Workless Days...

I don't work, so I come here and argue with you guys.

After I had my op in 2005, I could have taken up to six months off on full pay. I was back at work after 3 weeks. It wasn't that I didn't have anything to do... but traipsing around art galleries on your own gets a bit lonely after doing it day after day. Also I enjoy my work. If I didn't work in full time employment I'd still 'work' at home on the various projects and freelance stuff. I'd also spend some days working as a 'book-runner' which I do most Saturdays anyway for extra cash. jude "Cacoethes scribendi" http://www.judesworld.net

if you don't work you simply wouldn't have the cash to go "traipsing" around art galleries everyday. I've learned how to take life at a much slower pace. It doesn't cost any more to become more creative with basic foods, become self-taught on a musical instrument, read, walk, chat to random strangers who may also find themselves in the same position in life. Thinking, observing, writing, daydreaming, listening, striving to become more self-sufficient. Even thrift becomes a passionate hobby when you have no cash. Every kw of electricity carefully conserved. Every last scrap of food relished. It's a breeze when you learn to adapt mindfully and unruffled to any of life's circumstances. It also opens your eyes wide to how hopelessly..um...brainwashed we are ;@) When the power of love overcomes the love of power, we'll find peace. - Jimi Hendrix

well as I said, I was on paid leave. And you might have won the pools. Often the type of conversation Peps was talking about are based on 'what would I do if I won the lottery' type scenarios. Also many of the art galleries in London are freee though but as you say, you can be creative on a budget. jude "Cacoethes scribendi" http://www.judesworld.net

Jude - What's a book runner?

Yeah, and is it more lucrative than being a drug runner? I would *love* to not *have* to work. I would probably work a bit, anyhow, as I enjoy being occupied with projects, etc. but these would be more along humanitarian lines than as office wonk. I tend to think that, if I ever won the lotto, I'd become a philanthropist and be very busy indeed setting up charitable trusts. However, I also really really enjoy my idle time. I read, potter in the garden, paint the house, etc. London is a FAB place if you like museums, but I love simply wandering around London from end-to-end, on foot, when I can. It's so damn diverse.

http://www.forces.org/writers/james/files/tome.htm I make between 75 and 400 quid in a day by book-running. It is far more lucrative than it used to be thanks to Amazon Marketplace and mobile internet (so you can check prices before buying). It means devoting your Saturday to charity shops and jumble sales but you grow accustomed to the smell. Second hand book hunting has always been a passion with me so I just cashed in on my hobby. jude "Cacoethes scribendi" http://www.judesworld.net

Wow. The idea never even occurred to me. That's got to be one of the coolest things I've heard in ages.

Interesting article poetjude. There's a novel in there somewhere, is you get my meaning! http://homepage.ntlworld.com/drew.gummerson2

Indeed there is! BTW - I hope you do manage to swap shifts or something so you can come on the 23rd. I'd love to meet you. I'm off to the 1st Eynsford Guides and Scout Jumble sale today! jude "Cacoethes scribendi" http://www.judesworld.net

"Did I hear you right, Jude? £75-400/day?! Point me to the charity shops!" I can imagine this being possible but I think you'd have to really know what you were doing to be making £400 a day on a regular basis. I might give it a go at some point. I could easily make a full time job out of the stuff I do in my spare time at the moment, though.

It takes practice and you will make some common errors when you start out. Most people who try it out make too many mistakes (where they make losses) and give up. They also don't realise that it is bloody hard work and eats up all your spare time, I lugged 50 books from Eynsford back to london today in the sweltering heat! I do enjoy it though...both the buying and selling. I would tell you my trade secrets which now mean I now have a pretty high average profit for a day's acquisition but I don't want more competition! I'm only going to do this for a couple of years until I have a deposit for a house saved, then I'll tell you my secrets! I also got a sunbeam coffee maker, a morphy richards telephone, a fake antique globe and a wok for next to nothing from the Scouts jumble sale so you can also pick up some useful bits and bobs whilst you're there! jude "Cacoethes scribendi" http://www.judesworld.net

indeed, not having a car is my biggest handicap (although P sometimes chaffeurs me) but I am incredibly fit these days as a result of all the walking and lugging! jude "Cacoethes scribendi" http://www.judesworld.net

bacon butty and a milky tea in a polystyrene cup - 7.00am - rambling round fields, noseying at car booty. Fuckin ace. "all 50p in there, mate." love it. I collect eerie puppets from car boots. it's all sexy. When the power of love overcomes the love of power, we'll find peace. - Jimi Hendrix

