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Thread: Rat race alternatives

  1. #11
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    Thank you!

    I should have mentioned double time too.

  2. #12
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    My husband is an electrician. He works full time now, but he could make enough working part-time to get by. The guy he currently subcontracts with can't even find qualified people to work for him because the just aren't that many younger electricians. Several of my friends have had Zach do smaller ($500-$1000) jobs for them because other electricians wouldn't even call them back for such small jobs. The job he is doing today will pay $1000 for a day's work. Not all jobs are like that, obviously, but piecing together a livable income is certainly possible. He can go out on a service call and make $200 for an hours worth of work.

    Zach's dad is a carpenter and works for himself. He works 2-3 days a week. He lives simply, in a small two bedroom house, watches his money and has a very full life.
    My blog: www.sunnysideuplife.blogspot.com

    Guess why I smile? Because it's worth it. -Marcel the Shell with Shoes

  3. #13
    Senior Member Teacher Terry's Avatar
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    My ex-hubby was a tool & dye maker even though he had a master's degree because he made more $. Lots of overtime pay, etc. He also loved the work.

  4. #14
    Senior Member Selah's Avatar
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    I would love to get training in the medical technician field, e.g. radiologic technician, so I can work part time and make a more than full-time wage for what I am doing right now (which only give me 20 hours or so a week, so it's not enough!). Now the trick is to afford tuition without going into debt....sigh!

  5. #15
    Senior Member kib's Avatar
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    Sow seeds.

    There are three sides to working less: under-earning, overpaying, and stream of income. If you want to work fewer hours you need to find a job that pays you properly, or get a good raise. If it can't happen right away, sow seeds so that it can happen in the future - learn, network, have interests, be open to possibility. Live on less than you make - a lot less, if possible. Don't accumulate debt that won't pay you back (i.e. Stuff). Look for ways to save money. There are lots of good ideas around for paying less, from re-examining your insurance policies to making your own dish soap and tortillas. Get into the habit of asking yourself if you can do it for less, make that a normal part of your self-talk. Finally, fund your future. You will never have streams of less/non-work income unless you sow the seeds for this somehow. Good luck and welcome.

  6. #16
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    On the extreme end of the spectrum, if you want to live very simply here is a place to start. His entire site is a primer in how to live in a van (not necessarily down by the river...) and the documentary shown here is a good sampling of some of the folks doing this.

    http://www.cheaprvliving.com/blog/im...mobile-living/
    Bad spellers of the world, UNTIE!
    formerly known as Paula P

  7. #17
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    Seasonal jobs. Work just part of the year - and often work hard with lots of hours and OT - and then take off the rest of the year. This is what I would do if I wanted to go back to work. Tax time, pre-Christmas time and both winter and summer resort work is usually have lots seasonal kind of gigs. Check out www.coolworks.com for fun seasonal jobs if you're up for a bit of adventure.

  8. #18
    rodeosweetheart
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    Selah, check out your local community college for rad tech programs. Where I teach, the rad tech program is extremely affordable, and lots of career shifters in the program.

  9. #19
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    Spartana......thanks so much for posting the coolworks link! I applied at Yosemite and have a phone interview Thursday!! I was looking for a job, but not looking forward to the same old thing!

  10. #20
    Senior Member
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    OP -

    I think the trick is to come up with something you can do that is in high demand but few people provide it.

    I've identified a few target readers who want "how to" books to help them but few of these books exist. So I've written a few books on that and self-published. They sell on Barnes & Noble, etc. The great thing is you write the book once and then it sells while you are doing other things.

    Another example:
    I live in a small town with lots of beach cottages. So our population quadruples in summer. People who do lawn work charge $50 an hour. They work very hard May - Sept. They do a bit of vine-clearing work in Feb - Mar. Otherwise, they are off work. $50 seems high but people realize the person can't make money almost half the year and so must charge $50. And summer people are grateful to find anyone.

    Another: resort worker like winters in a ski area or winters in Hawaii.

    Housesitting takes away most renter's biggest monthly expense.

    Pet walking and sitting. Some people make a full time wage taking small groups of dogs to the off-leash park. Locals charge $25-$35 for pet sitting. We need more sitters.

    You might want to learn how to cut men's hair. One gal in Seattle offers an in-office service. Her high fees include gas, parking, etc. The clients love the convenience.

    If you're handy with tools & repairs, you could get on the local hardware store's referral list.

    Take a look at CraigsList, local bulletin boards at grocery stores, newspaper classified to see what people are looking for. If a good plumber who shows up on time for appointments moved to my town, he would be able to instantly make a very good part- or full-time living.

    And ask everyone for ideas.

    Good luck!

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