How did you do this year?

[vwdan]

early retirement is my dream. Do you have enough money saved or found some plan B to work on?

Who said it was early?

*runs*

[Andy2]

Was hoping to retire this year and holiday around Europe, skiing most of the season.
Didn't and won't.

early retirement is my dream. Do you have enough money saved or found some plan B to work on?

[ladymuck]

what went well
Worked throughout. Haven't totted up the days billed yet but all down time has been of my choosing. Scored a 25% rate increase on changing gigs the day lockdown 1 started. Managed to have two trips away, to Spain and Portugal, which kept my sanity levels topped up.

what didn't go well
General disgruntlement around not seeing people and doing stuff, like everyone else.

[cojak]

planning to ski for a season and losing that must suck balls

No money lost, fortunately. It was in the last planning stages in March, just before we got the credit cards out...

[Lance]

What went well:
WFH for a whole year

What went bad:
WFH for a whole year - I appreciate the odd trip to the office.
Was hoping to retire this year and holiday around Europe, skiing most of the season.
Didn't and won't.

planning to ski for a season and losing that must suck balls

[silent bob]

How did you do this year?
Worked all year, 3 different contracts, in fact most days billed I've ever had, which is strange considering what's gone on this year.

What went well:
Managed to get 2 contracts in Covid lockdown. Bulked up the war chest, ready for next years shenanigan's

What went bad:
no time off at all since last xmas. No holidays. No nothin.

[cojak]

What went well:
WFH for a whole year

What went bad:
WFH for a whole year - I appreciate the odd trip to the office.
Was hoping to retire this year and holiday around Europe, skiing most of the season.
Didn't and won't.

[BigLadFromBeeston666]

How did you do this year?
On course to bill 248 days by the end of the year.
6 days of holiday (must do better here).
Changed sectors from FS to Gov.

What went well:
Haven't had a break in contracts for over two years now.
Picked up some ad hoc consultancy work on top of my day-to-day.
Enough in the war chest to pay the usual £50k when the new financial year starts, which takes a lot of pressure off.
Mortgage paid off on March 1st.

What went bad:
Day rate went from £850 to £550. No sign of getting that high again.
Felt burnt out at times.
Unsociable working hours in the summer months - 12 hour days.

[Paralytic]

started one at the end of Feb 135% down from previous rate

Wow, and I thought it was bad when one person said they were offered 60% less than their previous rate! How do you transfer funds to the client?

[Lance]

How did you do this year?
Started the year with three clients.
Down to two once 'rona kicked off
Down to one two weeks ago as contract came to an end.
SOW submitted to that client for small project. Signed off. Expect to be doing that till the end of the year.

What went well:
Invoicing.
3 migrations.
Finally everyone realising that I've been right for 20+ years with the home-working is the future mantra.
Foreign travel paid for by the client.
Making £3k using Avios + companion voucher to buy business class flights and charging the customer the full price for premium economy.

What went bad:
Cancelled skiing in April.
Cancelled skiing in December.
Accountant forgetting to hassle me about P11d so deadline missed.
Watched Titans (that's 24 hours of my life I'll never get back).