, that would mean:

• 7.5 hours per workweek
• Around 30 hours per month
• 360 hours per year

That is the equivalent of nine full 40-hour workweeks regained annually.

At an estimated productivity value of PHP 500 per hour, that represents PHP 15,000 worth of time monthly—not necessarily direct income, but potential energy for health, side projects, or family life.

They realized the issue was not income.
It was proximity.

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After: A Location That Reduced Daily Hassle

After relocating closer to commercial establishments in Pasig, Mark’s average commute dropped significantly. Some days, travel time was cut nearly in half. Andrea could walk to groceries and services instead of driving.

Living 120 meters from Ayala Malls Feliz changed their routine in subtle but powerful ways.

Quick grocery runs no longer required navigating traffic. Dining options were within walking distance. Errands became efficient instead of exhausting.

The result was approximately 60 to 90 minutes saved daily between commute reduction and minimized short car trips.

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Where Space and Location Work Together

One of their concerns about condo living was space. With two children, flexibility mattered.

At Lykke Kondo in Pasig, the Add-Loft design allowed better functional separation within the same unit footprint. For example, a 1BR unit offers 38.19 sqm plus 14.20 sqm loft, totaling 52.39 sqm of usable area.

The loft area became a sleeping zone for the kids, freeing the lower level for living and dining. Vertical separation created privacy without upgrading to a significantly larger unit.

Instead of paying dramatically more for extra floor area, they maximized engineered vertical space.

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The Real Return on Investment

In pure peso terms, reducing transport expenses by even PHP 7,000 monthly translates to PHP 84,000 per year.

But the bigger return was intangible:

Mark now helps with homework.
Weekend mornings are slower.
Family dinners are not rushed.

The 90 minutes regained daily improved their stress levels and overall lifestyle.

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The Bigger Lesson

Many families choose homes based only on purchase price.

But daily life is shaped by routine.

When you measure:

• Time spent commuting
• Monthly transport expenses
• Energy lost in traffic
• Missed family moments

You begin to see that proximity is not a luxury—it is a multiplier.

Sometimes the smartest upgrade is not a bigger house.

It is a better location that gives your time back.