Wilmslow-esque whinge: Friends who don't understand our ways of working

[sasguru]

It's very non-U to talk about money: some deprecatory comment about "something in the City" ought to suffice.

[d000hg]

They don't see that our rates are all-inclusive and we have no benefits to speak of. And that we pay several levels of taxation. Or that the bulk of income is stuck in the Ltd company and can't just be spent without tax implications.

They also don't understand that my role is very temporary because the tech I work in is finished, so I need to plan for some serious downtime (which I will try to avoid of course, but have to plan anyway).

If you're on £500+/day I really don't think you're on to a winner trying to explain how you're not really that well off, because you ARE unless you consistently work only 6 months a year. Going on about how much tax you pay is just a diversionary tactic.

Comments like "Oh that costs £600, it's just a day's pay for you" really p1ss me off.

I find this a dangerous temptation myself though It's very easy to think "well a PS3 is only a 1/2 day's work, so I'll just get one" or "my rent is only 3 days' earnings so I have the rest to spend".

On the other hand working as a freelancer when I choose how much work I want to do - I can do 4 or 14 hours a day - it kind of does make sense. I can do an extra hour and then have a takeaway, or work a long week to pay for a night in a hotel, and it genuinely is cheaper for me to pay a workman to do our DIY than to do it myself.

[AtW]

This thread is full of paupers.

DimPrawn

[AtW]

Mods, change the title of the thread - it insults memory of Wilmslow.

Wilmslow never had:
a) lots of money
b) friends to envied him

[ChimpMaster]

If you're on £500+/day I really don't think you're on to a winner trying to explain how you're not really that well off, because you ARE unless you consistently work only 6 months a year. Going on about how much tax you pay is just a diversionary tactic.

I find this a dangerous temptation myself though It's very easy to think "well a PS3 is only a 1/2 day's work, so I'll just get one" or "my rent is only 3 days' earnings so I have the rest to spend".

On the other hand working as a freelancer when I choose how much work I want to do - I can do 4 or 14 hours a day - it kind of does make sense. I can do an extra hour and then have a takeaway, or work a long week to pay for a night in a hotel, and it genuinely is cheaper for me to pay a workman to do our DIY than to do it myself.

Yeah you're right, £500+ generally means you're OK and can't complain. But I'm looking at the longer term picture, where my skills are dying and I haven't had career progression due to the area I work in. This friend of mine has real career progression and his saleability is only ever going up.

I'm only going to be earning this kind of rate for a very short while longer, maybe 6 months at most. Then most likely it's back to permiedom for me, at a salary of probably ~£50k.

[Platypus]

You need to divert attention away from yourself by pointing out that your friend is on £500+ per day (£110k divided by 220 working days) plus no doubt has pension benefits. Start making comments about his wedge in front of your other mates and remind them that just a self-employed one-man-band who doesn't even get sick pay or a pension.

I have a permie colleague who is just dying to know what I earn, he's all but asked me outright. I've had the usual discussion that my day rate may sound high compared to his, but what with his pension (which he's admitted is generous and substantial) he's much better off then me.

EDIT: I also tell people that I've not had a payrise in 10 years (which is sadly true).

[kingcook]

I will ask my PR person who they deal with this and let you know.

HTH

[The Spartan]

Permies don't think about healthcare, pension or associated benefits all they see in the bottom line they're short sighted and only focused on the ££££'s

[d000hg]

Yeah you're right, £500+ generally means you're OK and can't complain. But I'm looking at the longer term picture, where my skills are dying and I haven't had career progression due to the area I work in. This friend of mine has real career progression and his saleability is only ever going up.

I'm only going to be earning this kind of rate for a very short while longer, maybe 6 months at most. Then most likely it's back to permiedom for me, at a salary of probably ~£50k.

You poor thing, would you like us to do a card and a whip-round?

Permies ... they're short sighted and only focused on the ££££'s

I think you mean contractors, not permies. But please, stop trying to pretend contracting doesn't pay better than permiedom in real terms - it does unless you're doing it wrong.

[The Spartan]

I think you mean contractors, not permies. But please, stop trying to pretend contracting doesn't pay better than permiedom in real terms - it does unless you're doing it wrong.

In real terms no I still mean permies as when they see or hear how much contractors earn they just pursue money in general.

I constantly jumped jobs as a permie to earn more money and better skills until eventually I had enough experience and skills to make the jump.