[Joe Wicked]

Originally Posted by hey,littlecobra

Joe, you are acquiring a pretty good reputation around the Dallas group as an electrician, or at least working on cars' electrical. Could you do some 'contract' electrical at a shop.... not a dealership exactly, but just with a local shop that could use an extra pair of hands one or two weekends a month??
I see you need a lot of flexibility with your REAL job, family, but take one of your talents and slowly turn it into a little money maker. My dad was great at wood working, etc. He had a shop in his garage, where he made things; fixed furniture etc. Well during the crash of the stock market in the 70's (he was a stockbroker/trader) he would spend a night or two and the odd weekend making dollhouses that he sold to craft stores, etc. He'd make a half dozen or so a week, (assembly line in the garage, you know) and sell them for $30 bucks or so apiece. It wasn't much, but it was his 'mad money' that he used to float his habit, (smoking, etc.). Mom would squeeze $$ out of a turnip, so to speak, and things were quite tight then. She worked about 20 hours a week at a hardware store, while we were at school. Many many of dads peers lost their homes, etc by being over extended, and while we did 'without' a good bit, they were never in huge distress because of not living on credit and being able to turn hobbies into a small cash maker.
Just an idea. Also... you seem pretty computer savvy, and folks like me are ALWAYS looking for regular folks to come fix their computers, electronics, etc. I need a wireless thing setup for my kids xbox.... I'm gonna have to figure it out sometime.....
Slap a sign on your truck (deductible as a work expense, too) and spend an evening or two or Sunday afternoon fixing people's computers!!
None of these things are permanent part time jobs, but give you some flexibility.
Take something you know a bit about and pursue it!
kristen

I would love to do that, but there doesn't seem to be a huge need, or maybe I am just missing it.

What exactly do you need for the wireless on the X-Box? Those things are pretty simple setups. Do you already have wireless internet at your house?

Originally Posted by Wes Tausend

Joe,

You could start a lawn mowing service. It's not too hard to clear about $20+ an hour out of such and it would make even more use of your pick-up when working out of the neighborhood. You could also add other fix-it service if you are handy or want to become so. If you go full legit, instead of cash only, you can write your pick-up (and mower) off as a business expense.

It has the additional benefit of being good exercise. After a while you will lose that weight you mentioned ...and be greatly admired by lonely housewives whose chubby husbands have weaseled out of the chore. And always remember it is counterproductive to dip your pen in company ink ...unless you handle it professionally as an Escort Service as previously mentioned. Beware of free cold beer.

Since you mentioned baldness, you might as well shave it all off and promote that xxx look like Yul Brynner, Vin Diesel, Telly Savalas etc. In business, image is everything.
It isn't like your bald spot isn't going to get sunburned anyway with all that yardwork. You can write off vast quantities of sunblocker and it will add shine.

After you have a lot of sultry sounding women customers calling your house, your marriage problem will likely take care of itself.


...

I thought about it, but we have huge teams of Mexicans that do pretty large yards for $20 and are done in just 30 min since there are 4-5 of them mowing. A friend tried to do that last year and now he is back at work. As far as the baldness I agree, but the wife wants me to leave as much as I have on my head. She likes it.