Just to start this out, I am after people who really do this right now who, like me, dont have the cash to go for more than a few weeks, at best, touring.
This isnt a whinge and "poor me" but a description. No super from me, some from my wife. When all is said and done we will have precious little in the bank and as it is now 67 before I could get the pension (which I imagine doesnt help much anyway) and because health aint entirely fabulous, I have to work on the road. I can work in anything I.T. related but I dont imagine that to be that much in call in the middle of nowhere ;-} I can do other things but I like to play to my major strength as the one that has the best chance of any income at all.
So what do you, also in my position, do to get income? I have been reading a few caravanning magazines and was flat out surprised to read of one person in his middle 50s and wife of 50 who currently rent and have bought their van and car and are about to leave the area they have rented a house in, for good along with any jobs they may have held there. The guy sounded like an all round handyman and to be honest, I am not that! A mechanic, a handyman, a carpenter, electrician and so on should be able to get work just about anywhere but there are a lot of people like me who have done jobs that dont travel that easily. So, what ELSE do you do for income and what ELSE do you do to lower costs please?
My plan is the same as everyone's to lower costs - "free camp" (not so free anymore but that's life) as much as possible and hope the solar is up to the load while at the same time touring the local businesses and dropping off my card/flyer. While all that helps it isnt necessarily going to raise any income but if you dont try then it certainly wont.
Just after hints from you who know "how to" please. Thanks.
blaze said
11:24 PM Mar 1, 2014
I am on the rd in simular circumstance but my skill set is vast. But don't think there will be no IT work in small towns as its likely the demand will be greater because people wont travel to service the areas
cheers
blaze
SnowT said
11:31 PM Mar 1, 2014
hiya Greg..
do you have a Website.. Blog spot... ?
If you had a website you could have a banner pointing to the site as free advertising..
Are you will to do other work as well..
I know a member of this forum that is a woodworker by trade and he does odd job's but it now all word of mouth..
So yes there is Work out there..
Juergen
-- Edited by SnowT on Saturday 1st of March 2014 11:31:59 PM
GregTheComputerGuy said
11:47 PM Mar 1, 2014
blaze wrote:
I am on the rd in simular circumstance but my skill set is vast. But don't think there will be no IT work in small towns as its likely the demand will be greater because people wont travel to service the areas cheers blaze
Thanks for the thoughts. I understand that the smallest of towns isnt likely to have a computer shop and it would be a great long drive for locals or nomads to find someone to do their I.T. work for them but I honestly didnt think the call for that would be very much at all. As a matter of fact I thought I would only be likely to get work in that field in medium or larger places. You think it may be a lot more than that? I hope it is the case. Thanks.
GregTheComputerGuy said
11:57 PM Mar 1, 2014
SnowT wrote:
hiya Greg..
do you have a Website.. Blog spot... ?
If you had a website you could have a banner pointing to the site as free advertising..
Are you will to do other work as well..
I know a member of this forum that is a woodworker by trade and he does odd job's but it now all word of mouth..
So yes there is Work out there..
Juergen
-- Edited by SnowT on Saturday 1st of March 2014 11:31:59 PM
Hey lovely dog you got there! Female? Looks like a really loving type! I am a dog fanatic myself! ;-}
Most of my work is referral. I have had a hard time, for the last 6 months, trying to string enough time together to go cold calling on businesses and yes I have a web site. I actually do those as well.
Yes, willing to do other things. Eg, can do the office work, sweep the floor, clean the dunny and so on but you really dont want to hand me a drill. ;-} I actually had to fell my first tree last year. A HUGE eucalypt that was dead for years but one day has a split right down the centre and looked dangerous. I thought I could handle it so sawed a wedge shape into it then knocked the wedge out of the tree with the back of the head of a log splitter axe all with no trouble at all. I moved all the equipment out the way, pushed the tree the way I wanted it to fall then ran like hell away from it and turned around to see it falling that way, stop falling then whip back and snap off going back the other way. The tree now hung in the other trees at the top with the base dug a few feet into the ground. I had to go repeating sawing it until finally only the top bit hung in the trees. I climbed a ladder and sawed off a limb of the good tree supporting the rest of the tree and was side on to it coming down so in no danger. I forgot the limb! It came down right across my forearm with a massive whack. No real problem except a little pain. Next day, I woke to find my arm from elbow to wrist entirely purple/black but surprisingly not sore.
So yes, I can do some jobs but let's say handyman stuff handed to me would make for great comedy videos on YouTube! ;-}
Cloak said
06:20 AM Mar 2, 2014
Greg don't be discouraged by your CV. Out there there are more opportunities that don't care about qualifications. Look at all the work back packers get and these people are mostly
students. Forget about IT, roll your sleeves up and door knock, ask around and look for farm work. One trip I went up to Cairns just to relax and within 10 minutes of arriving I
was offered a full time job driving a Limo based in Port Douglass. Next day I was visiting a sugar plantation to look around and (out of curiosity) asked one of the owners if a bloke could
pick up some work up there. Again I was offered immediate start. Looked like these farm tourist things are quite the recruiting opportunity.
That's just Cairns, same thing in Robinvale and Mildura and probably anywhere. I've also heard that banana plantations take people off the street as well. I saw a documentary on
the Ord river project which incidentally is being expanded right now, and farms up there are desperate for workers.
Cheers mate and good luck I'm sure you'll find more work that you can handle. When I retire in a few years there'll be no more bloody work for me so you can have all the jobs I get offered.
oldbobsbus said
08:12 AM Mar 2, 2014
We were I Roma a coupla days ago and got talking to a bloke that drives a skip bin pick up truck for JJ Richards, he is on a base rate of 120k PA and for the last 4 years has made 220k+ with loadings and overtime..
He said that there is soooooooo much work in Roma for anyone, his friends wife does housework and earns 85k PA
Accommodation is a small problem but all of the Gas companies have their own caravan parks for their workers..
This tripe about "I cant get a job" from the younger generation is just bulldust becoz they dont want to work or leave Mommy's side...
dING said
08:27 AM Mar 2, 2014
I live in the country
And there is plenty of
IT work as long as ya
Rates are reasonable
I fix a couple or more
Most days and tis amazing
How much work there is out there
If you dont get greedy
-- Edited by dING on Sunday 2nd of March 2014 08:28:20 AM
_wombat_ said
08:47 AM Mar 2, 2014
SnowT wrote:
hiya Greg..
do you have a Website.. Blog spot... ?
