Any contractors around?

[MinnieMountain]

I’m curious as to how much time off other contractors take.

DH is a part-qualified actuary. He’s done contract work for the last 9 years. He’s had a few breaks for 3-6 months but nothing other than the usual holidays since our DS started school (he’s 7).

He’s well paid and we agreed that whilst particular contracts kept coming he would take them. I sense now that he needs a proper break.

I work PT as a residential property solicitor, so we could either rely on our (substantial) savings or I could go FT.

Does he take the entirety of the school holidays off or about 25 days plus 10 bank holidays per year?

It varies but probably around the 25 days plus bank holidays.

So essentially he’s got a normal full time job then. With a normal number of holidays over the year.
I think it’s up to him if he wants to scale back but there’s nothing wrong with what he’s actually doing. What has he said about cutting back?

@LouiseTrees

So essentially he’s got a normal full time job then. With a normal number of holidays over the year. I think it’s up to him if he wants to scale back but there’s nothing wrong with what he’s actually doing. What has he said about cutting back?

This totally. I think most people working full time would like a break at some point. Some more so than others.

Do you have particular concerns that suggests he needs a break? In the works we live in now if he has steady work I’d normsllly think it a blessing.

It’s not a normal full time job as he can take more time off if he wants when he wants, doesn’t get sick pay and doesn’t have to accept a contract.

We’ve had a chat, and he’s fine but I’m still curious as to what patterns contractors generally work.

Do YOU feel he should take more time off? Few self employed people pay themselves sick pay. Does he have a pension set up?

No, I was simply curious what the norm is (if there is). He pays the maximum he can into his pension most years.

If he’s happy and you are happy, I’d just leave it be. He’s obviously good at the work in his field and lucky to have regular work.

I’d make hay whilst the sunshines and continue to support each other.

Depends on how I view it.

Actual time off I'd say 3 weeks a year.

But each year there is the occasional 1-2 week gap between contracts where I spend the time working on my website and looking for a new contracts. Which is not a 7-8hour a day thing but not really time off.

When dh was contracting he barely took any time off bar 2 weeks at Xmas and 2 week family holiday in summer.

Now he's PAYE and makes sure he gets his 33 days.

So what DH does it pretty standard then.

He technically gets his work through a recruitment consultant but his current employer keeps on extending his contracts.

DH rarely takes time off unless we have a holiday booked.
He has been contracting (IT) for 5 years and so far hasn’t had a break between contracts as his skill set Is in demand.
He has been in his current contract 18 months and will probably stay if they extend it. Although he earns a lot we have to factor lost earnings into holidays so as well as the cost of the holiday we have to allow for several thousand he won’t earn as well.
He enjoys contracting but is conscious that come renewal time he gets a bit nervous, despite the fact that we have savings