Part-time vs full-time work?

[erik]

I'm getting a bit sick of working most of my life and not having enough time to work on my bikes or do my own stuff. When I got the sv, I just wanted to check the valve clearances and do a few small things and it ended up sitting in the garage for 2 months while I worked on it bit by bit. Now I've got that going but my bandit needs attention (it's only running on 3 cylinders) and has been sitting in the garage for about a month now too.
I've got to push myself to work on the bike in the evenings, I get home tired and want to relax, not work on the bike. Getting the sv ready for the trackday I was working on it in the evenings modifying the clutch and making a camera mount etc. I think I must've stayed up late a few nights which tired me out and I caught a cold. Still did the trackday though . I still have the cold though. I think that's 3 or 4 times I've been sick this winter.

I'm starting to think I don't actually need the full 40k salary I'm on, that I'd be better off with more free time and I could get by working 4 maybe 3 days a week. I'm still living at home, haven't got any plans to move out, I pay board so I'm not just freeloading.

I completed a BEngTech in mechanical engineering before getting my current job as a turret punch programmer/operator. I did well at uni but I'm not using anything I learned at uni in my job, it's a bit of a shame. I've been there since march '07.

I've asked my boss if it'd be possible for me to work 4 days a week, he said he's not opposed in principle, but that he can't do anything that'd be detrimental to the company. He's looking for someone to operate the press brake so the current guy that's doing it can focus on managing the workshop and doing other stuff (including learning how to operate the turret as a backkup).

I don't know if I should wait and see if I am able to work 4 days a week at my current job or if I should look for something else. This is my first proper job, first job out of uni. Previously I've done a little work for my aunt's partner painting/wallpapering. The days go more quickly at my current job, I'm not keen to go back to painting. I think I'd like to try something else for a change, but am worried I could end up worse off.

[CB ARGH]

Come to Pak'n Save and be just like me at the checkouts...


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[Drum]

The humanity!

You "me generation" types need to get your shit together!

Get a proper job using the qualification you (or your parents) paid good money for.

And for gods sake leave home. Think of your poor parents. Not freeloading my arse!

[Subike]

The humanity!

You "me generation" types need to get your shit together!

Get a proper job using the qualification you (or your parents) paid good money for.

And for gods sake leave home. Think of your poor parents. Not freeloading my arse!

sorry mate I agree with drum.
Regardless of what you "wish" to do with your time, a fact remains
you need money to live in this world.
A days loss of earnings can NEVER be recovered.
Really you say? "I will just work extra hours to make it up"
nope, all you are doing is working another day.
You are young, work hard and pay someone to repair your bike, so that your free time is riding time, not the druggery of fixing that which you want to ride.
"so your telling me to pay to get my bike fixed with the money I earn, rather than do it cheaper myself?"
Yeap.
Cheaper does not give you quality relaxation time riding your bike.
Work hard and earn the money, spend it on the needed repair, then enjoy the fruits of your work.
Less work means less money means less enjoyment means more frustration.
Get your ass into gear and work, then you can get your ass into your gear and ride!
Simple 1 + 1 = fun

[MadDuck]

You "me generation" types need to get your shit together!

Get a proper job using the qualification you (or your parents) paid good money for.

And for gods sake leave home. Think of your poor parents. Not freeloading my arse!

In fairness Erik is a sensible and intelligent young man and if his parents are happy for him to hang around then thats not such a bad thing...surely?

By the time I was his age I had travelled the world with a back pack and no money but times have changed somewhat. Erik if you can afford to put your career and hold to pursue what you enjoy....ie your love of motorcycles. Then go for it. You may not get the opportunity again.

I doubt very much you will ever end up as a checkout boy Pak n Save.

[slimjim]

holy fuck you on a salary of 40k and no time to get out an enjoy yea right ! you got no rent . no power. no insurance .no kids . no handbrake or sink (girlfriend) . yup you pay broad what=120 buck's aweek .you can come and go as you like an what Fuck ......... GET OUT THERE......... AND DO It!!