If you had a website you could have a banner pointing to the site as free advertising..
Are you will to do other work as well..
I know a member of this forum that is a woodworker by trade and he does odd job's but it now all word of mouth..
So yes there is Work out there..
Juergen
-- Edited by SnowT on Saturday 1st of March 2014 11:31:59 PM
SnowT, not sure if you mean a banner on this site or a banner link at the bottom of posts.
I'll just say what happened to me, I made an animation that said 'wombat.com" just a flashing animation, it did not link to anywhere, but somebody on here complained to Cindy and she asked me to take it down, this I did, I also explained to Cindy that the animation did not link to anything, it was just an animation.
So I would suggest you not put a link at the bottom of you post's in case somebody complains.
Roving-Dutchy said
11:05 AM Mar 2, 2014
Hi Greg
I know that there is plenty of work out there.
I have a son who 2 years back was out of work and decided he would like to do gardening for others, we put about 1500 leaflets out in letterboxes and within a few weeks he had more work than he could poke stick at, there is a lot of work out there for those who are willing to work.
As for Centrelink the pension age is not 67 years as of now but will gradually rise to that age over a number of years.
I would recommend that you go to Centrelink retirement planning seminar, this will help you plan towards your eventual retirement if you contact your Centrelink office that will let you know when the next one is in your area, don't be afraid to ask for help you have worked and paid taxes all your life and you will find that in the main Centrelink staff are very helpful.
Cheers
David
villatranquilla said
11:55 AM Mar 2, 2014
Hi Greg - when parked up hang out a sign. Many nomads like me use the computer daily but often when 'odd/strange' things happen or appear we haven't a clue how to get rid of it or what to do. Can be a real pain to have to go to a larger town and either leave the computer there or wait around to have it seen to. Can be difficult to find someone to 'fix' it so I am sure you will do OK - may not make a fortune but a few dollars to fill the tank. Good luck - hope we see your shingle some time as I sure would use your services.
GregTheComputerGuy said
01:56 PM Mar 2, 2014
oldbobsbus wrote:
We were I Roma a coupla days ago and got talking to a bloke that drives a skip bin pick up truck for JJ Richards, he is on a base rate of 120k PA and for the last 4 years has made 220k+ with loadings and overtime.. He said that there is soooooooo much work in Roma for anyone, his friends wife does housework and earns 85k PA Accommodation is a small problem but all of the Gas companies have their own caravan parks for their workers.. This tripe about "I cant get a job" from the younger generation is just bulldust becoz they dont want to work or leave Mommy's side...
Not griping here, mate. I was retrenched back in the early 80s along with nearly 60 other people. I had to remake my working life which I never once saw as a career as I was still doing what was needed to be in I.T. However, I still needed to make money. So, I changed. Some years later in a high position in one of the world's best known car companies, Aussie arm, I was working 85 hours a week minimum and realised I was going crackers working every single day of the week, asked the BIG BOSS for the allowance to hire, was told that wouldnt ever be and decided, then and there, to remake my career again. I ended up in sales at that point working less than 40 hours a week and earning more money.....not a lot more but if you look at it at hours on the job it was significant. Some year later, couldnt work at all due to health, moved to where I could start to get back to working after some rehabilitation and didnt accept one cent from the Govt in all those years but that meant killing my super. I ended up able to go back to work eventually and had to build my own business from nothing.
So, no lack of wanting. Just NEEDING really. Need to know hints about what others do should I end up in an area where I cannot make a dollar from I.T. work. If it means sweep a footpath and clean a dunny it doesnt matter to me but obviously I would prefer to do I.T. work. I just find it hard to believe I could rely on income from I.T. 100% of the time. I have a GREAT customer base right now with people who refer me everywhere but it is in the area I am going to leave to be on the road. Doesnt hurt to be prepared. The way I look at it, everything will be rosy on the road but just in case it isnt, I like to plan. ;-}
Not every "younger generation" person (depends on how old each person is there) is a bludger either. My neice is 20 and had a hard life to date, refuses to accept any help, gets really very bloody upset when help is offered - INSULTED would be a better word - and has worked numerous roles. She currently works for a reaonable sized outfit as a despatcher. Some truckies who need her to hand them work are massively BIG blokes who dont like having to do this from this "little girl". She let her boss set one guy straight just once and then after that politely (for her) asked him to let her do it. She has guys who throw their dockets at her without laying an eye on her and think that is OK. She tells them to "Bloody PICK IT UP and HAND it to me or you DONT get processed" which means they dont get paid. She now has a lot of people with muscles like Arnie who have respect for her and treat her like she is the person they should be nice to. She isnt Robinson Crusoe either.
GregTheComputerGuy said
02:07 PM Mar 2, 2014
dING wrote:
I live in the country
And there is plenty of
IT work as long as ya
Rates are reasonable
I fix a couple or more
Most days and tis amazing
How much work there is out there
If you dont get greedy
-- Edited by dING on Sunday 2nd of March 2014 08:28:20 AM
I guess "reasonable rates" is in the eye of the beholder, hey? Some of my competitors think it is fine to charge $60 an hour, some $130 an hour. Sorry but that isnt me! Nevertheless, even if you found the cheapest rate you could, it would still be too expensive if the person charging it were useless in the field. How good you are depends upon how you get business, after a few years have passed from when you started it, to me. I have real trouble trying to find time to cold call which I love to do. I have always loved doing that even when in sales and most salesman hate it. My customers all come from recommendation.
I am a little different to your average I.T. guy though. I am MUCH older and I know how to speak English, tell people what I am doing and show them how to do it for themselves, in future, should they wish. I also dress rather plainly and look much like a local tradie in that regard. I have had competitors turn up in black pants, shirt and red tie which you would think would look nice enough but I have been told how they cant be trusted simply because they dress like that. HUH? Doesnt make much sense to me but people will judge you depending on what you wear before you open your mouth, sometimes. That guy would do real well in Sydney city itself where I would be laughed at. So, you have to know the people you are trying to attract as customers. Dress up or down depending on the area you are in. When on the road as a G.N., I will more than likely be in a pair of jeans if not hot and a normal long wearing shirt which wont look great perhaps but wont look that much different to anyone coming to see me. On hot days there is no doubt I will be in shorts! ;-}
GregTheComputerGuy said
02:16 PM Mar 2, 2014
Cloak wrote:
Greg don't be discouraged by your CV. Out there there are more opportunities that don't care about qualifications. Look at all the work back packers get and these people are mostly students. Forget about IT, roll your sleeves up and door knock, ask around and look for farm work. One trip I went up to Cairns just to relax and within 10 minutes of arriving I was offered a full time job driving a Limo based in Port Douglass. Next day I was visiting a sugar plantation to look around and (out of curiosity) asked one of the owners if a bloke could pick up some work up there. Again I was offered immediate start. Looked like these farm tourist things are quite the recruiting opportunity.
