Reply to: Do your mates know how much you earn?

[tino]

No - and the cheeky bastards even had the gaul to ask if my watch was a fake

[NickNick]

WHS

I usually ride what looks like a ratty old bike to clients, and if I'm forced to drive I have an ancient battle scared car I keep especially for the task.

Whilst on my first contract it was pointed out to me by another contractor that there were two types of contractor on site. Those who paid off thier mortgages, stood the team a round in the pub at lunch and were generally a decent bunch. Then there were those who drove Astons.

[lukemg]

Think most of my close mates have a good idea, but I am quick to let them know about months on the bench to qualify it. Most of them are doing well also but a couple haven't really moved on salary wise which means I defo don't talk about it.
After I had been contracting a few years I was able to afford some flash cars which I really wanted, so I bought them, or course a few years later I was back in much more meagre transport as I hit a career downturn (sorry son everything you know from the last 12 years is now worthless - eeek !)
One chap is a bit full of himself, 'director' of a used car wholesaler and loves to pretend he is lord of the place, going on about hols etc. I'm not impressed but largely because another close mate who is probably on 20-25 is usually there. Clearly, his own insecurity means he has to talk himself up and that goes for contractors who start thinking they are a bit special.
What I find is that as I start to earn a bit more, I am aware of people who are in business for real and making some real dough, not this market controlled, pseudo entrepreneur, salary+ stuff we have coming in when things are going good.
We are small beer, even if we compare ourselves to average wages and peers to get an ego boost.

[EternalOptimist]

Did he like a pint and eat only curry and pepperami?

hey less of the 'wise', cheeky chops

[threaded]

However, a wise old contractor on the first site I was on, put me straight: never tell anybody.

WHS

I usually ride what looks like a ratty old bike to clients, and if I'm forced to drive I have an ancient battle scared car I keep especially for the task.

[Andy2]

I have no mates
HTH

[Pogle]

When I first went contracting, I wanted to tell everybody. Not to boast as such, but more like I couldn't believe my luck.

However, a wise old contractor on the first site I was on, put me straight: never tell anybody.

Did he like a pint and eat only curry and pepperami?

[bobhope]

When I first went contracting, I wanted to tell everybody. Not to boast as such, but more like I couldn't believe my luck.

However, a wise old contractor on the first site I was on, put me straight: never tell anybody.

[cailin maith]

Blimey! I had no idea you were on that kind of money!

[BrowneIssue]

Enough to keep me in shoes and handbags

Blimey! I had no idea you were on that kind of money!

[realityhack]

mate: I'm on 45k
Me: Wow, maaaaate, I don't earn anything NEAR that!!!!

;-)

Honest and evasive. Like it.

[Mehmeh]

mate: I'm on 45k
Me: Wow, maaaaate, I don't earn anything NEAR that!!!!

;-)

[Not So Wise]

Generally have no problem discussing it with friends who are contractors as they know the score (though these days most of our discussions are about how little we are earning )

With one exception, Those who are not contractors, including family, I never discuss it with

(exception was my Ex, I will NEVER make THAT particular mistake again )

[Mehmeh]

Its better than telling her you work in IT

yep...that was the theory.

Think I might re-train as a lion tamer... sounds better innit

[Drewster]

told a bird in a bar a couple years ago that I pushed trolleys around the carpark at tesco....

Seemed to work

Slightly as a chat up line it seems to lack a certain something!

Mehmeh: Hello darlin'
Totty: Why Hellooooo handsome
M: Could I get you a drink....
Totty: Yeah I'll have a Campari and Babycham
M: Any chance of a shag later...
Totty: Well we will have to see... later...
M: Cool!
Totty: What do you do?
M: I push trolleys around the carpark at Tesco.....
.......
M: Eh? Where did Totty go?....
M: Scuse me mate! Did you see where that cracking bit went?
M: Why does that ALWAYS happen to me?