[nodrog:Me]

By the time I was his age I had travelled the world in a back pack.

is that what stunted your growth?

[PirateJafa]

You are young, work hard and pay someone to repair your bike, so that your free time is riding time, not the druggery of fixing that which you want to ride.

What happens if he is one of us who enjoy fixing our bikes?

[scootnz]

I did that. I was in a stressed IT job, on call every other week. My contract came up for renewal, and I asked for a drop in pay to work four days a week. I had Fridays off.

It was the best thing I ever did.

Never regretted it.

Never missed the money.

And I went crazy Thursday evenings at the release of stress, knowing I had a 3 day weekend to look forward to.

(I ended up still burning out and left the job after two miscarriages and nearly dying from the second one.)

If you have something else in your life that is important to you, and you have enough power to negotiate your work days, and you can manage on the drop in pay, why not? You could be dead in 5 years. If you don't do something now you may not get the chance.

[GurlRacer]

My peice of advice, for someone who still lives at home too (Well I haven't got to uni yet!) - Live each moment the way you want to, you don't want to die with regrets. My father always drummed in to me to "Live with no regrets" - so I got up off my ass, spent a year in Europe, involved myself in motorsport, and am now looking at volunteering with St John, along with many other things along the way. I barely have time for myself, but I'm loving it, and know that when I die, whenever that may be, I've given everything I wanted to do a shot.

Zukin also used to say: Die with memories, not with dreams.

(Which is why he brought bikes, and rally cars, and fancy computers, he liked his toys, and at the end of the day, he'd tried everything he wanted to, and when he passed away, that was peice of mind for me and my family )

[homer]

id say fuck it
just enough money to get by and more free time .
whats the point of work if you cant get time to do what you want to do .

[CookMySock]

Yeah do something about it quick. You aren't on this planet for everyone else, you are here for you, and you don't have to kill yourself just to earn a living when you aren't living at all.

On the other hand, I think you will find you will still get the same amount of leisure time stuff done, regardless how how much extra leisure time you get.

Steve

[Pwalo]

Are you seriously expecting to get advice from a web site? You are old enough to make your own decisions, and if you need advice ask someone you know and trust.

If you want a better job, find one. If you want to go racing that's splendid. Just do it.

[Hoon]

Dude you don't know how well you've got it.

Stay at home and milk it for everything while you can.

If you are earning more than you need then SAVE IT!!! Don't take a cut in hours as your earning potential is decreased and you aren't worth as much.

Spend that money you save on better tools/equipment to make your garage time more productive. Hell, the tricky/time consuming tasks you can just pay someone else instead.

Also (this is the motivational Army NCO in me so don't take it the wrong way) maybe you might need to harden up a little. When the going gets tough you need to get tougher - making everything else easier is not the solution. Challenge yourself (mentally and physically) and push past your comfort zone...success under difficulty/pressure will do wonders for your motivation and confidence.

A common problem I see with intelligent/tertiary educated/city dwelling young adults is that when faced with tough jobs they often try to "think" up an easier way when the best solution is just to roll up the sleeves and get stuck in (I was one of them!!).

[Motu]

I don't know about being a selfish ''Me Generation'' Erik - you sound exactly like me over 35 years ago.In my 20's out of my time and qualified - I lived at home and drifted from job to job which was easy in those days.I would work somewhere for a few months or up to a year,then leave and have a few months off - I'd give my mother a few hundred bucks and say ''tell me when it runs out''...but of course she never would.Then I might look for a job,be offered one,or in the case of the place where I served my time - I'd drop in to say hi or use the welding plant,and they'd ask if I could give them a hand for a couple of weeks....and that would end up as another year there.I had plenty of time to work on my bikes,spend the whole time off building another bike even.I could live the life of an unemployed bum,riding around during the day,getting out of it any night of the week.It was the best time of my life - I didn't need the money,got huge work experience,and my mother never got on my back about not working...although she did expect the lawns to be done.

I used to know your parents well,and you were a very treasured little boy - they will be proud of your achievements so far,and wouldn't kick you out even if you were an axe murderer.