That's just Cairns, same thing in Robinvale and Mildura and probably anywhere. I've also heard that banana plantations take people off the street as well. I saw a documentary on the Ord river project which incidentally is being expanded right now, and farms up there are desperate for workers.
Cheers mate and good luck I'm sure you'll find more work that you can handle. When I retire in a few years there'll be no more bloody work for me so you can have all the jobs I get offered.
While it is true that there is a job for anyone who wants it, there also has to be, in my case and in some others' cases, a limit where common sense has to come into play. I cannot, for example, be someone lifting heavy weighted items as a job. Seriously not good for my health. Nevertheless, I.T. work has some items to carry that aren all that light. I can drive long distances for someone as a courier if they need it. I dont have a truck licence but if someone is willing to help out with that and then get me to drive their truck for them, I will do that, too. I am actually lucky where driving is concerned. I have large eyes and have gotten to this age with all my peripheral vision intact. I also drive, not towing of course, turning INTO the corner in the normal manner and not the way most people drive these days which means that I have a lot more space to correct if something happens, then those people do. Luckily, driving is something I sincerely love. I see it as an art form with curving lines rather than a chore or something you have to do to get from A to B. ;-}
Thanks for the info on Cairns etc. I can be around that area from late April till late September but cant stand the heat and humidity for more than a few days, otherwise. However, like people who follow seasonal crop picking, that might work out, too.
BTW, you are good going out looking for work THAT SOON. If I arrived in Cairns on a Monday, no matter what time of day, I wouldnt be looking until Tuesday for sure. Not being lazy. Just like to re-energise before fronting someone for a job.
GregTheComputerGuy said
02:26 PM Mar 2, 2014
villatranquilla wrote:
Hi Greg - when parked up hang out a sign. Many nomads like me use the computer daily but often when 'odd/strange' things happen or appear we haven't a clue how to get rid of it or what to do. Can be a real pain to have to go to a larger town and either leave the computer there or wait around to have it seen to. Can be difficult to find someone to 'fix' it so I am sure you will do OK - may not make a fortune but a few dollars to fill the tank. Good luck - hope we see your shingle some time as I sure would use your services.
Thanks for that. My wife also tells me similar to what you are saying but I am convinced when I either experience it for myself or someone doing it says it can be done, not by common sense from the wife! ;-}
While making a fortune would be nice I think I would rather reach that position via the tried and true Lotto or Lottery. ;-} Until that happens, making enough to keep food on the table and fuel in the tank with some over to put away in case something needs repair is the goal. If I were to find one area really lucrative i would definitely be more likely to roll into a caravan park as I would be able to afford to pay for it. Along with that I would have time to see the local area, no doubt, which is ultimately what being a G.N. is all about, to me. So many places in Oz to see that I havent seen before. I would even take my rig out of Australia and into Victoria, too! ;-} I would love to ship over to Tassie for a bit but honestly, it is the Outback for me more than anywhere else. I love Broken Hill and surrounding areas as the picture of the dogs and I shows. It is also amazing to me how different Australia is from the coastline to the inland when looking at people as a whole. Being out at Broken Hill was like living in the 60s again to me. Lots of good natured boofheads willing to give anyone a hand or a break but expecting them to get their OWN backsides out of bed at the same time and dont see insults where most coastal places see insults in innocent things said.
BTW, I found Wikicamps app very good. I saw a local overnight camp spot on it that looked good in the pictures but the constant warnings that local hoons would hound you was enough to make you not want to stay there. Brilliant app worth the money to me!
GregTheComputerGuy said
02:45 PM Mar 2, 2014
Roving-Dutchy wrote:
Hi Greg
I know that there is plenty of work out there.
I have a son who 2 years back was out of work and decided he would like to do gardening for others, we put about 1500 leaflets out in letterboxes and within a few weeks he had more work than he could poke stick at, there is a lot of work out there for those who are willing to work.
As for Centrelink the pension age is not 67 years as of now but will gradually rise to that age over a number of years.
I would recommend that you go to Centrelink retirement planning seminar, this will help you plan towards your eventual retirement if you contact your Centrelink office that will let you know when the next one is in your area, don't be afraid to ask for help you have worked and paid taxes all your life and you will find that in the main Centrelink staff are very helpful.
Cheers
David
As to when you can get the pension, I suppose it depends on the latest kite the Fed Govt has put up. I really hated the idea put forward that a pacemaker for someone over 70 is a waste as they wouldnt live that much longer anyway. HUH? I have a customer who was given 3 to 4 years to live with his prostate cancer when he turned 72. He's 9 or 97 this year.
Thanks for the info on the seminar. I wasnt aware they did that. I havent been near a centrelink office in decades and only then because I was young and saw a job that looked good. I actually worked in a bank at the time and the money I was being paid was less than the dole! I thought I could be paid better than that!
SnowT said
07:59 PM Mar 2, 2014
What I meant was to have a sign/banner on the Caravan/etc that point's to his website.. so People can see the type of work he does.. [if he designs/codes] webpage's etc..
Use the best means of advertising what you do.. your own vehicle... it's free...
Juergen..
GregTheComputerGuy said
09:35 PM Mar 2, 2014
SnowT wrote:
What I meant was to have a sign/banner on the Caravan/etc that point's to his website.. so People can see the type of work he does.. [if he designs/codes] webpage's etc..
Use the best means of advertising what you do.. your own vehicle... it's free...
Juergen..
I knew what you meant and yes it is a good idea but people will have to know I exist, first. It isnt the same as, say, being a web designer who lives near Brisbane who can put in meta tags to attract people who search for "web site designer Brisbane" for example. I may be in Longreach for a week and gone if there is no work there and then maybe I make my way, eventually, to Broome and I find enough work to keep me busy for near on 12 months. The people in Longreach would be unlikely to want me as I was in Broome. Strange as it may seem, though you can do web sites without ever meeting the person you are doing it for, a lot of businesses want to see the person first. I guess that will change in the next decade.
