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Lost dayz
« on: December 02, 2010, 12:35:44 pm »
I've been window cleaning WFP for about six months now & enjoy the job (when its sunny) -  i am currently stuck at home now due to the snow & have made only £8 this week, which is no good with a family to feed etc.
I have previously lost a couple of days due to heavy rain last month as well.

How many days do you experienced blokes expect too lose on average each year & what do you do to cover the money lost??

geefree

  • Posts: 6180
Re: Lost dayz
« Reply #1 on: December 02, 2010, 12:38:53 pm »
In this extreme weather , there is nothing you can do , apart from put a little money aside each week during the year to cover yourself for a couple of bad weeks in winter.

Saying and doing are two different things though.

Its easy to forget bad winter days, in the hot days of summer.

mick hay

  • Posts: 1072
Re: Lost dayz
« Reply #2 on: December 02, 2010, 12:56:59 pm »
I can honestly say that i havent lost too many days due to weather, last january was bad, but, when you lose a day, try and make up in the next week.

Today i got half my work done, due to not having a spare tap for my microbore, so will cover todays work Monday, yes will be a long day, but will keep me on target.

I also learnt to try and do all my work in 4 days, then i do have a spare day a week to catch up.

Make hay when the sun shines, ie.....connie cleaning etc, and put some by for the winter.

Newannaive

  • Posts: 320
Re: Lost dayz
« Reply #3 on: December 02, 2010, 01:00:20 pm »
at least a month a yr off to weather  >:(

Jackal

  • Posts: 1088
Re: Lost dayz
« Reply #4 on: December 02, 2010, 01:02:18 pm »
iv only been going since the middle of last winter but id say you will only lose a couple of weeks during winter and obviously you will keep losing days here and there due to rain throughtout the year,

iv decided to buy some xmas cards for my custys and as im doing nowt now im writing them out and going deliver them today and tomorrow, so hopefully that mite bring in a couple of extra xmas tips my way  8)

TomCrowther

  • Posts: 1965
Re: Lost dayz
« Reply #5 on: December 02, 2010, 01:19:35 pm »
There's no easy answer. I am still building my round up and have no cash to spare for these weather extremes. As already stated, do what you can, catch up at weekends and work longer days. Today is the first day in this period I haven't worked. Went to the bank, did a food shop and bought a few things I needed on line, new boots, tap and am sorting Christmas cards for the customers.
Decided not to work today because of the risk to the van and of leaving too much ice around customers homes. If you crash the van, you can't earn any cash at all, so best to try and relax, do the jobs you can and try and catch up when it's a bit warmer.

George P

  • Posts: 1304
Re: Lost dayz
« Reply #6 on: December 02, 2010, 01:25:38 pm »
out of 52 weeks if you calculate that you will only work 40 and base your earnings on that it will give you an average weekly income, very hard to actuallyn do as life gets in the way, 12 weeks off for hols, rain , snow etc

dave12345

Re: Lost dayz
« Reply #7 on: December 02, 2010, 01:30:05 pm »
Ive saved enough money for december and january for bills as i have learned from previous years.

Re: Lost dayz
« Reply #8 on: December 02, 2010, 01:32:52 pm »
out of 52 weeks if you calculate that you will only work 40 and base your earnings on that it will give you an average weekly income, very hard to actuallyn do as life gets in the way, 12 weeks off for hols, rain , snow etc

I would say that is about right, 200 days actual paid work each year. £150+ per day.

Anything else is a bonus.

George P

  • Posts: 1304
Re: Lost dayz
« Reply #9 on: December 02, 2010, 01:38:08 pm »
thats it, if it can be done, anything over 40wks (200 days) is a bonus, although i use this as an example mainley for staff as self employed usually aim to get a few extra days in

Dave Anderson

  • Posts: 787
Re: Lost dayz
« Reply #10 on: December 02, 2010, 02:20:10 pm »
I aim to work and have enough slush money for 12 weeks no work per year but hate every penny that is used for it....

Chin-up warmer weather is on it's way...
The more I know the less I know I know ...

Sapphire Window Cleaning

  • Posts: 2942
Re: Lost dayz
« Reply #11 on: December 02, 2010, 02:33:58 pm »
This is my IBC tank!


This is my van right now!





It has just started snowing heavy again!!


Matt
Reaching parts traditional window cleaners can not reach.

neil100

  • Posts: 1137
Re: Lost dayz
« Reply #12 on: December 02, 2010, 07:56:02 pm »
Most S/employed time served trades men work for £20.00 an hour.

Now when your setting up your round the trick is if your happy to earn £20.00 an hour.

40 hours x £20.00 = £800.00.

You have to factor in the bad weather. So you should work on a 20 hour week at £40.00 an hour which still gives you £800.00 a week.

Get your prices right. You have up to 7 days to work a week,8 hours a day, 56 hours a week to do 20 hours work.

If you get behind you can still pull work back.

I have worked over 30 yrs in w/cleaning.In the last 5 years doing wfp I am still up to date. Not lost any money from being behind.

If you work on a 20 hour week you can get ahead when your going on holiday so your hols are paid for. Just for the record my rounds bigger then 20 hours a week. 

Regards Neil.

Re: Lost dayz
« Reply #13 on: December 05, 2010, 10:23:39 pm »
Cheers - thanks for the good advice

windowswashed

  • Posts: 2580
Re: Lost dayz
« Reply #14 on: December 05, 2010, 10:33:38 pm »
This weather is a good reason why you don't want to undercut to get work so you can afford to put money aside for times like these being unable to work. No point working for peanuts when you need to charge realistic prices for the times off work.