Downhill slide

[cliffed]

Got another 5 yrs to go,& finally I can retire,will not miss the hard work & rushing around like crazy people.
where it seems the older you are the more responsibilty you get.We as electricians are working harder & longer than other trades & doing the hard graft for others,containment for fire alarm,data,security & others.
The up & coming lads,they really don't have a clue,certainly advise them to get another trade.
Mention testing ,its I don't do that,pretty sad really our industry just gets worse.
Have a good weekend,cheer up you miserable old sod.

 

[stevethesparks]

It amazes me how plumbers seem to be able to command more than sparks, particularly in the domestic scene. For instance, a house I was working at recently, change a boiler over and alter a bit of pipework £2000+ for what will not take more than two days, so a good £1000 profit there. However, quote for a rewire that could last weeks - dependant of circumstances, the rewards are no-where near as good.

Similar with emergency call outs, the amount of customers that have said similar to: we've been getting a tingle for ages off of the appliances, and yet a small drip of water and its panic stations!

How the chaps up north can live on £120 a day ???

 

[Midwest]

Suppose plumbers can top up their earnings from the mark up on materials, boilers baths etc. Ex colleague of mine, trained up as a chimney sweep. He charges (in line with his competition) £50 for the first hour and £40 for every hour after, and he's doing well. Downside is he has to work New Years eve, walking backwards through peoples houses?

 

[NDG Elecs]

I always remind people that if their boiler is broken, that's it, they have no hot water or central heating. But that if their elecs goes off then they have no boiler no Wi-Fi, no TV, no kettle etc etc! Puts things in perspective I feel!

 

[NDG Elecs]

Suppose plumbers can top up their earnings from the mark up on materials, boilers baths etc. Ex colleague of mine, trained up as a chimney sweep. He charges (in line with his competition) £50 for the first hour and £40 for every hour after, and he's doing well. Downside is he has to work New Years eve, walking backwards through peoples houses?

Yeah, people seem to treat getting their oven or chimney cleaned as a special one-off that they rarely get done and don't mind paying the price. But it's not like they get a new socket put in every three months is it. So why should it be done for £40 or whatever.

 

[PEG]

I think a hazy area exists,with self-employed lads,where it is easy to remember the creamy jobs,to the pound and the minute,whereby the less glorious ones get forgotten...the true earnings being an obvious averaging of the two.

I have always kept written work diaries,and have a ready record,of the jobs that made me money,and the ones that forged my character.

Included in the list of tasks i loved,and were proud of,range from four figures in a day...to a loss. In the end,the money was not as important as imagined.

If your family is sorted,you have health and happiness,in your work,and customers seek you,not the other way around...numbers are immaterial.

As for counting down to retirement...can't think of anything more depressing...be like picking coffin handles for yer sen :tongue3:

 

[NDG Elecs]

I think a hazy area exists,with self-employed lads,where it is easy to remember the creamy jobs,to the pound and the minute,whereby the less glorious ones get forgotten...the true earnings being an obvious averaging of the two.

I have always kept written work diaries,and have a ready record,of the jobs that made me money,and the ones that forged my character.

Included in the list of tasks i loved,and were proud of,range from four figures in a day...to a loss. In the end,the money was not as important as imagined.

If your family is sorted,you have health and happiness,in your work,and customers seek you,not the other way around...numbers are immaterial.

As for counting down to retirement...can't think of anything more depressing...be like picking coffin handles for yer sen :tongue3:

"Forged my character" is s great way of putting it PEG! I wholeheartedly agree though and said similar in #13. Family, health, etc much more important. I would love to leave a good pot of money for my kids when they grow up, but due to my slightly socialist attitude I am unlikely to. Instead they can have my time and my presence! Which I am sure they will love when they are teenagers!!

 

[davesparks]

Sssshhh, I would keep quiet about that bit, haha! Good on you though, it's nice to be valued.

One of the things I do which is apparently considered to be specialist is simply working with MICC!

 

[7029 dave]

One of the things I do which is apparently considered to be specialist is simply working with MICC!

It was once an everyday task for an Electrician.!

 

[PEG]

It was once an everyday task for an Electrician.!

...Got to be careful with that "harking back to a better time..."

For example,i do a bit of Blacksmithying,which goes hand-in-glove with my lifelong collection of anvils...

Now,back in the day,the local Blacksmith was called on, for other duties,being of strong stature,and based permanently in the village.

Settling disputes,pulling teeth,etc...but ALSO,if a couple were experiencing "delays",in producing children,the Blacksmith could be called to provide...shall we say...the "solution"...and this is way before IVF...

My missus has spent many years,shaking her head,at the tasks i have been involved in,and is pretty immune to shock,but this one would get the kybosh :love: