OK had enough

[vetran]

If he's fed up of that, though, the day-to-day variety with the new job may appeal more than the project-to-project variety

Its a combination of being fed up with being someone else's bitch and not actually enjoying it anymore. I used to love creating stuff and fixing stuff. Most of that seems to be best shored and we just document then watch the train crash.

OK I could jump ship to another victim but after 13 years of clinging on (had some health problems - fixed now) my skills are devalued and training is absent. Maybe I have just lost my nerve.

Financially it makes sense, getting Part P is about £2K and 2 weeks as I understand it. New (to us) house needs a rewire and lots of home automation. Estimated ~ £3-7k for the big stuff, I also hate hiring tradesmen as they tend to disappoint. The best are still below standard. So even if I just do it for that I'm on a winner. If I do a little bit of extra on the side its a winner.

It gives me a choice, I don't have to stay in IT but can earn a reasonable living doing small stuff. If I get Home Automation off the ground then £3k-£100K jobs could be mine. I have a USP I do the sparks & the computing.

Wouldn't turn down being fitter!

[TestMangler]

Opening a coffee shop instead then?

yeah, cause that's not hard work with high overheads

[eek]

yeah, cause that's not hard work with high overheads

+1 I'm contracting / consulting until I retire anything else is blooming hard work

[FiveTimes]

Its a combination of being fed up with being someone else's bitch and not actually enjoying it anymore. I used to love creating stuff and fixing stuff. Most of that seems to be best shored and we just document then watch the train crash.

OK I could jump ship to another victim but after 13 years of clinging on (had some health problems - fixed now) my skills are devalued and training is absent. Maybe I have just lost my nerve.

Financially it makes sense, getting Part P is about £2K and 2 weeks as I understand it. New (to us) house needs a rewire and lots of home automation. Estimated ~ £3-7k for the big stuff, I also hate hiring tradesmen as they tend to disappoint. The best are still below standard. So even if I just do it for that I'm on a winner. If I do a little bit of extra on the side its a winner.

It gives me a choice, I don't have to stay in IT but can earn a reasonable living doing small stuff. If I get Home Automation off the ground then £3k-£100K jobs could be mine. I have a USP I do the sparks & the computing.

Wouldn't turn down being fitter!

Why dont you start out small, and start out with home installation of CCTV - I've been quoted 4 HD cameras plus recorder for £500. Seems like a simple couple of hundred mark up once you have bought the kit.

[TestMangler]

+1 I'm contracting / consulting until I retire anything else is blooming hard work

I think you'll find most of the people advocating potential earnings from trades are basing their opinion on how much it cost to call a plumber/spark out to do a bit of work in their house rather than any real life experience. Tapping on a laptop keyboard is much easier than either with a much higher margin.

[_V_]

What with the cost and red tape of gas certification, the same (although nowhere near as expensive) for electrical, the van, tooling and insurance costs, the lost evenings and weekends going round and giving estimates, the pricing and paperwork for countless jobs you're never going to get. Plus the fact it's a physical job and you're not getting any younger. Conclusion: You are better off just doing your 40 hours contracting any week of the year.

Easy enought to say if you have the skillset and live in the SE. Otherwise getting the 40 hours per week can be difficult, and the rates laughable.

Never known a gas fitter that isn't working 7 days a week, all billable. Most don't even have time to quote or visit, they have 12 months work always lined up.

[Bee]

I'm considering retraining, doing something completely different.

Jacking in IT and going into home automation & Electrical.

Suggestions, brickbats & abuse welcome.

Open a funeral agency in an old town.

[vetran]

Open a funeral agency in an old town.

Nah that is a dead end job!

[Bee]

Nah that is a dead end job!

Why? Just because you are waiting for someone to die! You will get use it.
It's a low risk business and you will have new “customers” everyday.

Other option could be a brothel but it’s an high risk business.

[Lance]

Why? Just because you are waiting for someone to die!

OMG