As to the decal on the van, I am always a bit leary of doing something to denote that is the actual person. I used to be in sales in the printing industry and one of the guys I worked with was known to slash the tyres of competitors in his area if he saw their cars. Fortunately for me, we worked for the same company! Ever since, I never display anything on my own car. Besides, some of my customers are medical practices and if I have their computer in my car, I really dont want the world to know that, either. So, my idea for the van was to have a magnetic large poster until I suddenly woke up to the fact that it isnt going to stick. ;-} There are other ways of course such as doing a banner an A4 sheet at a time and sticking them to your van and things like that, or simply a sandwich board. I think that a 3D printer might be handy, though. I could make something up to fit over the front of the van with the right colours and words embedded in it and if it gets destroyed or nicked, make another. Useful things those 3D printers. Always good to have print plans for parts such as car cooling system hoses and such. The printed thing may not get you very far depending on what you made it with but it may get you far enough to get help.
GregTheComputerGuy said
09:48 PM Mar 2, 2014
Thanks to all who put in ideas. I did hear from at least one person doing what I was talking about and it helps to hear ideas even if you have had the same one because invariably, the way one person thinks about a solution is different to the next person and the next person may have the better idea.
So you know, though, this wasnt any daydream nor any idle chatter. For me this was a real question with a real purpose. Darn. I just had to scratch out a well versed political rant about how things for the future of the elderly are looking increasingly worse. I dont want to rant like that in here but you all get the idea. I never thought I would have to die on the job as my work isnt that sort of danger but it looks like we all will be doing that - those who dont have the super or win Lotto etc - in years to come. I want to be prepared and have my yard in order so that I can attack my needs as efficiently as possible thus this thread. It does make you wonder though - will there be elderly as economic refugees sailing OUT of Australia? ;-}
dING said
12:30 PM Mar 4, 2014
GregTheComputerGuy wrote:
Cloak wrote:
Greg don't be discouraged by your CV. Out there there are more opportunities that don't care about qualifications. Look at all the work back packers get and these people are mostly students. Forget about IT, roll your sleeves up and door knock, ask around and look for farm work. One trip I went up to Cairns just to relax and within 10 minutes of arriving I was offered a full time job driving a Limo based in Port Douglass. Next day I was visiting a sugar plantation to look around and (out of curiosity) asked one of the owners if a bloke could pick up some work up there. Again I was offered immediate start. Looked like these farm tourist things are quite the recruiting opportunity.
That's just Cairns, same thing in Robinvale and Mildura and probably anywhere. I've also heard that banana plantations take people off the street as well. I saw a documentary on the Ord river project which incidentally is being expanded right now, and farms up there are desperate for workers.
Sounds a bit like me am a ol fart 74 and wear jeans an Tees most of the time most jobs nowdays are simple virus removal or format and reset up and rarely take more than a hour $50 is my standard charge and a couple small jobs a day supplies me with more than enough pocket money
Cheers mate and good luck I'm sure you'll find more work that you can handle. When I retire in a few years there'll be no more bloody work for me so you can have all the jobs I get offered.
While it is true that there is a job for anyone who wants it, there also has to be, in my case and in some others' cases, a limit where common sense has to come into play. I cannot, for example, be someone lifting heavy weighted items as a job. Seriously not good for my health. Nevertheless, I.T. work has some items to carry that aren all that light. I can drive long distances for someone as a courier if they need it. I dont have a truck licence but if someone is willing to help out with that and then get me to drive their truck for them, I will do that, too. I am actually lucky where driving is concerned. I have large eyes and have gotten to this age with all my peripheral vision intact. I also drive, not towing of course, turning INTO the corner in the normal manner and not the way most people drive these days which means that I have a lot more space to correct if something happens, then those people do. Luckily, driving is something I sincerely love. I see it as an art form with curving lines rather than a chore or something you have to do to get from A to B. ;-}
Thanks for the info on Cairns etc. I can be around that area from late April till late September but cant stand the heat and humidity for more than a few days, otherwise. However, like people who follow seasonal crop picking, that might work out, too.
BTW, you are good going out looking for work THAT SOON. If I arrived in Cairns on a Monday, no matter what time of day, I wouldnt be looking until Tuesday for sure. Not being lazy. Just like to re-energise before fronting someone for a job.
Sherio said
01:15 PM Mar 4, 2014
I agree with villatranquilla: hang a sign out. Much easier for travellers to get someone in the next van than try to find a local computer person.
oldbobsbus said
06:26 PM Mar 4, 2014
GregTheComputerGuy wrote:
dING wrote:
I live in the country
And there is plenty of
IT work as long as ya
Rates are reasonable
I fix a couple or more
Most days and tis amazing
How much work there is out there
If you dont get greedy
-- Edited by dING on Sunday 2nd of March 2014 08:28:20 AM
I guess "reasonable rates" is in the eye of the beholder, hey? Some of my competitors think it is fine to charge $60 an hour, some $130 an hour. Sorry but that isnt me! Nevertheless, even if you found the cheapest rate you could, it would still be too expensive if the person charging it were useless in the field. How good you are depends upon how you get business, after a few years have passed from when you started it, to me. I have real trouble trying to find time to cold call which I love to do. I have always loved doing that even when in sales and most salesman hate it. My customers all come from recommendation.
I am a little different to your average I.T. guy though. I am MUCH older and I know how to speak English, tell people what I am doing and show them how to do it for themselves, in future, should they wish. I also dress rather plainly and look much like a local tradie in that regard. I have had competitors turn up in black pants, shirt and red tie which you would think would look nice enough but I have been told how they cant be trusted simply because they dress like that. HUH? Doesnt make much sense to me but people will judge you depending on what you wear before you open your mouth, sometimes. That guy would do real well in Sydney city itself where I would be laughed at. So, you have to know the people you are trying to attract as customers. Dress up or down depending on the area you are in. When on the road as a G.N., I will more than likely be in a pair of jeans if not hot and a normal long wearing shirt which wont look great perhaps but wont look that much different to anyone coming to see me. On hot days there is no doubt I will be in shorts! ;-}
Just as a bit of a guide...
Someone comes along to you with a laptop that has an incurable virus and you have to format and reinstall their OS..
What would you charge them.???????
