Odd jobs for a living!!

Should_be_out_gardening

Adamthegreat984 wrote: »

awesome thread!, the thought of getting away from the very tough labour market is very appealing !

I had no choice, I was getting desperate, I used to do little bnits but when the place I worked for folded and left us all out inthe cold I didn't know what to do. I tried a delivering catalogues but it cost too much to do and wasn't worth it and all the time I was expanding what I did.

Now I just have to get by, in the spring and summer it's OK but I haven't much work at the moment. I'm always on the lookout. I sometimes help my mate who is a window cleaner if he is stuck but at the mo his nephew is helping him.

chubbster_1

I've a friend who runs his own business doing discos and things, but in the early part of the new year, he does a lot of odd job type stuff to keep his income up - he's a regular fixer upper as it were tho, not like me. I can do the odd bit here and there but wouldn't like to tackle fixing vacuum cleaners or fitting radiators which he can turn his hand to.

Should_be_out_gardening

chubbster_1 wrote: »

I've a friend who runs his own business doing discos and things, but in the early part of the new year, he does a lot of odd job type stuff to keep his income up - he's a regular fixer upper as it were tho, not like me. I can do the odd bit here and there but wouldn't like to tackle fixing vacuum cleaners or fitting radiators which he can turn his hand to.

I could do with knowing something like discos! It's quioest this time of year, the pdd tree pruning and leylandii cutting, some tidying and re gravelling. I've cleaned a lot of UPVC windows and soffits , I put up and take down Xmas lights and give the soffits and gutters a clean all in too. The bark chips need redoing as the spring comes on , good job I have got bags full of the stuff from throughout the year.

I'll be really honest here - the council in the park has an area to dump Xmas trees, I've been boosting them away for ages now. They only grind them up then in the same place put all the grinding for people to take, I just get in first. I've mixed the grinding with other bark and it's superb to keep down weeds. The trunks I cut up for kindling and logs and sell.

I've been really worrying myself about what we discussed about treated wood and burning it - I really think I should go and say something in the *green* forum here but don't want to sound cheeky . I think I might just go for it!

noirist

Should_be_out_gardening wrote: »

I collect aluminium drinks cans when I am out and about and recyle those for money as I do with the metal .

Just out of interest, what amount/weight do you get to before you sell? I would assume it has to be a lot!!

Should_be_out_gardening

noirist wrote: »

Just out of interest, what amount/weight do you get to before you sell? I would assume it has to be a lot!!

It's been a long time since I weighed any in - I got about 60p a kilo or thereabouts , about 60 - 70 cans in a kilo.

Like all these things it's the storage, the wood, the logs, the building materials, the slates, the metal. Luckily we have a big gardenwith trees all around as most of the garden is veg round the edges etc is all the storage of stuff. I built some lean to's at the end for all the stuff to keep it mostly dry. Next door are elderly and they let me use the end of their gasrden for veg which we share and I keep stuff there liek at the back of green houses and the shed.

Once I have loads and loads I wait until I and going that way for work or I might be taking in other metals like some copper etc and it's worthwhile.

Of course as I am out most days rain or shine taking the dog out at 5:30 am I can pick up the cans in a sack and no one notices. The kids and wino use the area by the local canal to drink and they dump loads there every evening.

System

In my opinion, picking up 60 cans for 60p is a waste of time.

noirist

Should_be_out_gardening wrote: »

It's been a long time since I weighed any in - I got about 60p a kilo or thereabouts , about 60 - 70 cans in a kilo.

Thanks for the info! Storage shouldn't be a problem for us. My boyfriend and I are trying to be healthy but one thing we just can't give up is Diet Coke. You wouldn't believe how many boxes we go through in a week! Might look into this more... Cheers!

Derivative

noirist wrote: »

Thanks for the info! Storage shouldn't be a problem for us. My boyfriend and I are trying to be healthy but one thing we just can't give up is Diet Coke. You wouldn't believe how many boxes we go through in a week! Might look into this more... Cheers!

Couldn't you just buy bottled?

Should_be_out_gardening

berbastrike wrote: »

In my opinion, picking up 60 cans for 60p is a waste of time.

It would be if you went out especially for them, however if they are on your route whilst out walking or taking the dog out as I do then it's easy. I sweep and clear weeds from round a local social club/ hall type place. Often they have private functions where the bar isn't open and they allow people to bring cans etc, there are separate things for recycling and often by accident the cans fall into a black bin bag and then into the back of the estate.

Many of the folk I do work for I have asked to keep for me in a bag and they do. Especially over Xmas.

The thing to do is never put yourself out for them and never make a special journey to take them in. Makes all the difference on day when you are going that way to chuck 25 bin bags full into the back.

oz0707

Remember the bill gates anecdote about it not being worth his time to pick up a 'whatever size?' dollar bill. Can you imagine him picking up 60 individual cans, then taking them down the scrap yard for 60 pence