Do you ever feel you've made wrong choices?

[zamzummim]

My plan:

Contract until mortgage is paid off> Take easy peasy public sector job > Retire on nice public sector pension.

As long as you're sensible your public sector salary will more than cover beer and holiday money.

Actually I just have saved enough money to pay off the rest of the mortgage, am just wondering if its the best thing to do while interest % are so low.

[FiveTimes]

I'm not sure how I'd ring in sick for this afternoon when I'm actually in the office now.

just tell em you've got the trots. go home and have the afternoon in the boozer

[Rookie]

I'd get that homesick if I was only away for 1 night!!

It's this kind of scenario I'm talking about - is it really worth it? is it worth being away and missing out on your family life for that extra cash?

We're doing 13 hours days and our weeks are a right off - for extra cash to pay the house off early. Is that really worth it?

SA, 13 hours days are just too much to maintain without something giving way. It really sounds like you are doing too much at work. Is there any way that you can book some time off for a holiday (even a long weekend seomewhere nice)? Any other hobbies that you can do (that doesn't involve sitting in a pub!)? What about taking up a new sport? Great for reducing the stress levels.

[NotAllThere]

I'm not sure how I'd ring in sick for this afternoon when I'm actually in the office now.

Vomit over the desk?

[gingerjedi]

Actually I just have saved enough money to pay off the rest of the mortgage, am just wondering if its the best thing to do while interest % are so low.

Well it's not exactly a good time to leave it in savings account either, there's a fortune to be made on the stock market with shares at an all time low but you need to be brave on that front.

[stingman123]

I'm not sure how I'd ring in sick for this afternoon when I'm actually in the office now.

Womens "Problems", unless your boss is a woman, it's a no brainer

[zara_backdog]

Say you have just had a phone call and you Partner, Granny, dog is eill etc. and you have to go.......

[Ivor Bigun]

I agree, and regularly take time to count my blessings. But as you say, it is good to talk.

Life as a "family man" contractor will only get worse until you realise the following:

Live within your means and save 1/4 what you bill each year - to invest / pay off mortgage

If you can't do the above,
- You'll always be a miserable wage slave with no real future.
- You'll always be running to stand still and living away to get that "well paying" job.

All you end up doing is missing family life and increasing personal stress, You'll probably die early or get divorced and end up penniless anyway.
HTH

[tino]

It's a doozy right enough

I was benched from September until about 3 weeks ago in which time the fighting fund has been depleted to brass tacks. We've got a 10 month old and I'm having to work in the Midlands commuting from Northern Ireland every Monday to Friday.

I'm getting grief from the missus that she's having a tough time with the child but can't afford at the minute to give it up. It's a cracking rate (as much as I was getting during the "good times") and I forfeit basically 1 day rate per week on the commute / accomodation.

There's nothing imminent at home, but hopefully something in the next couple of months - anyway, it won't be too long until my Security Clearance gets knocked back having spent 18 months out of the country recently and they bite the bullet and let me work from home or boot me out

/vent

[SallyAnne]

Nope - you lot are all bad influences!!!!

I'm staying at work....I'm just going to be very humphy about it

Anyway they have this Salad Nicoise thing on in the canteen today which I'd like to try.

And I have to much to do.


to all of you though