[Matthew Bateman]

This is a serious thread. Yesterday I had a good days work, the weather down here in Hampshire isnt as bad as it is up north. With that in mind I thought it would be an idea to see how the guys up north are faring in a financial sense. And couldnt some of us who are managing to work in some way help some of them out in a financial sense if it was needed.

I KNOW there would be all sorts of issues (no-one likes charity, pride, worrying about if the money had to be paid back). Maybe its a stupid idea but maybe someone can come up with a workable and sensible solution whereby all those who are able to work could at least help some of those who cant a little.

If someones house is about to be repossesed and a dozen of us in the south come up with £50 then it could be a solution.

Shoot me if Ive got it totally wrong.

So thats why the poll is there, I wanted to see how if it was even necessary first off.

[JSMC]

i live in lanarkshir eand it's chaos mate. Yesterday was total wipe out across the region check out the news. Motorways all closed, A class roads, estates done even bother trying to ge tinto them. Bus services cancelled. Town centres closed.

pretty mental what happened here yesterday. Snow started coming down at 8am approx and hammere ddown for hours on end. People stuck on roads so snow ploughs and gritters can get on them. Cars abandoned with trucks all over the place.

[Sunshine/Cleaning]

I have some £'s put by. If I didn't work 'till Jan we could just about manage, it would be tough but we would get by.

There is little chance of working, yesterday max was -6.1 we tried but couldn't do much in the time before it froze on the windows. (Trad)

The contract we started last week is still only 1/4 done, as it is flats above town center shops poling is out of the question. Even where it has been gritted there are layers of ice that has tried to melt and re-froze.

We haven't had a post delivery for 10 days so no cheques coming through either.

I'm fed up with it now but see Thurs as workable for a full day.

I recon that we only get to work 200 full days and this year have based my income on this assumption.

I was 15% up at the end of Nov from last year, that will drop to 10% by end Dec so I'm content at the moment and hopeful for the future.

It costs too much energy worrying about things you cant change and serious depression in the past has taught me to take each day as it comes.



That said £2k in used notes would be great, address on my website.  

[mark311069]

-8 here in skegness this morning .  tried to work yesterday trad with hot water and strong antifreeze but it took me two hours to do one house. and it wasnt great when i had finished. hopefully the l5 ive ordered will be here this week.

[Tom White]

If someone's really struggling, I would suggest a quick change of job for a while; there's plenty about during the Christmas period.  Even humping mailbags for Royal Mail (who take on a lot of casual staff at this time of year) beats earning nothing; and if the weather dramatically improves, you can drop the job at the drop of a hat.  

I did it in the first year of window cleaning (though I didn't last long), before ending up with a security job (at the time they employed anyone - particularly ex soldiers - but now you have to do courses and things; so that's not really an option).

And if it's really bad, a trip to the Citizen's Advice would be in order.

I've enough to last me through December and Xmas is paid for and sorted (Wor Lass is hyper efficient), without having to do anything drastic (like dig into the mortgage), so I'm in a fairly nice position, but I'd rather work than go into our 'emergency fund'.

It costs too much energy worrying about things you cant change and take each day as it comes.

That's seriously good advice!  If I'm forced to have time off work for any reason, I try to adopt the mental attitude of 'greeeeaaaat', now what can I do that's constructive or fun?

Getting hacked off at the weather is like pissing in the wind; it doesn't help the situation, in fact it just makes it worse (you get covered in piss).

[dazmond]

its tough for the window cleaners in bad areas but get it into perspective!its a couple of weeks out of the year!they should be ok if their well established and have emergency fund built up.but to be quite frank some could work instead of moaning on here even if its only afternoons using traditional methods.some cant as they have nt a clue how to use a squeegee fast and efficiently!!as for clubbing together to help them out money wise is a big no no unless their a mate who you know will pay you back!!


dazmond

[JSMC]

up her ein scotland just now the place is goosed big time. Yesterday was chaos.

[Sir Squeaky]

It's not just up north.
I'm well down south but it's been subzero for weeks.
Only got the shops squeegeed yesterday. NO chance of houses. Doesn't look like work today either.

[Gordon Saunders]

Here in Gloucestershire i have not lost a single day to the cold weather. I am off today mind as kids school is closed due to water leak .I would have been out working otherwise . Its been bloody cold on top of the Cotswolds but we have had no significant snow yet this winter. It must be difficult for you people up north i hope it thaws out before christmas so you can all get out and earn a few quid.
 That or u might have to move down with us southern softies with our warmer weather and higher prices

[Sir Squeaky]

Here in Gloucestershire i have not lost a single day to the cold weather. I am off today mind as kids school is closed due to water leak .I would have been out working otherwise . Its been bloody cold on top of the Cotswolds but we have had no significant snow yet this winter. It must be difficult for you people up north i hope it thaws out before christmas so you can all get out and earn a few quid.
 That or u might have to move down with us southern softies with our warmer weather and higher prices

Warmer weather down south? It's -6 outside and I'm south of you.
I'd like to know how you've been working without your jets freezing up...?

