Web site worth it ?

[Stroppymonkey]

I'm a fair bit younger than you, 36. But been at this self employed lark since I was 21 and before that did tree work since I left school at 16- so despite my "youth" I'm feeling pretty worn out already! Like you I'm thinking I'm not sure I want to go buying much more kit tbh and focus efforts elsewhere- just not sure where yet but jobs and kit certainly aren't exciting me like they used to.

I’m 8 years older than you, and sounds like I’ve had a physically easier life, last 5-10 years have been more office than site (prefer the workshop to the office). It’s the site work and the kit and jobs that keep my interest these days. And to be honest trying to keep 11 other humans co-operating and functional day to day takes most of my energy.

My youngest child leaves home for Uni this weekend (I started young ) and now I need to decide what I’m going to do for the next 24 years or so . Daresay the same as the last 24 years but with more sleep and more beer.

 

[hiluxman]

Dare say we are all alike on the 'make more me time, which turns into the extra work time'

I used to work everyday going. Now Sundays are a point blank no and Saturday I don't book jobs in. It saved as a run over day. Which may involve 1 grab job or 2hrs on a machine.

I am contemplating knocking the Saturday off totally....or offer a Saturday service and miss a day in the week.

Biggest thing for me tho is working hours. I stick with 3pm and digger is tracking to the trailer rule.

 

[Storrsy]

Dare say we are all alike on the 'make more me time, which turns into the extra work time'

I used to work everyday going. Now Sundays are a point blank no and Saturday I don't book jobs in. It saved as a run over day. Which may involve 1 grab job or 2hrs on a machine.

I am contemplating knocking the Saturday off totally....or offer a Saturday service and miss a day in the week.

Biggest thing for me tho is working hours. I stick with 3pm and digger is tracking to the trailer rule.

So it's 3 pm and your on a price job but you have 2 hrs left to finish the job, what dya do? I'm guilty of late finishes, often driving home at half 7 but if that means having the day off the next day than so be it.

 

[Stroppymonkey]

Dare say we are all alike on the 'make more me time, which turns into the extra work time'

I used to work everyday going. Now Sundays are a point blank no and Saturday I don't book jobs in. It saved as a run over day. Which may involve 1 grab job or 2hrs on a machine.

I am contemplating knocking the Saturday off totally....or offer a Saturday service and miss a day in the week.

Biggest thing for me tho is working hours. I stick with 3pm and digger is tracking to the trailer rule.

That’s very disciplined. My favourite operator (killed in RTA 2 years ago) would have machine on site by 6am and work till 6pm. He nearly died about 15 years ago on a different accident and after that gave up Saturday afternoons. Daresay if he knew what the future held he might not have worked Saturday mornings either. We are here for a good time not a long time !

 

[Furniss]

I'm a fair bit younger than you, 36. But been at this self employed lark since I was 21 and before that did tree work since I left school at 16- so despite my "youth" I'm feeling pretty worn out already! Like you I'm thinking I'm not sure I want to go buying much more kit tbh and focus efforts elsewhere- just not sure where yet but jobs and kit certainly aren't exciting me like they used to.

So far im lucky body wise but deff a feeling that time is a finite resource.

I usually get to yard about 6 and often it can be 8 by the time i'm home in summer

@Stroppymonkey agreed now there is just me and the mrs at home it deff feels like a what next point in life.

 

[Furniss]

Dare say we are all alike on the 'make more me time, which turns into the extra work time'

I used to work everyday going. Now Sundays are a point blank no and Saturday I don't book jobs in. It saved as a run over day. Which may involve 1 grab job or 2hrs on a machine.

I am contemplating knocking the Saturday off totally....or offer a Saturday service and miss a day in the week.

Biggest thing for me tho is working hours. I stick with 3pm and digger is tracking to the trailer rule.

I have no idea how you make that work !

 

[Storrsy]

So far im lucky body wise but deff a feeling that time is a finite resource.

I usually get to yard about 6 and often it can be 8 by the time i'm home in summer

@Stroppymonkey agreed now there is just me and the mrs at home it deff feels like a what next point in life.

That's interesting. My daughter is only 9. But I assumed once they leave home it's all about catching up on the things you haven't been able to do the last 18 years. Freedom to bugger off in term time on a holiday or whatever.