_wombat_ said
07:34 PM Mar 4, 2014
$1.50
laurieoz said
07:58 PM Mar 4, 2014
Can not believe you said $1.50!!!
Hope it was a joke
But I do not charge my mates - but they give me a beer!
_wombat_ said
08:01 PM Mar 4, 2014
laurieoz wrote:
Can not believe you said $1.50!!!
Hope it was a joke
But I do not charge my mates - but they give me a beer!
if they (mates) pay something it makes them think they got good value for their $1.50
GregTheComputerGuy said
09:57 PM Mar 4, 2014
oldbobsbus wrote:
GregTheComputerGuy wrote:
dING wrote:
I live in the country
And there is plenty of
IT work as long as ya
Rates are reasonable
I fix a couple or more
Most days and tis amazing
How much work there is out there
If you dont get greedy
-- Edited by dING on Sunday 2nd of March 2014 08:28:20 AM
I guess "reasonable rates" is in the eye of the beholder, hey? Some of my competitors think it is fine to charge $60 an hour, some $130 an hour. Sorry but that isnt me! Nevertheless, even if you found the cheapest rate you could, it would still be too expensive if the person charging it were useless in the field. How good you are depends upon how you get business, after a few years have passed from when you started it, to me. I have real trouble trying to find time to cold call which I love to do. I have always loved doing that even when in sales and most salesman hate it. My customers all come from recommendation.
I am a little different to your average I.T. guy though. I am MUCH older and I know how to speak English, tell people what I am doing and show them how to do it for themselves, in future, should they wish. I also dress rather plainly and look much like a local tradie in that regard. I have had competitors turn up in black pants, shirt and red tie which you would think would look nice enough but I have been told how they cant be trusted simply because they dress like that. HUH? Doesnt make much sense to me but people will judge you depending on what you wear before you open your mouth, sometimes. That guy would do real well in Sydney city itself where I would be laughed at. So, you have to know the people you are trying to attract as customers. Dress up or down depending on the area you are in. When on the road as a G.N., I will more than likely be in a pair of jeans if not hot and a normal long wearing shirt which wont look great perhaps but wont look that much different to anyone coming to see me. On hot days there is no doubt I will be in shorts! ;-}
Just as a bit of a guide...
Someone comes along to you with a laptop that has an incurable virus and you have to format and reinstall their OS..
What would you charge them.???????
Bob,
1) No virus is incurable. I have been the first in the world to discover new viruses many times and I can tell you from that experience, you can cure any virus you can identify.
2) Format and reinstall is not a definite way of getting rid of a virus. Some can survive it.
I charge depending on how far I have to go but have driven 2 hours to one place and spent an hour there delousing them of several hundred infections and charged $80. A heck of a lot closer to home done similar for $55. Havent raised my rates since 2009 and dont see it happening in the near future regardless of the fact costs have gone up for me, either, simply because though I am hard up for a dollar, many people I see are elderly and in need or disabled and in need. I just cant bring myself to put my prices up again. Oh and in saying that I often dont charge a lot of my clients because they just dont understand what it is they are doing. No viruses etc. They just hit the wrong button somewhere. It takes me less than 5 minutes to fix it even after almost an hour's drive there and I charge nothing and come home with nothing to show for it. I am not trying to say I am a nice guy. I am just trying to say I try my BEST to be fair and I dont know how else I can do it.
The dog lady said
01:31 AM Mar 5, 2014
I think you should be reasonable when deciding what hourly rate to charge, and keep in mind the demographics of your client base as obviously you can charge more in the city than in some little backwater or a bush campsite. But I learnt a long time ago that if you give of your expertise for free, the recipient is likely to treat your advice as being of no value.
Personally I did my brother's accounting work for free while he was establishing his business, but eventually told him to go to another accountant as he was not prepared to value my advice. A year later he was begging to come back, but I've strictly separated business and personal since that experience.
Since getting a pension I don't work for a living and I'm lovin' it.
Good luck with your endeavours
GregTheComputerGuy said
06:47 AM Mar 5, 2014
The dog lady wrote:
I think you should be reasonable when deciding what hourly rate to charge, and keep in mind the demographics of your client base as obviously you can charge more in the city than in some little backwater or a bush campsite. But I learnt a long time ago that if you give of your expertise for free, the recipient is likely to treat your advice as being of no value.
Personally I did my brother's accounting work for free while he was establishing his business, but eventually told him to go to another accountant as he was not prepared to value my advice. A year later he was begging to come back, but I've strictly separated business and personal since that experience.
Since getting a pension I don't work for a living and I'm lovin' it.
Good luck with your endeavours
Thanks for that. I feel I am more than reasonable too. I dont live anywhere near the city.
Yeah I have had a business customer who had been using me for years tell me that his motor mechanic SWEARS by the most well known antivirus there is. I reminded him that the reason he got me to come to him in the first place was that the antivirus was no good. He continued to argue it was because his mechanic said so. I replied "Well why dont you listen to my mechanical advice about your car?" and he gave me a quizzical look. I said I didnt offer mechanical advice because I didnt know what I was doing with that advice that much at all but I knew what I was doing with I.T. advice. He still didnt like my advice so I advised him to take his computer to the mechanic in future. He got upset and I said "If you want to keep things running without problems with anything in your life, you need to listen to those who work in that industry. If you arent listening to me and taking the advice of the mechanic then I am not going to be blamed for any mistakes made that come from his advice and then be expected to fix the problem." and walked out and never went back. Admittedly, though, the guy was VERY rich and I had to battle to get paid. That was the last straw and really the best way never to have to deal with him again. Hard up people have cash waiting. Rich people leave you hanging for ages I have found!
_wombat_ said
08:32 AM Mar 5, 2014
GregTheComputerGuy wrote:
The dog lady wrote:
I think you should be reasonable when deciding what hourly rate to charge, and keep in mind the demographics of your client base as obviously you can charge more in the city than in some little backwater or a bush campsite. But I learnt a long time ago that if you give of your expertise for free, the recipient is likely to treat your advice as being of no value.
Personally I did my brother's accounting work for free while he was establishing his business, but eventually told him to go to another accountant as he was not prepared to value my advice. A year later he was begging to come back, but I've strictly separated business and personal since that experience.
Since getting a pension I don't work for a living and I'm lovin' it.
Good luck with your endeavours
Thanks for that. I feel I am more than reasonable too. I dont live anywhere near the city.
