5 years straight contracting anniversary coming up ...

[Platypus]

I am set

I am set.

For you guys, I'm delighted.

I have no idea where mine went. I don't have impressive gadgets or an expensive car. As I said, kids' education and a divorce seems to have absorbed most of the cash. Now I find myself saving for my old age. It's all a bit depressing

[sasguru]

kids' education and a divorce

Understand the former, hopefully never the latter.
It's an accomplishment to have put your kids through private school though

[northernladyuk]

He says I'll have to stop paying cash and stick you on payroll.

Clarification: the accountant has said you can still get a cash gratuity for a happy finish.

[minestrone]

I gave up contracting a few years ago.

[d000hg]

I just passed my 9 year mark although I had been doing freelance work on the side of a full-time job for a while previously (I think in the final year I earned more from my 'side job'!)

I don't recall any gaps; I am by no means set but I focus on being able to work from home over the big bucks working in London. And the last couple of years I've been working about half time which is far more civilised. I'd rather do that than have long holidays and work 40hours a week.

[vetran]

Clarification: the accountant has said you can still get a cash gratuity for a happy finish.

Apparently you would need to pay income tax but not NI.

[sasguru]

I focus on being able to work from home over the big bucks working in London. .

Why do you assume the two are mutually exclusive?

[Whorty]

12 years now, with only a week's holiday per year in recent years (none before that).

I'm knackered and unfortunately neither am I wealthy

How can you do 12 years straight, with little days off without earning, and not be comfortably off? Not being critical, just surprised. My first few years of contracting the whole aim was to rid myself of mortgage, to allow for better freedom going forward.

[sasguru]

How can you do 12 years straight, with little days without earning, and not be comfortably off? Not being critical, just surprised. My first few years of contracting the whole aim was to rid myself of mortgage, to allow for better freedom going forward.

Another one who either doesn't read the thread or is a bit on the ignorant side.
Hes already said private education for his kids and a divorce.

[darmstadt]

Another one who either doesn't read the thread or is a bit on the ignorant side.
Hes already said private education for his kids and a divorce.

For IT people, there seems to be a lot on here who don't RTFM