[supernova77]

I only worked last Monday and Saturday just gone... The cold doesn't bother me too much to work in, but I couldn't get in and out of customers drives after the snow.

I'm now at Center Parcs for the week... I've given the guy who does some work for me 3 days worth to do this week, I wonder how he's getting on - No calls yet!

Andy

[mick hay]

I'm 2 days behind, that includes today as I'm not going out, it's 0.5 at the moment, but in the shade, it's a different story!

I manage my work 4 days a week, so I'm not too stressed over it as can catch up.

Looking at the weather since Sunday, the change seems to be on Thursday, so got it in my mind that's when I'll be back out. I'll see how it is first thing tomoz, and may change my mind!

I've had no time of this year, so am taking these couple of days as a well earned break!

[Stewart01]

Although things are tight and I have missed 5 days work so far and with what's being said I'm not holding out much hope of getting out any time soon, luckily the weather as come at the best possible time as the missus has just given birth so I'd have been taking a few week off anyway, that's not to say things arnt getting really tite now but with mr platinum card and the bank of mum and dad I'm hoping to scrape through!!! Fingers crossed.

[G Griffin]

Although things are tight and I have missed 5 days work so far and with what's being said I'm not holding out much hope of getting out any time soon, luckily the weather as come at the best possible time as the missus has just given birth so I'd have been taking a few week off anyway, that's not to say things arnt getting really tite now but with mr platinum card and the bank of mum and dad I'm hoping to scrape through!!! Fingers crossed.

I hope your house doesn`t get re-possessed because there will be no room at the inn this time of year.
Mind you, I know a nice little stable if you`re really stuck.

Matt B,
          Nice of you to make the offer  . 

[DMG Window Cleaning]

Im doing fine but ive spent the last £100 on christmas presents so its getting tight.

The sun is shining and the ice is going so hopefully no more snow and full days for the rest of the week.

If not im going out cleaning bottoms only to pay the bills.

Danny

[Sir Squeaky]

If not im going out cleaning bottoms only to pay the bills.

fnarr fnarr!

[DMG Window Cleaning]

This is a serious thread. Yesterday I had a good days work, the weather down here in Hampshire isnt as bad as it is up north. With that in mind I thought it would be an idea to see how the guys up north are faring in a financial sense. And couldnt some of us who are managing to work in some way help some of them out in a financial sense if it was needed.

I KNOW there would be all sorts of issues (no-one likes charity, pride, worrying about if the money had to be paid back). Maybe its a stupid idea but maybe someone can come up with a workable and sensible solution whereby all those who are able to work could at least help some of those who cant a little.

If someones house is about to be repossesed and a dozen of us in the south come up with £50 then it could be a solution.

Shoot me if Ive got it totally wrong.

So thats why the poll is there, I wanted to see how if it was even necessary first off.

I think thats a great thought matt. Very charitable

There would be issues of who really needs it and who would use it to scam everyone else but a great thought.

Danny

[elite mike]

Here in Gloucestershire i have not lost a single day to the cold weather. I am off today mind as kids school is closed due to water leak .I would have been out working otherwise . Its been bloody cold on top of the Cotswolds but we have had no significant snow yet this winter. It must be difficult for you people up north i hope it thaws out before christmas so you can all get out and earn a few quid.
 That or u might have to move down with us southern softies with our warmer weather and higher prices

Warmer weather down south? It's -6 outside and I'm south of you.
I'd like to know how you've been working without your jets freezing up...?

yeh i would like to know as well 

[david watts]

ive overpaid the house for 2/3 years time off with health probs got me in the habit;
so ok at the moment but failing that thinking of being a bookmaker in the winter

[HIGH LEVEL WINDOW CLEANERS (scrimmy)]

This is a serious thread. Yesterday I had a good days work, the weather down here in Hampshire isnt as bad as it is up north. With that in mind I thought it would be an idea to see how the guys up north are faring in a financial sense. And couldnt some of us who are managing to work in some way help some of them out in a financial sense if it was needed.

I KNOW there would be all sorts of issues (no-one likes charity, pride, worrying about if the money had to be paid back). Maybe its a stupid idea but maybe someone can come up with a workable and sensible solution whereby all those who are able to work could at least help some of those who cant a little.

If someones house is about to be repossesed and a dozen of us in the south come up with £50 then it could be a solution.

Shoot me if Ive got it totally wrong.

So thats why the poll is there, I wanted to see how if it was even necessary first off.

i just read this.....i havent worked since last monday and its currently minus 5 in glasgow so no hope of getting out and tomorrow is to be the same.......the temperature is set to rise on thursday through to saturday so i plan to blitz the work then.

On the question of helping out our fellow forumites then i am all for a credit union for window cleaners run by window cleaner (not just for emergencies either) like a regular credit union but all the money transfers take place electronically, both payments out and repayments in.....it could be done, would need a bit of work to implement it but its possible.......either that or one of these schemes were everyone gets a payment if there are say 50 members (takes up to 50 weeks to get your turn though)

i dunno.....wish someone would pay my bills this week