Yeah I have had a business customer who had been using me for years tell me that his motor mechanic SWEARS by the most well known antivirus there is. I reminded him that the reason he got me to come to him in the first place was that the antivirus was no good. He continued to argue it was because his mechanic said so. I replied "Well why dont you listen to my mechanical advice about your car?" and he gave me a quizzical look. I said I didnt offer mechanical advice because I didnt know what I was doing with that advice that much at all but I knew what I was doing with I.T. advice. He still didnt like my advice so I advised him to take his computer to the mechanic in future. He got upset and I said "If you want to keep things running without problems with anything in your life, you need to listen to those who work in that industry. If you arent listening to me and taking the advice of the mechanic then I am not going to be blamed for any mistakes made that come from his advice and then be expected to fix the problem." and walked out and never went back. Admittedly, though, the guy was VERY rich and I had to battle to get paid. That was the last straw and really the best way never to have to deal with him again. Hard up people have cash waiting. Rich people leave you hanging for ages I have found!
what AntiVirus was he using? and what AntiVirus do you recommend if any?
dorian said
08:45 AM Mar 5, 2014
AISI, there isn't much money in IT these days. Most common problems can be solved by a pimply adolescent, and those that can't can probably be addressed by the Internet. In fact why would anyone bother going to school when a gristle-headed knuckle-dragger can take home a lot more money simply by digging holes in the ground? And let's face it, people, that's where this country is headed.
Just to start this out, I am after people who really do this right now who, like me, dont have the cash to go for more than a few weeks, at best, touring.
This isnt a whinge and "poor me" but a description. No super from me, some from my wife. When all is said and done we will have precious little in the bank and as it is now 67 before I could get the pension (which I imagine doesnt help much anyway) and because health aint entirely fabulous, I have to work on the road. I can work in anything I.T. related but I dont imagine that to be that much in call in the middle of nowhere ;-} I can do other things but I like to play to my major strength as the one that has the best chance of any income at all.
So what do you, also in my position, do to get income? I have been reading a few caravanning magazines and was flat out surprised to read of one person in his middle 50s and wife of 50 who currently rent and have bought their van and car and are about to leave the area they have rented a house in, for good along with any jobs they may have held there. The guy sounded like an all round handyman and to be honest, I am not that! A mechanic, a handyman, a carpenter, electrician and so on should be able to get work just about anywhere but there are a lot of people like me who have done jobs that dont travel that easily. So, what ELSE do you do for income and what ELSE do you do to lower costs please?
My plan is the same as everyone's to lower costs - "free camp" (not so free anymore but that's life) as much as possible and hope the solar is up to the load while at the same time touring the local businesses and dropping off my card/flyer. While all that helps it isnt necessarily going to raise any income but if you dont try then it certainly wont.
Just after hints from you who know "how to" please. Thanks.
cheers
blaze
hiya Greg..
do you have a Website.. Blog spot... ?
If you had a website you could have a banner pointing to the site as free advertising..
Are you will to do other work as well..
I know a member of this forum that is a woodworker by trade and he does odd job's but it now all word of mouth..
So yes there is Work out there..
Juergen
-- Edited by SnowT on Saturday 1st of March 2014 11:31:59 PM
Thanks for the thoughts. I understand that the smallest of towns isnt likely to have a computer shop and it would be a great long drive for locals or nomads to find someone to do their I.T. work for them but I honestly didnt think the call for that would be very much at all. As a matter of fact I thought I would only be likely to get work in that field in medium or larger places. You think it may be a lot more than that? I hope it is the case. Thanks.
Hey lovely dog you got there! Female? Looks like a really loving type! I am a dog fanatic myself! ;-}
Most of my work is referral. I have had a hard time, for the last 6 months, trying to string enough time together to go cold calling on businesses and yes I have a web site. I actually do those as well.
Yes, willing to do other things. Eg, can do the office work, sweep the floor, clean the dunny and so on but you really dont want to hand me a drill. ;-} I actually had to fell my first tree last year. A HUGE eucalypt that was dead for years but one day has a split right down the centre and looked dangerous. I thought I could handle it so sawed a wedge shape into it then knocked the wedge out of the tree with the back of the head of a log splitter axe all with no trouble at all. I moved all the equipment out the way, pushed the tree the way I wanted it to fall then ran like hell away from it and turned around to see it falling that way, stop falling then whip back and snap off going back the other way. The tree now hung in the other trees at the top with the base dug a few feet into the ground. I had to go repeating sawing it until finally only the top bit hung in the trees. I climbed a ladder and sawed off a limb of the good tree supporting the rest of the tree and was side on to it coming down so in no danger. I forgot the limb! It came down right across my forearm with a massive whack. No real problem except a little pain. Next day, I woke to find my arm from elbow to wrist entirely purple/black but surprisingly not sore.
So yes, I can do some jobs but let's say handyman stuff handed to me would make for great comedy videos on YouTube! ;-}
students. Forget about IT, roll your sleeves up and door knock, ask around and look for farm work. One trip I went up to Cairns just to relax and within 10 minutes of arriving I
was offered a full time job driving a Limo based in Port Douglass. Next day I was visiting a sugar plantation to look around and (out of curiosity) asked one of the owners if a bloke could
pick up some work up there. Again I was offered immediate start. Looked like these farm tourist things are quite the recruiting opportunity.
That's just Cairns, same thing in Robinvale and Mildura and probably anywhere. I've also heard that banana plantations take people off the street as well. I saw a documentary on
the Ord river project which incidentally is being expanded right now, and farms up there are desperate for workers.
Cheers mate and good luck I'm sure you'll find more work that you can handle. When I retire in a few years there'll be no more bloody work for me so you can have all the jobs I get offered.
He said that there is soooooooo much work in Roma for anyone, his friends wife does housework and earns 85k PA
Accommodation is a small problem but all of the Gas companies have their own caravan parks for their workers..
This tripe about "I cant get a job" from the younger generation is just bulldust becoz they dont want to work or leave Mommy's side...
I live in the country
And there is plenty of
IT work as long as ya
Rates are reasonable
I fix a couple or more
Most days and tis amazing
How much work there is out there
If you dont get greedy
-- Edited by dING on Sunday 2nd of March 2014 08:28:20 AM
SnowT, not sure if you mean a banner on this site or a banner link at the bottom of posts.
