Is it worth it

[enduro]

If i am tiling at 73 , then shoooot me plz :lol: ... i hope to be retired LONG!! before that..

Not many more years then Dave..

 

[DHTiling]

Not many more years then Dave..

*****.. 🙂

 

[Pebbs]

I always worked for others, over the years I made these companies a lot of money, they got a lot of recognition for lovely pieces of work, and all I got was a bottle of something fizzy at Christmastime if I was lucky. So I took the big step one day, and decided this, I was fed of people making money out of me, and I would make money out of me. But with that comes a lot of responsibility, and a lot of heartache, and a lot of hours. Would I go back and work for one of the big boy companies again? Get stuffed would I? you are nothing but a statistic on a payroll sheet. Yes times are hard, you have to keep telling yourself these days will pass, in the meantime, you keep your head down and your mouth shut, and carry on.

Pebbs

 

[peteablard]

I always worked for others, over the years I made these companies a lot of money, they got a lot of recognition for lovely pieces of work, and all I got was a bottle of something fizzy at Christmastime if I was lucky. So I took the big step one day, and decided this, I was fed of people making money out of me, and I would make money out of me. But with that comes a lot of responsibility, and a lot of heartache, and a lot of hours. Would I go back and work for one of the big boy companies again? Get stuffed would I? you are nothing but a statistic on a payroll sheet. Yes times are hard, you have to keep telling yourself these days will pass, in the meantime, you keep your head down and your mouth shut, and carry on.

Pebbs

That's exactly what I've just done Lynn. As much as I enjoyed the hassle free life of being a subby I've decided to take on my own jobs. I'm 3/4 of the way through my first one direct for a shopfitting firm and so far so good although I know it won't be plain sailing all the way. I've already got orders from other companies and jobs booked in over the next few months so fingers crossed!!

 

[BoldreChris]

Before starting in this line four years ago, I had spent almost 30 years working in manufacturing industry, designing computers, communication systems, software and robots. I earned many times what I get now but I have to say that this job is the best I've ever had ! I get to meet lots of great people and they give me opportunities to do great work - some of it tiling, some of it not - and the results are purely down to me. It's my decisions and effort that lead to my job satisfaction. There's non-one else to blame when things go wrong and that's quite a motivator too.

I won't go back to being employed while my family and I can get by (just) on what I'm earning now. Generally, I'm booked up 2 to 3 months ahead and that's still the case even today. Can't actually fit a holiday in even if I could afford one but I enjoy the work so much that I just don't feel the need for one anyway.

I never thought I wanted to be self-employed but after taking the plunge, I'm committed and loving it !

 

[Andy Allen]

5/6 years ago i loved this job, loads of work, pick and choose the jobs you wanted, if the job was rubbish or customers looked if'y you just knocked it back and moved on to the next one.

i know alot of tilers on here are piled out with work, and have not really struggled, but down here working in the private sector is becoming a nightmare, i priced a 105m2 floor on saturday and got laughed at, he had allready had 2 quotes nearly half what i quoted and he still wanted it cheaper.

im left with the smaller complicated jobs that know one wants, which i dont mind, or the even smaller jobs that no one wants which again i dont mind, its just you need alot of them to keep going, or theres site work, but the knees and back couldn't cope with that now, and couldn't see me lasting more than a couple of months.

i love being self employed and the freedom that come with it, and if you work just 2 weeks a month you can still earn more than any other unskilled job would pay.

so untill i can no longer make a living from tiling i will stick it out, and hopefully the good times will return..

 

[Brian the Tile]

been tiling now for 40+ years all over the uk never known it this bad, at the moment the phones are not ringing no matter what i try,i have been self employed for a long time now and am not sure i could work for anyone even if there was jobs out there for my age ,so i guess i will have to wait for the good times to return but not sure if that will ever happen

 

[m3fitter]

Thats a shame Bugs, you feel like that.. its a hard slog to beat the recession, but financially and for peace of mind, this trade pays.. these are hard times, but good times will come again, they always do, remember the early 90's and the tradespeople that were left afterwards benefited massively, hence everyone wanted to be a plumber, tiler, plasterer etc.. as the pay and demand was good, as it sorted the men from the cowboys... Hang on in there.. we've been through the worst and have learnt to adapt... good luck with whatever you choose