Any good ideas

Pobby

I am going to be retiring in a few years and the idea of not working at all is not one I really fancy. I am thinking of a little part time business to concentrate on. The extra bit of money would also be quite handy.

Any thoughts please?

hethmar

I spose Pobs it will depend a lot on what you are skilled at/interested in and whether the area you will be in would support that sort of work.

Pobby

I have been in techy sales for years but an idea I have had, tell me what you think, is to take a computer repair/ build course. It`s something I know about already to a certain degree.

The idea would to be specialising on cut rate repairs for silver surfers. I guess some older folk would feel more comfortable with a similar aged person in their home. £15 to £20 per hour would be very reasonable and a couple of days work would be the max I would want.

I don`t want to get into complicated networks or the like.

scotsbob

Don't want to appear negative but I wonder what you might be reparing at that price.
If a graphics card or other peripheral broke then I would think it better value to buy a new one rather than pay those prices for a repair.
I have limited d-i-y skills but managed to build a computer because I found it was basically using a screwdriver.

Good luck to you if you can get your idea going.

Pobby

Many problems I have come across is that people, believe it or not, have no or little idea regarding basic security, hence problems occur due to malware. Indeed, repairing a graphics card is a no goer, but there are many little things that folk need sorting. I have a friend that has a computer repair shop and boy they are always pretty busy.

However I am open to any other ideas.

hethmar

I think pobs, it could probably produce "pocket money" but you will have a limited clientele. If thats all you need/want ........You could contact places like libraries, University of the third age and so on.

And you are quite right. I think Im totally useless at puters but one friend we were visiting told me how hed had this problem with a virus, "the local chap came in and he removed it and put on an anti virus program for me, all for £40". It was avg free download and the guy had simply done a system restore.

Another silver surfer I went to see had a techi there, charging her £50 an hour just to set up a new puter. I pointed out to him over his shoulder a very simple mistake he had made which was causing the emails not to function. Hmm. He made a pretty sharp getaway but she still paid him for basically putting a few leads in to the pc and the plug

Pobby

Yep. Was hoping for a £30k pension for me and Mrs. Pobby but right now, as things stand, we are a somewhat short of that. Don`t get me wrong, right now as trade the way it is, it`s ample, we are not earning a lot more than that and I am amazed how much we have saved this year alone. The idea is to keep me occupied, brain alert and the idea of say £150 a week pocket money or there abouts would be a very nice bonus.

Having been in a techie background all my life I would find the experience quite enjoyable whilst providing a cheap service. The joy of picking and choosing jobs I also would happy with.

Like you, we had thought of clearing off out of the U.K, but the female Pobbs has changed her mind. Fair enough, me, Spain and totally cheap tobacco and booze is not probably the best idea.

Thought about volly work but I am doing that already.

EdInvestor

Pobby wrote: »

The idea would to be specialising on cut rate repairs for silver surfers. I guess some older folk would feel more comfortable with a similar aged person in their home. £15 to £20 per hour would be very reasonable and a couple of days work would be the max I would want.

An honest techie would certainly be useful.Most local companies computer repair companies I have run across are ripoff merchants.:(

scotsbob

Where you might make some money is through your local council. Our council run evening classes and if a peerson can come up with an interesting class then the council let you run it providing you can get enough people to enroll.

In the past I have run classes connected to my hobbies and £30 an evening for a 20 week course was guaranteed income.

You could do one class on "Computer basics" another on "Using the internet" another on "Setting up your own website".

There you go £90 a week for 20 weeks.

Good luck to you mate (and don't forget my cut if it's a goer )

chesky369

If you know people who are already in the computer repair business, why don't you think about working for them for a day or so a week? They run all the risks and you would probably not be the most expensive member of staff for them to pay.

Pobby

Thanks for all the suggestions guys. Keep `um coming.