I'll just say what happened to me, I made an animation that said 'wombat.com" just a flashing animation, it did not link to anywhere, but somebody on here complained to Cindy and she asked me to take it down, this I did, I also explained to Cindy that the animation did not link to anything, it was just an animation.
So I would suggest you not put a link at the bottom of you post's in case somebody complains.
Hi Greg
I know that there is plenty of work out there.
I have a son who 2 years back was out of work and decided he would like to do gardening for others, we put about 1500 leaflets out in letterboxes and within a few weeks he had more work than he could poke stick at, there is a lot of work out there for those who are willing to work.
As for Centrelink the pension age is not 67 years as of now but will gradually rise to that age over a number of years.
I would recommend that you go to Centrelink retirement planning seminar, this will help you plan towards your eventual retirement if you contact your Centrelink office that will let you know when the next one is in your area, don't be afraid to ask for help you have worked and paid taxes all your life and you will find that in the main Centrelink staff are very helpful.
Cheers
David
Not griping here, mate. I was retrenched back in the early 80s along with nearly 60 other people. I had to remake my working life which I never once saw as a career as I was still doing what was needed to be in I.T. However, I still needed to make money. So, I changed. Some years later in a high position in one of the world's best known car companies, Aussie arm, I was working 85 hours a week minimum and realised I was going crackers working every single day of the week, asked the BIG BOSS for the allowance to hire, was told that wouldnt ever be and decided, then and there, to remake my career again. I ended up in sales at that point working less than 40 hours a week and earning more money.....not a lot more but if you look at it at hours on the job it was significant. Some year later, couldnt work at all due to health, moved to where I could start to get back to working after some rehabilitation and didnt accept one cent from the Govt in all those years but that meant killing my super. I ended up able to go back to work eventually and had to build my own business from nothing.
So, no lack of wanting. Just NEEDING really. Need to know hints about what others do should I end up in an area where I cannot make a dollar from I.T. work. If it means sweep a footpath and clean a dunny it doesnt matter to me but obviously I would prefer to do I.T. work. I just find it hard to believe I could rely on income from I.T. 100% of the time. I have a GREAT customer base right now with people who refer me everywhere but it is in the area I am going to leave to be on the road. Doesnt hurt to be prepared. The way I look at it, everything will be rosy on the road but just in case it isnt, I like to plan. ;-}
Not every "younger generation" person (depends on how old each person is there) is a bludger either. My neice is 20 and had a hard life to date, refuses to accept any help, gets really very bloody upset when help is offered - INSULTED would be a better word - and has worked numerous roles. She currently works for a reaonable sized outfit as a despatcher. Some truckies who need her to hand them work are massively BIG blokes who dont like having to do this from this "little girl". She let her boss set one guy straight just once and then after that politely (for her) asked him to let her do it. She has guys who throw their dockets at her without laying an eye on her and think that is OK. She tells them to "Bloody PICK IT UP and HAND it to me or you DONT get processed" which means they dont get paid. She now has a lot of people with muscles like Arnie who have respect for her and treat her like she is the person they should be nice to. She isnt Robinson Crusoe either.
I guess "reasonable rates" is in the eye of the beholder, hey? Some of my competitors think it is fine to charge $60 an hour, some $130 an hour. Sorry but that isnt me! Nevertheless, even if you found the cheapest rate you could, it would still be too expensive if the person charging it were useless in the field. How good you are depends upon how you get business, after a few years have passed from when you started it, to me. I have real trouble trying to find time to cold call which I love to do. I have always loved doing that even when in sales and most salesman hate it. My customers all come from recommendation.
I am a little different to your average I.T. guy though. I am MUCH older and I know how to speak English, tell people what I am doing and show them how to do it for themselves, in future, should they wish. I also dress rather plainly and look much like a local tradie in that regard. I have had competitors turn up in black pants, shirt and red tie which you would think would look nice enough but I have been told how they cant be trusted simply because they dress like that. HUH? Doesnt make much sense to me but people will judge you depending on what you wear before you open your mouth, sometimes. That guy would do real well in Sydney city itself where I would be laughed at. So, you have to know the people you are trying to attract as customers. Dress up or down depending on the area you are in. When on the road as a G.N., I will more than likely be in a pair of jeans if not hot and a normal long wearing shirt which wont look great perhaps but wont look that much different to anyone coming to see me. On hot days there is no doubt I will be in shorts! ;-}
While it is true that there is a job for anyone who wants it, there also has to be, in my case and in some others' cases, a limit where common sense has to come into play. I cannot, for example, be someone lifting heavy weighted items as a job. Seriously not good for my health. Nevertheless, I.T. work has some items to carry that aren all that light. I can drive long distances for someone as a courier if they need it. I dont have a truck licence but if someone is willing to help out with that and then get me to drive their truck for them, I will do that, too. I am actually lucky where driving is concerned. I have large eyes and have gotten to this age with all my peripheral vision intact. I also drive, not towing of course, turning INTO the corner in the normal manner and not the way most people drive these days which means that I have a lot more space to correct if something happens, then those people do. Luckily, driving is something I sincerely love. I see it as an art form with curving lines rather than a chore or something you have to do to get from A to B. ;-}
Thanks for the info on Cairns etc. I can be around that area from late April till late September but cant stand the heat and humidity for more than a few days, otherwise. However, like people who follow seasonal crop picking, that might work out, too.
BTW, you are good going out looking for work THAT SOON. If I arrived in Cairns on a Monday, no matter what time of day, I wouldnt be looking until Tuesday for sure. Not being lazy. Just like to re-energise before fronting someone for a job.
Thanks for that. My wife also tells me similar to what you are saying but I am convinced when I either experience it for myself or someone doing it says it can be done, not by common sense from the wife! ;-}
While making a fortune would be nice I think I would rather reach that position via the tried and true Lotto or Lottery. ;-} Until that happens, making enough to keep food on the table and fuel in the tank with some over to put away in case something needs repair is the goal. If I were to find one area really lucrative i would definitely be more likely to roll into a caravan park as I would be able to afford to pay for it. Along with that I would have time to see the local area, no doubt, which is ultimately what being a G.N. is all about, to me. So many places in Oz to see that I havent seen before. I would even take my rig out of Australia and into Victoria, too! ;-} I would love to ship over to Tassie for a bit but honestly, it is the Outback for me more than anywhere else. I love Broken Hill and surrounding areas as the picture of the dogs and I shows. It is also amazing to me how different Australia is from the coastline to the inland when looking at people as a whole. Being out at Broken Hill was like living in the 60s again to me. Lots of good natured boofheads willing to give anyone a hand or a break but expecting them to get their OWN backsides out of bed at the same time and dont see insults where most coastal places see insults in innocent things said.
