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thanks for the idea's everyone. some good, some bad, some odd.
after this morning at work, I now want to be a shepherd or a wall builder in the most remote area of the whole UK.
;o(
Handyman in a care home? Usually a few jobs being advertised. simple steady work.
Have you thought of retraining as a brick layer? There’s a shortage at present.
Physically thats going to be hard as hell. If you start young enough then as age creeps in you will probably have learnt enough to adapt but starting old is going to be painful. A lesson I learnt without thinking about it from my dad is trades work is something you want to start young. Either you get really good and hence can make up for old age with skill, start managing others or become a teacher (option my dad went for). The former however good you are damage starts adding up over time.
For outdoors instructor. Never going to be well paid but know one person who after selling london home for a shedload and a decent redundancy payout/early retirement package is happily working as a ML/kayak coach. Not bringing in the big bucks but keeps them busy. That said they have a nice safety net so can skip if they are feeling a tad old.
I'm 55 and took redundancy in May last year, did a few things I wanted to do then was in the pub one lunchtime earlier in the year and one of the local gardeners was moaning he had so much work he was having to ditch clients. Since then I work for him, a small bit for someone else and have got a few of my own clients too. Money wise it's £10 an hour if I work for someone else, £15 if it's one of my clients. I must be doing something right as I keep getting asked back. Depending on the weather I'm earning around £1500 a month, most of it in cash although I'm keeping accounts just in case. My commute has gone from a minimum of an hour each way to 10 minutes at the most, all the jobs I've got lined up for this week are within a 2 minute walk.
There is shed loads of work out there, people can't get anyone to do anything. If you want to do a bit of garden maintenance there's loads of work, painting and decorating, handyman. Be sensible with your prices, do a good job and don't take the piss and you'll get asked back and referrals. If I fancy an afternoon off to go riding that's what I do.
I had some carpets fitted a couple of months ago, a bloke in his 30's. He works four days a week and plays golf on his day off. Another bloke who was made redundant same time as me did his bicycle mechanics qualification and works part time in a shop, he also did a hedge laying course and does a bit of that as well. There is so much out there which doesn't involve office work and someone breathing down your neck all day.
After a couple of decades in NHS management I had a big breakdown.
Took my HGV class 2 at 53 then a year later my class 1. It costs around £1500 for each one (there are huge variations and it helps a lot if you pass first time). Each took 1 week.
The work and pay varies with who you work for and where you live. I live in the Midlands and there is a massive shortage of drivers (especially one who can speak English).
Took a easy job in distribution largly trunking from one warehouse to another. Work is reasonaly varied and I don't get bored. Worl 4 days on and 4 off, but on my working days they are quite long. I NEVER stop overnight in my cab, but if you are OK doing that you should earn more. Hourly paid so earning can vary but I get around £28K and that gets me by...
If you can spend a couple of years and £10k on qualies and a hundred odd experience days ticking off mountains and paddling rivers (while not earning), then work for £12k a year (tops) for every weekend, a couple of evenings a week, no holidays from April to October and either as repetitive as it comes, or wait for 5 years experience before any centre will employ you on a senior contract, then go ahead…
To be fair that describes my mate. He already had most qualifications but when his wife lost her well paying job he couldn't afford to keep doing it.
From my experience a good handyman would be worth their weight in gold. Seem to be in short supply in the South.
Dog walking.. . The real money is either multi dog owners or dog sitting when the owners away . Non of the ones we know are exactly living the dream .
Seem to be doing ok, personalised plate on a nice van... ? 🙂
I have been in nw england the last week and seen loads of job ads on windows that look appealing....to me anyway.
Estate agents looking for viewings person, out and about no selling just show people round and keep quiet with any questions.
Garden centre are looking for staff, super cool place to work.
Paper round at local londis.
Ok living wage stuff but I would do it to get started.
I thought B & Q but you start at £6-£8 an hour which is slave labour. I'd suggest you start up your own business, as a mobile bike mechanic, or if you have a workshop/garage a mobile and non mobile mechanic. You can start before you leave the existing job, throwing money at local advertising/spreading the word and go from there.
Initially say you'll collect and drop off bikes for a small fee which would be a major improvement on most companies offerings.
I was a new business enterprise software salesman until I was 50 then couldn't get another job except with dead-beat organisations.
I got a job as a "sales designer" for Hammonds Bedrooms. You have to be self employed and get given evening and weekend appointments to go into peoples houses and sell them wardrobes. A bit like double glazing without all the stupid tricks and lies. 2 things surprised me - how much those things cost and how many people were willing to pay.
Starting small, by fitting B&Q wardrobes for people, I've now got a good business making beautiful and stylish bedrooms and storage, and I get to take nice days off to go cycling and windsurfing (like I did today as it was blowing a gale).
The downside of the route I took was that I had to spend best part of a year without a significant income, building up the business and buying tools etc. The upside: uh? Don't be daft it's all upside! At 65 I'm happier than ever, especially as my new little windsurf board that I gave it's first proper shakedown in the strong winds today is a 2017 Fanatic Blast 115 that I took as a proper barter! My local windsurf shop bloke wanted some wardrobes. I got my costs covered and a new board! Result!
Council minibus driver Ton?