make enough during summer?

[Vibe Ray]

Hey guys....I know things like this have been posted so many times, but I just wanna ask one question and you could just give one simple yes or no answer if you like and I'd be happy:

How many here actually make enough to not have to work at all during the winter and also support a family? If so, does your spouse work or not? Do you have to be catious w/ the money or not to achieve this? I am only curious....this is not my plan of action ( I plan on working in the winter as well), nor do I want to know any numbers ($$$) or specifics. And let's not mention or worry about the fact that location is a big variable, because I know it is, there's no way around that. Merely a curiousity question.

[Mykster]

No, wish I did.

[Grasshog]

:D:D:D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D

[strickdad]

we do, but only because of several year round contracts. the wife ? she is a fulltime landscaper also.

[Richard Martin]

My wife works year-round and no, I don't have to work in the winter.

[David Haggerty]

My wife works at home. I figure she improves our lifestyle more at home than she could at a work-a-day job. We don't eat instant potatoes etc. Plus she painted the shop this summer. She's also the accountant for the business.

I used to work winters, HVAC service or peddle freight for R&L Carriers. I figured out I was wasting my time when I could make in a day mowing than what someone would pay me for a weeks labor.
I work in the winter, just now it's for the mowing business. I repair, repaint equipment. Do off season projects for customers like install landscape stone, core aerate & topdress. I do these other projects at a steeply discounted rate just to lock me in with that customer. I make my money in the summer, mowing grass. Memorial day was my first day off in two months. And what did I do? Cut my own lawn! :D

Dave

[HOMER]

No, year round accounts spread it too thin. Gave up a lot of "per cut" accounts to concentrate on the annuals.......so.....cash flow decreased. If I were really handy with a dollar then I probably could get by.......but I ain't.........so I couldn't.

Too much debt:mad:

Oh, I'm sorry, you only wanted one word.

NO!

[bobbygedd]

not even close

[LAWNS AND MOWER]

No. Need an excuse to get out of the house and away from the misses for a while in the winter.

LAWNS AND MOWER

[Dennis E.]

I make the same during the dormant months as I do in the summer. CONTRACT!!
Hit our customers once or twice a month from Oct. thru May. Weekly otherwise.
PLENTY of time off for me!:D :D
I call it a retainer fee!

[1MajorTom]

My husband and I have been doing this for four years.
We have never worked any of the winters and don't plan on it anytime soon. If Matt had to work in the winter after working this hard now, I just wouldn't see him continuing with the business.
This year has definitely been our best year. We are very far ahead compared to any other year.
I work till around 3:00 pm, come home pick up the kids, and Matt has been working till around 8:00PM.
We have hedge trimming jobs lined up, mulching, etc...
Business is good here.

Even the weather has been co-operating as best as it could.
Yesterday morning I took my dog down to Mom's house. She dog sits for me. ;)
Anyways, she said, "Jodi, I doubt you'll get too much work done today. It's raining in Pittsburgh and storms are on the way. Didn't get one single drop yesterday and completed a ton of work. :)

We might just be able to swing a few "fun toys" this winter if business keeps up like this. :)

So to answer your question Vibe Ray, yes we make enough to support ourselves, two kids, a dog, our house and all the bills that go with that.

[Toroguy]

Close...Im planning to not have to work this coming Winter, travelling eats up cash reserves fast, and Im not one to sit idle for more than two weeks, so I will find something in the Temp section of the paper. I like to mingle with the regular folks, its nice to be able to yap alot.

Single guy, no kids, easy to deprive myself of luxuries.

[olderthandirt]

Nope don't work in the winter and haven't for over 10 yrs. Just sit around and get fat. Work hard in the summer and charge well {VERY WELL} for a good job, watch expenses and it seems to work for me.

[Vibe Ray]

Originally posted by HOMER
Oh, I'm sorry, you only wanted one word.


Yes, but that was mainly directed to those that don't want to type much, but if you'd like to, all the better!

Glad to see you guys (even if not all of you) are doing well. I am just looking ahead and was wondering if it were possible. I obviously don't quite know how much it takes to support a family and all that hocus pocus, you know. Plan on moving out next spring, just got me thinking......I'm sure I could find out with a little math and get a good idea, but I'll do that another day!

[Foz]

Nope, have 2 full time employees i keep busy with snow plowing contracts & equipment maintenance in winter. We also do contracting work so if we can get it so that we have 3 or 4 construction jobs to start in fall, we work all winter......but we do take vacations. can't sit still all winter anyway

[proline32]

I plan not to work this winter, so saving up my money is important and keeping expenses low, also I will get a handful of contract work so I can show up two days a month but still get paid like it was summer:D I plan to run my other business this winter which is Coating consulting work working with groups trying to restore old lighthouses and repainting them, as well as taking pictures of them for fun.

[eslawns]

I have needed to work a couple of winters, but it was because I wasn't responsible with money when it was coming in. As it stands now, we may fall short of our projected gross ($70k) but it shouldn't be by more than $5k or so. I just ain't that ambitious.

I managed in the last 2 years to pay off all our credit cards but one, and only owe about $2k on my car and truck combined, so that will leave me with less than $1500 in expenses each month, and with my year round stuff I won't need to work unless something wipes out the savings or we get stupid at Christmas. I plan to spend this winter building a small sailboat, and remodeling the house. I may deliver pizza again, if I get bored.

[coonman]

First year being full time in the business. Making ok money now and seems to be growing weekly. Not going to expand too much because I don't want to spend my time working my life away. The wife makes enough money to get us by in the winter. But being a tennis pro also, I will probably give some lessons in the winter and maybe work part time at local club. House will be paid for in less than a year and no other debt outstanding.

Its not what you make but what you take!!!


(Loving this business....should have gone full time years ago...No more corporate world for me)