BTW, I found Wikicamps app very good. I saw a local overnight camp spot on it that looked good in the pictures but the constant warnings that local hoons would hound you was enough to make you not want to stay there. Brilliant app worth the money to me!
As to when you can get the pension, I suppose it depends on the latest kite the Fed Govt has put up. I really hated the idea put forward that a pacemaker for someone over 70 is a waste as they wouldnt live that much longer anyway. HUH? I have a customer who was given 3 to 4 years to live with his prostate cancer when he turned 72. He's 9 or 97 this year.
Thanks for the info on the seminar. I wasnt aware they did that. I havent been near a centrelink office in decades and only then because I was young and saw a job that looked good. I actually worked in a bank at the time and the money I was being paid was less than the dole! I thought I could be paid better than that!
Use the best means of advertising what you do.. your own vehicle... it's free...
Juergen..
I knew what you meant and yes it is a good idea but people will have to know I exist, first. It isnt the same as, say, being a web designer who lives near Brisbane who can put in meta tags to attract people who search for "web site designer Brisbane" for example. I may be in Longreach for a week and gone if there is no work there and then maybe I make my way, eventually, to Broome and I find enough work to keep me busy for near on 12 months. The people in Longreach would be unlikely to want me as I was in Broome. Strange as it may seem, though you can do web sites without ever meeting the person you are doing it for, a lot of businesses want to see the person first. I guess that will change in the next decade.
As to the decal on the van, I am always a bit leary of doing something to denote that is the actual person. I used to be in sales in the printing industry and one of the guys I worked with was known to slash the tyres of competitors in his area if he saw their cars. Fortunately for me, we worked for the same company! Ever since, I never display anything on my own car. Besides, some of my customers are medical practices and if I have their computer in my car, I really dont want the world to know that, either. So, my idea for the van was to have a magnetic large poster until I suddenly woke up to the fact that it isnt going to stick. ;-} There are other ways of course such as doing a banner an A4 sheet at a time and sticking them to your van and things like that, or simply a sandwich board. I think that a 3D printer might be handy, though. I could make something up to fit over the front of the van with the right colours and words embedded in it and if it gets destroyed or nicked, make another. Useful things those 3D printers. Always good to have print plans for parts such as car cooling system hoses and such. The printed thing may not get you very far depending on what you made it with but it may get you far enough to get help.
Thanks to all who put in ideas. I did hear from at least one person doing what I was talking about and it helps to hear ideas even if you have had the same one because invariably, the way one person thinks about a solution is different to the next person and the next person may have the better idea.
So you know, though, this wasnt any daydream nor any idle chatter. For me this was a real question with a real purpose. Darn. I just had to scratch out a well versed political rant about how things for the future of the elderly are looking increasingly worse. I dont want to rant like that in here but you all get the idea. I never thought I would have to die on the job as my work isnt that sort of danger but it looks like we all will be doing that - those who dont have the super or win Lotto etc - in years to come. I want to be prepared and have my yard in order so that I can attack my needs as efficiently as possible thus this thread. It does make you wonder though - will there be elderly as economic refugees sailing OUT of Australia? ;-}
Just as a bit of a guide...
Someone comes along to you with a laptop that has an incurable virus and you have to format and reinstall their OS..
What would you charge them.???????
$1.50
Can not believe you said $1.50!!!
Hope it was a joke
But I do not charge my mates - but they give me a beer!
if they (mates) pay something it makes them think they got good value for their $1.50
Bob,
1) No virus is incurable. I have been the first in the world to discover new viruses many times and I can tell you from that experience, you can cure any virus you can identify.
2) Format and reinstall is not a definite way of getting rid of a virus. Some can survive it.
I charge depending on how far I have to go but have driven 2 hours to one place and spent an hour there delousing them of several hundred infections and charged $80. A heck of a lot closer to home done similar for $55. Havent raised my rates since 2009 and dont see it happening in the near future regardless of the fact costs have gone up for me, either, simply because though I am hard up for a dollar, many people I see are elderly and in need or disabled and in need. I just cant bring myself to put my prices up again. Oh and in saying that I often dont charge a lot of my clients because they just dont understand what it is they are doing. No viruses etc. They just hit the wrong button somewhere. It takes me less than 5 minutes to fix it even after almost an hour's drive there and I charge nothing and come home with nothing to show for it. I am not trying to say I am a nice guy. I am just trying to say I try my BEST to be fair and I dont know how else I can do it.
I think you should be reasonable when deciding what hourly rate to charge, and keep in mind the demographics of your client base as obviously you can charge more in the city than in some little backwater or a bush campsite. But I learnt a long time ago that if you give of your expertise for free, the recipient is likely to treat your advice as being of no value.
Personally I did my brother's accounting work for free while he was establishing his business, but eventually told him to go to another accountant as he was not prepared to value my advice. A year later he was begging to come back, but I've strictly separated business and personal since that experience.
Since getting a pension I don't work for a living and I'm lovin' it.
Good luck with your endeavours
Thanks for that. I feel I am more than reasonable too. I dont live anywhere near the city.
Yeah I have had a business customer who had been using me for years tell me that his motor mechanic SWEARS by the most well known antivirus there is. I reminded him that the reason he got me to come to him in the first place was that the antivirus was no good. He continued to argue it was because his mechanic said so. I replied "Well why dont you listen to my mechanical advice about your car?" and he gave me a quizzical look. I said I didnt offer mechanical advice because I didnt know what I was doing with that advice that much at all but I knew what I was doing with I.T. advice. He still didnt like my advice so I advised him to take his computer to the mechanic in future. He got upset and I said "If you want to keep things running without problems with anything in your life, you need to listen to those who work in that industry. If you arent listening to me and taking the advice of the mechanic then I am not going to be blamed for any mistakes made that come from his advice and then be expected to fix the problem." and walked out and never went back. Admittedly, though, the guy was VERY rich and I had to battle to get paid. That was the last straw and really the best way never to have to deal with him again. Hard up people have cash waiting. Rich people leave you hanging for ages I have found!
what AntiVirus was he using? and what AntiVirus do you recommend if any?