Being a student, i dont have the experiance to argue about what i'd do if i didnt work. I have to learn, its my job. If i dont learn then i'll never be successful in life. However, if i was stupid enough not to go to school, i'd probably read classical literature all day and go nuts with boredom. I mean sometimes i hate school but, at least it keeps the old brain juices flowing. I love the feeling of becoming smarter after a year of schooling. :-) Sophia Grace

I'd keep attending school if I were you, petal. Clearly a year hasn't been sufficient to internalise the use of the capital 'I' as a personal pronoun...they use it in classical literature, to boot.

I work mainly from home now. Networking allows me to participate in group projects at a distances and in pretty much real time. When the decision was first made to set me up in this way, I thought this would mean that I would have more time to do some of the things that I previously had no time to be involved in. Two years on I have less available time now than I previously had. So much for the virtual work places! And as for the paperless office!!

"I believe in the paperless office as much as I believe in the paperless toilet" ~Heinrich von Pierer, Siemens CEO

I work full time, I'm mortgaged up to my eyeballs, have debts coming out of my ears, and bills in every other orifice. I think I was richer when I was unemployed.

"paperless toilet" Try'd that. Very messy!

Trance, that! When the power of love overcomes the love of power, we'll find peace. - Jimi Hendrix

Hi Emma ... I just emailed you some tips! early on, I encountered all the problems you mention...Being the type of person who aggressively seeks solutions to problems rather than giving up, I now have solved all of them with a few simple rules and processes. The only thing I still haven't quite cracked and is insolvable is storage. I do use a simple formula regarding profit margins and sales ranks to ensure as much stock is shifted quickly and I am not sitting on it but of course, I buy more and have to accomodate a rolling stock of just under 3,000. Half of it fits in my giant cupboard after P fitted some clever shlving. I'd love a spare room! jude "Cacoethes scribendi" http://www.judesworld.net

To ensure a text book is a latest edition, type the ISBN into the PC version (not the WAP version) of amazon (that's why you need proper mobile internet with an ie browser not just a wap phone). If it is still for sale from Amazon themselves it is the latest ed. If not, don't assume it is unsellable - it will sell if it has gone out of print, so long as no more recent edition exists. Copy and paste the title into the search box and check all the editions. Also check the sales rank and ensure it is ranked within the top 1.5 million titles to ensure you'll sell it. jude "Cacoethes scribendi" http://www.judesworld.net

Actually, my brother-in-law does this, only he sells the books on EBay. Some books he finds are VERY pricey. He clears up to 20k a year (and I believe he doesn't pay tax on it, either). Shhh!

eBay is good for rare books. Abe is also good for rare and unusual titles. amazon is good for clearing general stock although commission is high. Green Metropolis is good for getting rid of those mistakes (books valued at a pound or less on amazon) or my own unwanted books such as last year's best sellers. I don't do rare books for the reasons Emma gave - it is too much hassle plus old time dealers clean anything valuable from Jumble sales and house clearance so I use Green Metropolis and amazon and I also take some down to the book stores in Charing X, the benefit of that is immediate cash! Tax evading isn't worth it (the fine is up to the value of evaded tax and could mean you end up paying double tax even 80% of your profit if it puts you in top bracket for income tax!) but you only need to start paying when your feedback level indicates you couldn't possibly just be selling your own books (which are chattels and you are a non-trader). The Inland revenue has dedicated teams who search for tax evaders on online auction sites. They won't catch everyone but the ones they do are usually ruined! When you hit the level (probably after three months) where you are undoubtedly operating as a sole trader don't forget that you can get the cost of computer equipment, furniture and even a small percent of your electric bills taken off profit. If you're making enough, set yourself up as a limited company and pay yourself in dividends therefore no National Insurance (which is 10%) . Tax on dividends is only 21% rather than 40% on higher rate income tax. You have to have an accountant if you are an LTD co and submit your accounts. If you make less than (I think) 60K Pa you don't have to register for VAT although amazon charges vat on every transaction anyway! My father is a tax specialist accountant and thrills us with such riveting information over the dinner table! jude "Cacoethes scribendi" http://www.judesworld.net