Reply to: From contractor to permie

[TheBigYinJames]

here's me on a chair http://pro.corbis.com/images/42-1624...-29ca17884657}

These aren't just normal potatoes.. these are Marks And Spencer potatoes....

[NotAllThere]

I love horses though If anyone is curious what a BYJ looks like in the flesh, here's me on a horse:

http://www.bampotty.com/riding/IMAG0057.JPG

here's me on a chair http://pro.corbis.com/images/42-1624...-29ca17884657}

[ASB]

My 5 year plan involves buying a house int he country with land for horses, and then only working 6 months a year.

I found that having acquired the house, the land and Mrs ASB and sprogs reacquiring the horses I had to go back to working 12 months.

Bloody things don't half soak up the cash when you compete.

[TykeMerc]

I have been told point blank at a permie interview that as a contractor, he had no confidence that I wouldn't up sticks and go as soon as the market improved or I'd picked up a new skill. And he was absolutely correct, so top marks to him. A week later I got a decent contract and never looked back.

He was basically admitting that 'lifestyle' permies are more likely to stay out of inertia, and that was the sort of person he needed.

I've had very similar conversations several times.

In the last 17 years of contracting I've toyed with the idea of permiedom a few times, but not taken the step.

[TheBigYinJames]

Don't get any horses though, they'll really mess up the nice land...

I love horses though If anyone is curious what a BYJ looks like in the flesh, here's me on a horse:

http://www.bampotty.com/riding/IMAG0057.JPG

[oracleslave]

Don't get any horses though, they'll really mess up the nice land...

Tasty burgers during the credit crunch though

[Advocate]

My 5 year plan involves buying a house int he country with land for horses, and then only working 6 months a year.

Don't get any horses though, they'll really mess up the nice land...

[TheBigYinJames]

beautiful

As long as credit crunches don't interfere.

[contractor79]

My 5 year plan involves buying a house int he country with land for horses, and then only working 6 months a year.

beautiful

[TheBigYinJames]

at what point do you think a contractor can really feel comfortable? house bought outright, no more pension contributions reqd, 5 years salary in comp acc?

My 5 year plan involves buying a house int he country with land for horses, and then only working 6 months a year.

[contractor79]

My opinion is that whatever the market does, by far the biggest bill people will pay is their mortgage/rent....

if I was a permie who had just taken out a £100-150k mortgage in the last 3 years to buy a small flat, seeing mortgage and all bills go up and up whilst value of flat go down, employers giving measly 2% payrises, I would be LIVID right now

but no, I have no property and spending is very small compared to income. I luv contracting really

[b0redom]

My goal is to get to owning 5 houses outright (one of which I'll live in). Then I can sit back and watch the wonga roll in. Unfortunately I'm a LONG way away from that now.

My opinion is that whatever the market does, by far the biggest bill people will pay is their mortgage/rent....

[contractor79]

Your suceptibility to permie offers is in indirect proportion to the amount of rainy day / Plan B money you have squirrelled away. If you have no appreciable savings, then a permie job may become the only option in times of downturn. I've done it in the past.

Lessons to be learned: next time you'er on a good wonga, make sure you get 6 months - 1 year of living in the bank before you start spending on holidays and gadgets. The buffer is invaluable in times like these.

yes I accept this
however
I'd say I have 1.5-2 years of salary in company account now
and starting to reach a point where thinking how much more do I need, and how cushy a permie job would be with all the holidays, sick days etc.
then again the downsides are major, as discussed

at what point do you think a contractor can really feel comfortable? house bought outright, no more pension contributions reqd, 5 years salary in comp acc?

[TheBigYinJames]

I'd be mighty upset if i couldn't get something in that time. I must have some permie withdrawal symptoms after 16 years as a wageslave.

You can pick up a permie slot any time. Just bear that in mind.

[the_rangdo]

Lessons to be learned: next time you'er on a good wonga, make sure you get 6 months - 1 year of living in the bank before you start spending on holidays and gadgets. The buffer is invaluable in times like these.

Thankfully, while a couple of nice holidays and some shiny new gadgets have drained a little cash , by the time I get to the end of this gig I should have enough in the bank to go 10-12 months.

I'd be mighty upset if i couldn't get something in that time. I must have some permie withdrawal symptoms after 16 years as a wageslave.