So what does everyone do for a living?

I used to shoot (at) people for a living, then I swapped a glock for a 40kg land shark which was brilliant. Problem was most of the people i was guarding, i would happily shoot ;) Time crept up and the pension kicked in, so that was the end of that. Great while it lasted. Now, I just clean and maintain my holiday lets and am pretty happy to be fair
 
I was a project manager for a retailer for 25 years. Loved the work & partnership ethos of the company and expected to stay until retirement. Change of management to a bunch of idiots completely reversed that and I took redundancy at 51. Best thing that could have happened to me as my work became very poor in that shitty environment.

Didn't do much until the pandemic, then after that with no money in the bank, decided to sell my house in Berkshire and move to Dumfries & Galloway. Motivation was partly financial (clear mortgage, lump in the bank) and partly because I didn't need to stay in the south east and if I didn't move somewhere at that time I would never do it.
Here I am 3-4 years later, now 60, in a much nicer house with 10 mile views across the Galloway hills. I like the area. The people are really nice. It is a bit rural and some attitudes are outdated. When I came up here I had 3-4 business ideas in my mind. One of those was a failure, but one really took off and for 5 hours of work a week now that's me sorted until I take my pension in 3-6 years time.

I'd say to anyone starting to question what they are doing, a current long serving job can be a trap that stops you seeing opportunities, which you don't realise until you change, and then laugh at how easy it is. Also one of the few things I did right was hammer my pension from early on.
 
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tonybb66 said:
I worked in IT for 30 years but always been practical, got paid off in 2017 at age 52, thought I would set up a handyman biz, never looked back, really busy but I can control what work I do, keep records on an excel spreadsheet and HRMC stuff is dead easy if you get an accountant as a customer. I mainly put stuff on walls and do little fix jobs that normal tradies won't, seriously give it a go Badjamin, there's loads of work out there for your skills you'll always be in demand, best of luck :thumbsup:
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Sounds good.
Im a mechanical engineer, currently working in Medical Device business. 53 now so looking to get out in a couple of years and been wondering what i could do as a time filler. This sounds right up my street as i an very handy in the house having done loads of plumbing and building understairs draws and cupboards.
Thanks for the idea 👍
 
We own a company which specializes in 100% natural preservation of meat, fish, shrimps and chicken..... this has triggered a revolution in food preservation because all the unhealthy E numbers in food can be ditched with the same or better results.

Currently working with some of the bigger retailers in Europe.
 
I work for a supplement company selling to countries all over the word, originally ran the machines that make the capsules and tablet so whenever the kids asked what i do, i make drugs so they would tell everyone I'm a drug dealer including their teachers, now work for the engineering department dealing with maintenance, service contractors, spares, so now i tell them i spend money all day in-between drinking coffee and napping, which isn't that far from the truth to be honest. :thumbsup:
 
Green Giant said:
I’m a Decorator, 35 years, started apprenticeship after school, after 4 years became self employed, has its ups and downs like any job.
I always believe if you strive for doing the best job/days work you can, be honest and reliable, you will always succeed and be in demand, I know guys that started washing cars, now can earn 1000,s a week running a detailing company, I’ve got clients that fly me abroad every year to look after their properties, St Tropez etc, its a hard life..
Being a finishing trade, I’ve learnt most building skills as I’ve always had to finish off other tradesmen work during the course of my work.
Im not planning to retire, I’ll always try to keep doing practical jobs till I drop.
All practical skills are highly sort after, don’t ever give up and retire
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I’ve always said I will always work.Im not the retiring type I can’t sit still for 5 mins does my wife’s head in🤣
Left school 28 years ago not a GCSE to my name started off as a labourer for a roofer on £25 cash a day ( never felt so rich in my life 🤣)
Lasted a year then a carpenter took me on as a hammer hand (labourer) both sub-contracting to a company learnt on the job 28 years later we both now own the company and I love it I still work every day to keep myself out of trouble.
As said above it’s never to late to change careers I understand money is a big factor these days but so is happiness.
 
Chippie1 said:
I’ve always said I will always work.Im not the retiring type I can’t sit still for 5 mins does my wife’s head in🤣
Left school 28 years ago not a GCSE to my name started off as a labourer for a roofer on £25 cash a day ( never felt so rich in my life 🤣)
Lasted a year then a carpenter took me on as a hammer hand (labourer) both sub-contracting to a company learnt on the job 28 years later we both now own the company and I love it I still work every day to keep myself out of trouble.
As said above it’s never too late to change careers I understand money is a big factor these days but so is happiness.
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Totally agree :) Health and happiness is the most essential element of life. At the end of the day you choose your own destiny. Family and friends come first. Yes we all need the dosh to pay for the roof over our heads etc. I’m 70 this year - OMG ! But I still run around like a younger man making the most of every day. Even running a race team and going on long trips to Europe in the trusty Transporter often with good friends and their families . One Life - keep partying!
 
It's a cliche, but running a household, all the odd jobs, ironing, shopping, walking daughter and granddaughter to and from school, and what remains of my own social life...I was less busy when I was working!
 
Sasquatch said:
It's a cliche, but running a household, all the odd jobs, ironing, shopping, walking daughter and granddaughter to and from school, and what remains of my own social life...I was less busy when I was working!
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I agree I could not do what I do without Mrs Chippie she takes care of the house and kids and pets and part time job to a tee! Not much of a cook mind you which she openly admits but I love cooking proper partnership couldn’t do it without each other!
 
Mrs Sasquatch is a decade younger than me and still works, and as she earns four times that which I ever did she's keen to keep going a while yet.

I guess that makes me a house husband. Perhaps I should get a pinny?
 
I'm a Mechanical Engineer (Test Engineer) specialising in fatigue and durability, working for Hottinger, Bruel & Kjaer in Rotherham.

Some of the projects I have been involved with are for aerospace (relifing of military aircraft landing gear, REACH compliance of anodised aluminium alloy's), automotive (chassis steels, suspension sub-frames etc), medical (titanium alloys used on artificial implants) and anything which requires testing!

Its a very interesting job, decent bunch of lads to work with and we get to solve some interesting problems for clients!
 
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