 

[Smiffy]

@Stroppymonkey agreed now there is just me and the mrs at home it deff feels like a what next point in life.

Alot of people consider moving to france

 

[hiluxman]

So it's 3 pm and your on a price job but you have 2 hrs left to finish the job, what dya do? I'm guilty of late finishes, often driving home at half 7 but if that means having the day off the next day than so be it.

I've set the goal posts and stick to them.
It's not a case of physically driving away at 3pm it's a track to the trailer. So add time for that and whatever other bits and bobs.

I do alot of day work and I've set the cut off, no one gets favoured. They are paying for the time allocated. Which then also includes travel back, unloading and then preparing machine for the day after. Its all time unseen but needs factoring in.

Price jobs, I price them on same hours. If its 2 hours over then it's come tomorrow to finish, sod been late. If its 30mins then I'd stay.

It's just my thing and it's worked for 18 years so far

 

[hiluxman]

I have no idea how you make that work !

Quite easily, it's what I've set out and I stick to it.

 

[Stroppymonkey]

That's interesting. My daughter is only 9. But I assumed once they leave home it's all about catching up on the things you haven't been able to do the last 18 years. Freedom to bugger off in term time on a holiday or whatever.

My situation slightly different as I have been 50% dad for last 15 years as VERY thankfully separated from the mother, although she and her parents still live next door to my parents! (I didn't travel very far at 18!) so I have had more freedom in my 30s and early 40s than most parents. Had NO life at all in my 20s though between 60+hour weeks / small kids / night school / starting own business etc. Probably done it all ass about face but there is no perfect way.

 

[Furniss]

I've set the goal posts and stick to them.
It's not a case of physically driving away at 3pm it's a track to the trailer. So add time for that and whatever other bits and bobs.

I do alot of day work and I've set the cut off, no one gets favoured. They are paying for the time allocated. Which then also includes travel back, unloading and then preparing machine for the day after. Its all time unseen but needs factoring in.

Price jobs, I price them on same hours. If its 2 hours over then it's come tomorrow to finish, sod been late. If its 30mins then I'd stay.

It's just my thing and it's worked for 18 years so far

Fair play if it works for you, not sure I could be arsed coming back next day for an hours work but thats prob where ive gone wrong !

 

[Stroppymonkey]

Fair play if it works for you, not sure I could be arsed coming back next day for an hours work but thats prob where ive gone wrong !

If a job has a couple hours left at 5 pm I would be staying on so I can start the next job a day early, although I would probably be a couple days behind by that point so I am actually just getting marginally LESS behind by working late !

 

[hiluxman]

Fair play if it works for you, not sure I could be arsed coming back next day for an hours work but thats prob where ive gone wrong !

Giving an hour away free here and there soon adds up.

Day rate is biggest portion of my work so the cut off is there for a reason

 

[hiluxman]

If a job has a couple hours left at 5 pm I would be staying on so I can start the next job a day early, although I would probably be a couple days behind by that point so I am actually just getting marginally LESS behind by working late !

I've done that. Hat and t shirt ect

As druid said earlier. Your already late so an extra day late won't make any jot of difference. Finish at a reasonable time then the day after have an easy morning getting finished off without rushing then go home and take the Mrs out for lunch or catch up on maintenance.

 

[Furniss]

I've done that. Hat and t shirt ect

As druid said earlier. Your already late so an extra day late won't make any jot of difference. Finish at a reasonable time then the day after have an easy morning getting finished off without rushing then go home and take the Mrs out for lunch or catch up on maintenance.

Sounds ideal..im all price work and if its dry im there late cos next day its normally pissing down

 

[Furniss]

W

Alot of people consider moving to france

Where the f@ok should we go

 

[V8Druid]

Alot of people consider moving to france

we'd planned to be there at least ten to twelve years ago ...... my Gaucher's disease screwed that good and proper

 

[Storrsy]

W

Where the f@ok should we go

Do what everyone else does- move back to Britain to make use of our flourishing health service.

 

[Storrsy]

we'd planned to be there at least ten to twelve years ago ...... my Gaucher's disease screwed that good and proper

Just googled Gauchers as not heard of it before- interesting that its far more common in eastern European/Jewish communities apparently.?