Life after London

[lukemg]

I am NorthWest based, furthest I have travelled is Brum for first contract 20 years ago...
It's a small circuit of companies prepared to pay contract rates here and probably getting smaller (AZ getting squeezed, Unilever and Barclays taking fewer than previously) but most people I know do ok with a bit of flexibility in an area stretching Liverpool, Manchester, Leeds.
Anyone who has done 10+ contracting must surely have given some thought to insulating themselves from the vagaries of this game, instead of p**sing every penny on more expensive sh*t you don't need ?
I have been stashing excess funds furiously for a while now and find myself 'work optional', I would encourage others to do the same, it is a great feeling to know you can walk away/turn a contract down/don't have to work away/can take the summer off etc
GLA

[oliverson]

I am NorthWest based, furthest I have travelled is Brum for first contract 20 years ago...
It's a small circuit of companies prepared to pay contract rates here and probably getting smaller (AZ getting squeezed, Unilever and Barclays taking fewer than previously) but most people I know do ok with a bit of flexibility in an area stretching Liverpool, Manchester, Leeds.
Anyone who has done 10+ contracting must surely have given some thought to insulating themselves from the vagaries of this game, instead of p**sing every penny on more expensive sh*t you don't need ?
I have been stashing excess funds furiously for a while now and find myself 'work optional', I would encourage others to do the same, it is a great feeling to know you can walk away/turn a contract down/don't have to work away/can take the summer off etc
GLA

I've been guilty over the years of blowing cash on that kind of stuff but learned my lesson. But when you get that out of your system, it's amazing how little money you actually need, especially in the north.

[Pogle]

I am NorthWest based, furthest I have travelled is Brum for first contract 20 years ago...
It's a small circuit of companies prepared to pay contract rates here and probably getting smaller (AZ getting squeezed, Unilever and Barclays taking fewer than previously) but most people I know do ok with a bit of flexibility in an area stretching Liverpool, Manchester, Leeds.
Anyone who has done 10+ contracting must surely have given some thought to insulating themselves from the vagaries of this game, instead of p**sing every penny on more expensive sh*t you don't need ?
I have been stashing excess funds furiously for a while now and find myself 'work optional', I would encourage others to do the same, it is a great feeling to know you can walk away/turn a contract down/don't have to work away/can take the summer off etc
GLA

I'm not interested in going back to London yet, have been contacted about a few roles, but said I was not interested.
At some point I wil get bored and take a new contract, but at the moment I am happy to be at home.