Back to part time sawing

[Patrick NC]

As some of you may know, I was kind of forced into full time Sawmilling several weeks ago when I got laid off from my job. Well they called me 2 weeks ago and said they were ready for me to come back. I said I wasn't ready yet, but I'd let them know something in a couple weeks. Got another call today saying if I'd come back on Monday I'd get a 15% raise. That's pretty hard to turn down so I guess I'll be a weekend Sawyer again. I've been doing pretty good, but I'd like to pay off some debt and be in a little better place financially before I commit to being self employed. I'm thinking about 3 more years and I should be there. It will also give me a chance to do some hydraulic upgrades to my mill and acquire a couple more pieces of equipment that I need to be efficient. 

[Old Greenhorn]

Good for you man! There is also that pesky "health insurance thing" that gets taken care of when you work for the man. That was always a kicker for me.
 You are lucky, that 15% will come in handy. My old company would have called and said either you come back on Monday, or you are laid off permanently and don't come back at all.
 Some security has to mean something too.
 Take your time, you will know when it is 'right' for you. ;D

[moodnacreek]

That's pretty good, hard to get good help and they know it.

[WV Sawmiller]

  Congratulations Patrick. I hope it all works out for the best. At least now you can negotiate better at work if the need arises.

[Nebraska]

That's a better raise than  I gave myself......  Congratulations.

[donbj]

With a good job it's an opportunity to get out of debt, get set up for when you do decide to take that step. Make a plan.

[Resonator]

I've been doing pretty good, but I'd like to pay off some debt and be in a little better place financially before I commit to being self employed.

Wise move. I've learned the hard way being self employed can be an irregular income, what money you can squirrel away now is peace of mind. Also good to have some set aside for when machines need to be repaired.

[Patrick NC]

15% is $250 a week before taxes. I'm going to take that and apply it towards paying off some debt. They thought they could just lay off all the salaried employees during the rainy season and we'd all just come running back when they called. They quickly found out that wasn't the case. One other good thing that came out of it was I found out that my mill could make enough money that I didn't have to use any of my savings. I think it was a good test run for when I do decide to go full time. I quickly found out what I was doing right and what I was doing wrong. 

[Crossroads]

Good for you, I'm glad it's working out in a way that fits your comfort level. 

[Walnut Beast]

Good deal 👍. A friend of mine did a similar situation . He runs a store and has really good sales and they offered him a equity package he didn't like so he said forget it then he told them what he should get and nothing ever came of it until this warmer weather and sales are way up. They ended up giving him what he asked for.